Carpenter Ventura County residents had to wait 30-plus years for a sheriff’s race—but if early indications hold true, they’re getting a spirited one.

Sparks flew early between the two candidates competing to be the county’s top cop during a Feb. 22 question-and-answer forum in Camarillo that covered many issues, from pension reform to the early release of inmates.

The dinner event hosted by the Camarillo Republican Women Federated Club left little doubt that neither Chief Dep. Dennis Carpenter nor Cmdr. Geoff Dean plans to pull any punches in the campaign. Both hopefuls used the 10-question forum— the first public debate between the two since they announced their candidacies last year—to take jabs at each other in Sterling Hills Country Club’s packed banquet room.

When asked to describe a major event in recent years that led him to run for sheriff, Dean, 52, wasted no time detailing why he’s been so motivated to seek election.

Dean He talked about being fired in 2008 by Sheriff Bob Brooks. A chief deputy at the time, Dean had asked one of Brooks’ secretaries about the size of a computer database kept by the sheriff that had information about campaign donors who would likely back Brooks’ choice for a successor.

Brooks fired Dean soon after because he believed the request violated an earlier order to his staff to not engage in “campaigning or politicking” until Brooks decided whether or not to seek reelection.

Dean said after the forum that “it felt good” to talk about his firing because his opponent had been running “a smear campaign” against him in the past few months.

Dean, who admitted he’d asked about the size of the file but not for a copy, returned to the sheriff’s department as a commander—a lesser rank—after the Ventura County Civil Service Commission board ruled that Brooks’ decision to fire him was “clearly excessive.”

Dean read the commission’s ruling during the forum and said, “When you hear the smear items that are going out about me, be sure to look at the facts.”

Carpenter, 55, countered that the commission had found Dean guilty of insubordination.

Carpenter recounted a visit from Dean at his home the night before he was set to be fired two years ago.

“He said he let his ambition get in front of his good judgment and common sense,” Carpenter said. “I believe his behavior was dishonest, which is why the executive staff and seven of the nine commanders are supporting me in this position.”

A department divided

It’s the first time in more than 30 years the seat has been contested. The department is split over whom to back.

“What this is doing is tearing our organization into different parts,” said Carpenter, who has the backing of the department’s command staff, including an endorsement from Brooks.

Dean has the support of the deputies union and the backing of the police chiefs from the five cities not under the sheriff’s jurisdiction.

Both hopefuls admitted that whoever wins the seat will be tasked with rebuilding unity within the department’s ranks.

“I think, right after the election, the first thing we do is to reach across the aisle and mend those fences,” Carpenter said.

“If I win this election,” Dean said, “the train is going to be going in a certain direction, and everybody’s going to be welcome to get on that train, and we’re going to go back to serving the public.”

They each dismissed rumors that, should they win election, they’d target those within the department who backed their opponent.

Pension reform

When asked about pension reform within the department, the candidates each said the sheriff has little influence over pension negotiations between the county and the deputies union.Carpenter, however, said that because Dean was backed by the deputies union its members “are expecting a payback for the endorsement.”

Dean was quick to point out that sheriff candidates for the past 30 years have sought the deputies union endorsement.

“I do find it somewhat ironic that every sheriff since Al Jalaty . . . sought and received an endorsement from the deputy association and now, all of a sudden, it’s a bad thing,” Dean said. “I’m proud of the endorsement.”

Dean added that he would not engage in quid-pro-quo politics with the union and said deputies “are looking for leadership.”

Budget matters

Each candidate recognized that the state budget crunch and the down economy have forced the department to trim its $225million budget and ensure it maintains tight fiscal control. Neither candidate, however, offered specific cost-cutting measures.

As a chief deputy, Carpenter said, he’s worked alongside the department’s three other deputy chiefs over the past year to streamline the budget and share resources. He added that, as Thousand Oaks’ police chief, he oversaw a $20-million budget and regularly showed annual savings.

Similarly, Dean said that as a former chief deputy for three years, he, too, helped manage the department’s finances and has overseen the budgets of a number of other divisions as a commanding officer.

“We need to run the department like it’s a business,” he said. “Now we’re not here to make a profit, but we are entrusted to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.”

Early inmate release

Carpenter and Dean agreed that the impending early release of California’s prison inmates was inevitable in light of overcrowding in state prisons.

Both men said it will be important for the department to partner with churches and other social service groups to help the inmates find jobs and educational opportunities to keep them from returning to a life of a crime and jail.

When asked about what they’ve done in their careers to help protect the county’s children, Carpenter said he shuttered the unsuccessful DARE program at high schools in Thousand Oaks and used the money to hire deputies to patrol the campuses to deter drug use and sales at the schools.

Carpenter said he also pushed the department to hire an Internet predator investigator to target pedophiles and child pornographers online.

Dean said he’s been an active opponent of underage and binge drinking.

He said he worked with local cities to craft a social host ordinance law that would make it possible for deputies to fine adults who provide alcohol to teenagers at house parties.