DOLLAR DUEL:

Thanks to a $40,000 loan to himself, incumbent County Sheriff
Jim Anderson (pictured left) posted a dramatic financial lead over
his closest rival – and predecessor – Jim Thomas (pictured right)
in the race for the county’s top law enforcement post. Anderson
reported collecting $71,062 in what’s been a bruising campaign to
hold onto his seat. Thomas reported collecting $40,000; Lompoc
Police Chief Bill Brown, $30,000; and Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi,
$12,850. But discounting loans renders the differences far less
striking: Anderson would have collected $31,000; Thomas, $35,000;
Brown, $25,000; and Arnoldi, $2,850. The race between Anderson and
Thomas promises to be especially bitter – Thomas accused Anderson
of threatening the job security of a junior commander Thomas
encouraged to run against Anderson, while Anderson accused Thomas
of threatening him when he first considered running for sheriff
seven years ago.