About two dozen members of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
(DSA) filed a grievance charging their leaders changed the rules
governing the sheriff’s endorsement mid game. Two weeks ago, the
DSA announced it would endorse incumbent Sheriff Jim Anderson after
Anderson won a plurality of votes among union members – meaning he
won more votes than any other candidate, but fell shy of a simple
majority. One week before the election, outgoing DSA president Mike
Durant explained in writing to union members that a simple
majority – one vote more than 50 percent – was required for the
endorsement. But after the votes were cast, and before they were
counted, DSA leadership claimed only a plurality was required. The
union will meet later this week to discuss what, if anything,
should be done to rectify the problem.
