Candidates for sheriff

The race for Virginia Beach sheriff — the highest profile of next week’s contested elections for South Hampton Roads’ constitutional offices — offers two smart law enforcement veterans, both of whom are qualified to be sheriff of Virginia’s largest city.

Virginia Beach Police Captain John Bell, a Democrat, has risen through the ranks of the department, to precinct commander, head of the detective bureau and now senior captain and head of professional standards. He wants the sheriff’s office to be more aggressive in alternative sentencing, arguing — correctly — that addressing the underlying causes of crime will reduce the chance that an inmate comes back to jail on new charges.

His opponent, however, has an unmatched ability to see where his city and state need to be and the resolve to get them there. Sen. Ken Stolle’s breadth of experience — detective, sergeant, lawyer, chairman of Virginia’s Crime Commission and 18 years as state senator — offers his native city the kind of savvy that voters should not dismiss.

Stolle, a Republican, is a problem-solver, a deal-cutter, a weaver of consensus. His direct, plainspoken style has earned him a reputation as an honest broker with Republicans and Democrats. If his methods are sometimes heavy-handed, he has largely used his considerable powers to benefit his community and his state.

He sponsored “truth-in-sentencing” legislation as part of Gov. George Allen’s initiative to end parole. He instituted criminal justice reforms that allow men and women wrongly convicted of crimes to clear their names when exonerating evidence emerges after their trials. He’s been in nearly every jail in Virginia, knows the ins and outs of the state budget for law enforcement better than anyone, and has an excellent working relationship with retiring Sheriff Paul Lanteigne, Beach Police Chief Jake Jacocks and the City Council.

Stolle was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago. “Under medication,” he said, his illness “is completely controlled” and hasn’t hampered his work in the least. In fact, in the past year Stolle helped negotiate the sale of the Norfolk-Southern right of way and has been tireless in his efforts to find solutions to the region’s transportation problems.

Stolle has been one of Hampton Roads’ most valuable players in the legislature. Richmond’s loss should be Virginia Beach’s gain. For Virginia Beach commonwealth’s attorney, Harvey Bryant is seeking re-election to the job he has held since April 2000. Bryant, a conservative Republican, does not offer plea bargains on cases involving drug dealers or crimes committed using firearms. He is ethical and no-nonsense and deserves voters’ support.

Norfolk sheriff Sheriff Bob McCabe’s 16-year tenure has been marked by a strong stewardship of limited resources, producing one of the lowest operating costs of any municipal jail. Despite almost constant crowded conditions, Norfolk’s jail consistently earns perfect scores on health and safety from the state. McCabe has done well by his 450 full-time employees and has earned re-election.

Chesapeake sheriff John Newhart has built a department that ably carries out its primary mission of running the jail and providing court security.  Newhart  has been on the job since 1970 and faces his first election challenge since 1977. Still active, and a political force in the city, he manages a $36 million budget and has a staff of 420. We see no reason to change the leadership.

Portsmouth sheriff Independent David L. Cherry is challenging Democratic Sheriff Bill Watson, who’s running for a second term. Cherry, who’s spent the past 30 years helping run his family’s carpet dealership, could grow into the job if surrounded by experienced law enforcement officers. But his own relatively short experience with the volunteer auxiliary units of the city Sheriff’s Department and Police Department isn’t enough to recommend displacing the controversial Watson.

Suffolk sheriff Raleigh Isaacs, Suffolk’s long-time sheriff, has served the city and his employees well through the years. His experience in local law enforcement and his deep connection to the city argue strongly for his return to office over an opponent whose unrealistic ambitions would lead to disruption and dissension in a well-functioning department.