Ornelas to convene selection board for undersheriff pick

In a small rural community like Mineral County, there is always some sort of rumor that makes its way around. Republican Ernie Ornelas, who is running for sheriff in November, knows this all too well to be true.

Earlier in the year, a response to a question at the candidate forums was taken out of context. More recently, Ornelas said that he has had several people coming to him asking him about his choice as undersheriff. The widespread rumor, Ornelas said, is that people believe Deputy James Balenger has been selected, while the lesser rumor is that current Undersheriff Mike Johnson has been appointed.

Ornelas said that he is puzzled by both because he has not indicated who will fill the position and has no plans to do so. In fact, Ornelas said that as he plans to convene a board to select the best person for the position and has indicated this since he began his campaign back in September of 2009.

“I’m looking at people who are sitting sheriff’s, have been sitting sheriff’s or serve as the chief of police to sit on the selection board,” Ornelas said. “The thing I want people to know within the community and within the department is that I’m going to use a fair process to choose who will sit as my undersheriff. I don’t want people thinking I chose someone because they happen to be my friend or to think that there was favoritism because there’s not. Using the selection board will make it fair and that’s why I’m not naming someone.”

Ornelas said that he plans to wait until after the election is over. Should he be elected, Ornelas will then convene the board.

“The people that sit on the board will know what qualities are necessary for an undersheriff because they will be or will have been a sitting sheriff,” Ornelas explained.

Ornelas said that the job of the undersheriff is similar to that of the vice president of the United States. The undersheriff has to be capable to fill the role of sheriff should the sheriff be unable to perform his duties.

“He has to have the background and experience, be able to manage people, deal with situations in the public, handle conflicts and the same types of things that sheriff does,” Ornelas said.

Ornelas said that in addition to looking at the resumes, the board will also be asking those who wish to hold the position of undersheriff what they’d do in certain situations and how they would handle certain disputes.

Ornelas said that those currently employed within the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department will have the opportunity to be considered by submitting their resumes to the board. Ornelas said that he has no plans to appoint someone from the outside because that mean someone already employed will lose their job.

“If somebody from the outside comes in, one of those people is going to lose their job. I don’t want anybody to lose their job,” Ornelas said.

Ornelas said that he wants to continue to be open with the public and is willing to listen to any concerns or questions they have, something he said will carry over if he’s elected.

“If I’m going to be sitting in this office of chief law enforcement in the county, I need to be open to everyone and hear what they have to say,” Ornelas said.

He said that voters can contact him at 822-4309 with any questions or concerns they may have so that he might confirm or dismiss any rumors that are going around. Ornelas said that from now until the elections he plans to continue to make contact with people.

“There are differences between the two candidates and I want to talk to folks and find out what issues and problems they’re having and show that that if I were sheriff how I’m going to address them,” Ornelas said.