John Rowan against Paul Penzone Democratic Candidates for Maricopa Co Sheriff

Who will the Democratic voters decide upon?

Will Democratic voters lend their support behind a former assistant police chief who has some command experience?  Or, will they put their support behind a mere sergeant deemed as a “Nancy Grace suck-up.”  For the record, I did not coin Paul Penzone as a Nancy Grace suck-up, James King who used to write for the Phoenix New Times did when he wrote about the priciest Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The time has come to scrutinize the Democratic candidates who want to believe they will oust Sheriff Joe Arpaio. It is time for us to evaluate what strategy Arpaio is going to use against the Democrats because Mike Stauffer‘s credentials are squeaky clean.  Independent candidate Mike Stauffer has a solid record on his own accord.

Let’s evaluate the Democratic Candidates and their credentials.

Democratic candidate John Rowan used to be an assistant to the Police Chief — so he kind of has a bit of executive experience.  And it looks like he secured the endorsement of Robert McDonald who was the former 2nd Vice Chair – LD 25 Democrats, and a 2010 ARizona Democratic Candidate for the Arizona Senate.

John Rowan’s website states:

John Rowan served the New York City Police Department for 20 years prior to coming to the Valley. During that

John with Andrew Sanchez, Guadalupe City Council Member

time, he served in various positions of management and was part of the team that developed the CompStat Form of Police Management with Chief William Bratton. CompStat is the number one formula used in reducing crime and considered the premier form of police management now used by the largest police departments in the United States. He has been a resident in the Valley for the last six years during which time he was a member of Command Staff of a local police department and made Maricopa County his home.

On the other hand, you have another Democratic candidate via Paul Penzone who is a mere retired Phoenix Sergeant with no “command” or lieutenant experience at all.  He was a mere sergeant and a sergeant isn’t going to cut it with Independents who swing conservatively in Maricopa County.

Paul’s website states:

Voters will be looking for command and leadership experience, and Paul Penzone doesn't have that. Confidence will have to be restored and confidence can be achieved via leadership experience.

In looking at the Democratic Candidates and their leadership experience for Maricopa County Sheriff, it looks like John Rowan has the most leadership experience over the retired Sergeant Penzone.

You can bet your ass that Joe Arpaio is going to highlight Paul Penzone’s inadequate leadership because Penzone does not have command or lieutenant experience.

If I were a registered Democrat, I would put my support behind the candidate who has the best leadership to command something like the Maricopa County Sheriff’s department.   They ought to keep in mind that Independents make up almost 34% of Registered Voters in Maricopa County.  Republicans make up approximately 38% while Democrats make up only 28% of registered voters in our county — and Independents swing conservatively in our State.

Who will the democratic voters support?

I can’t wait to find out, but one should always think with foresight.  What strategy will Arpaio have against these candidates?