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Pasco County Sheriff

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: August 13, 2008

Below are profiles of four of the five candidates in the race for Pasco County sheriff. On the Republican side, the incumbent, Bob White, will be opposed in the Aug. 26 primary by Robert J. "Bobby" Sullivan. The Democratic primary will pit K.S. "Kim" Bogart against Jeff K. Deremer. Bobby Kinzy did not respond to requests for information. The two primary winners will square off Nov. 4.

Sheriff (Republican)

•Bob White is running against Robert Sullivan in the Aug. 26 Republican primary. He is seeking his third term in office.

"The economy is far and away the greatest challenge" White said, because of declining revenues. "I have a successful track record" managing "in a very cost effective manner."

WHITE

The agency has provided services at about half the cost of similar agencies, White said. Some 250 volunteers have produced $725,000 worth of work. Average response times are faster than national norms. The crime rate and violent crime rate is much lower than the statewide average.

White would continue to let some sworn deputies and a few civilian personnel to commute to and from work in an agency vehicle. They are subject to immediate recall during off-duty hours.

He is "totally committed" to the concept of tuition reimbursement and hopes to restart the program during the next fiscal year.

The jail addition now under construction "should provide adequate jail space through year 2015," White said. The jail project falls under county responsibility, White notes.

A law enforcement municipal taxing unit might raise additional property taxes for the Sheriff's Office, but "our taxpayers have given government the very clear indication they cannot afford and are not willing to pay additional taxes no matter the stripe or color. We should revisit this issue down the road." As for accessibility, White says he speaks to citizens "about their concerns on a daily basis" and attends meetings several times a week. "I would love to be able to personally meet with citizens." The agency, however, receives 750,000 incoming calls, e-mails, faxes, and letters each year.

Bio snapshot

White and his wife, Diane, have lived in Florida for over 30 years. He has one daughter, Amy, a deputy sheriff with the Pinellas Sheriff's Office.

Education: Associate of arts degree from Pasco Hernando Community College and attended the University of South Florida for criminal justice.

Experience: Has served at Brooksville Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco; elected sheriff in November 2000.

Memberships: Pasco Hernando Community College Advisory Committee; Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Board; Junior Achievement board; Florida Sheriff's Association; Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches board; Youth and Family Alternatives board; founder and director Pasco Sheriff's Charities Inc; and many more.

Awards: Grand Star Award Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches; West Pasco Chamber of Commerce 2004 Public Servant of the Year Award; Seven Springs Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow Award; and many more.

•Robert J. Sullivan is running against two-term incumbent Sheriff Bob White in the Aug. 26 Republican primary for the right to advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

The 46-year-old Sullivan served the Pasco Sheriff's Office for 26 years as a lieutenant and commander before his recent retirement.

If elected, Sullivan sees the "biggest challenge will be to effectively combat a burgeoning crime rate with resources that have been reduced via ineffective budgeting and the passing of Amendment 1" tax reforms. He would reallocate assets that are currently underutilized or what go toward political projects in his view.

SULLIVAN

Funds from the Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund would create crime tracking infrastructure that would include re-formatting patrol sectors.

He supports the policy of take home vehicles for sworn officers, but not civilian personnel. Employees would qualify for some form of tuition re-imbursement.

Declining revenue from property tax reforms convinced him "we must explore all options such as an MSTU," or Municipal Service Taxing Unit.

"The sheriff is a servant of the public," Sullivan said.

"He can not utilize this highly trusted ministerial position to build a political kingdom."

Even as a very busy commander, "I had a policy of returning phone calls and e-mails within 24 hours," a policy he would continue as sheriff.

Sullivan has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29.

Bio snapshot

A Brooksville native, 46-year-old Robert J. "Bobby" Sullivan still resides in Brooksville but has said he will move to Pasco County.

Occupation: Adjunct faculty at University of North Florida and at Pasco-Hernando Community College. Retired from Pasco Sheriff's Office.

Education: Graduated St. Leo University, B.A., Summa cum-laude; Pasco Hernando Community College, A.S.; University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute.

Family: Wife, Bonnie and children, Courtney, 14, and Delaney, 5.

Memberships: Vice president of Hernando Christian Academy, member of First Baptist Church in Dade City, coach for Youth League Girl's softball, and member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29.

Hobbies: Biking, scuba diving, hiking, theological study.

Awards: Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, 1986; Saving the Life of Another, 1987; and Dean's Scholar, 2001.

Sheriff (Democrat)

•Kim Bogart is running against Jeff Deremer in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary for the right to advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

The biggest challenge comes from "diminishing financial resources coupled with a dramatic increase in violent crimes." Among pledges, he would "reallocate patrol deployment to match county demographics and criminal activity" and "promptly eliminate unnecessary expenditures."

His first priority would be to "repair the void between the work force and management." Bogart is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29.

BOGART

Bogart would continue take-home vehicles for certain deputies with restrictions. Civilian employees would qualify only if on-call.

Tuition reimbursement would be limited to criminal justice and other work-related courses.

As for jail overcrowding, Bogart does not believe in simply building more jails. "That answer is the same as saying the best way to fight an epidemic is to make more graveyards. There are proven programs that reduce recidivism."

A law enforcement municipal service taxing unit "deserves consideration by Pasco County voters." He says a Municipal Services Taxing Unit, or MSTU, "would make the sheriff more responsible to the public" with reviews and renewal every 5 years.

As for accessibility, Bogart published his campaign and cell phone number as soon as he announced his candidacy. As sheriff he would "remain accessible."

Bio snapshot

A Pasco resident 23 years, Kim Sterling Bogart, 56, resides in New Port Richey with his wife of 16 years, veterinarian Patricia M. Weston-Bogart. They have two daughters and three granddaughters. Bogart has been divorced three times.

Education: Masters degree business administration St. Leo University; bachelor degree business administration magna cum laude St. Leo; Dean's List honors graduate Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers' Course at University of Louisville.

Experience: National law enforcement operations and management consultant; executive director Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC); captain and major in Pasco Sheriff's Office for 16 years; and more.

Memberships: Charlie's Lodge at The Angelus; Police Torch Run Special Olympics, Sims Park Children's Playground, West Pasco Community Service Council, Holiday Rotary, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce; and more.

Awards: Leadership Award FCAC; Sheriff Neil J. Perry Service Awards 2002 and 2003 Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation; Meritorious Service Award 2000 Pasco Sheriff's Office; and more.

&bull:Jeff Deremer is running against Kim Bogart in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary for the right to advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Funding tops the lists of challenges in Deremer's view. "The current administration chose to increase administrator salaries, buy expensive cars for themselves and not fund gap insurance."

Deremer suggests a "county DUI ordinance or fine" that escalates to $1,000 for the third offense to supplement Sheriff's Office funding. Likewise, a probation violator would be subject to a $500 fine. "We seem to be putting a lot of the same people in jail time and time again. They need to start paying the rent!" He would increase asset seizures of criminals, too.

DEREMER

He wants an "across the board pay cut for top administrators," including the sheriff. "We have majors making almost $140,000 per year" while he considers deputies underpaid.

More deputies need to be on the streets, so he wants to "put at least 30 new deputies per year on our streets."

As for take-home vehicles, Deremer thinks marked squad cars serve as a deterrent. "Only essential personnel" should qualify, though.

"I am in no way in favor of expanding our jail," Deremer adds. If the jail addition now under construction becomes full, "I am very much in favor of implementing a tent city" similar to an Arizona setup that has been a "remarkable success story." He also is "very much in favor" of chain gangs.

Deremer might favor a law enforcement municipal taxing unit to raise more funds for the agency. "Amendment 1 certainly has put us behind the 8 ball. However, at this point I think we can still make cuts in areas to better fund our agency."

Bio snapshot

A 34-year resident of Pasco, Jeff Deremer, 38, and his wife of 8 years reside in New Port Richey with their two daughters.

Education: 1988 graduate Ridgewood High School; bachelor's degree in criminology 1992 from Florida State University, where he played varsity football two years as center; 1994 graduate Florida Department Of Corrections Parole and Probation Academy, 1996 graduate of Withlacoochee Vocational School Police Academy.

Experience: Senior parole and probation officer Florida Department of Corrections; appointed police liaison to Pasco Sheriff's Office nearly 8 years ago.

Memberships: Police Benevolent Association for more than 15 years; coached football at River Ridge and Mitchell high schools for more than 6 years; First United Methodist Church of Hudson.

Awards: 1991 leadership award from U.S. Army; numerous awards from Florida Department of Corrections; and more.

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