Deputy chief first into sheriff’s race

Keith Paul

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

Metro Police Deputy Chief Bill Young said Wednesday he is planning a run for sheriff.

Young is the first to announce his candidacy for what will likely be a crowded field in the 2002 race.

Though Young is the first to officially announce his bid for the office, several others have been rumored to be considering a run for the nonpartisan post, including John Moran Jr., an attorney and son of former Sheriff John Moran.

Two-term Sheriff Jerry Keller unexpectedly announced two weeks ago that he would not seek a third.

Young cannot officially file as a candidate until after Jan. 1, although he has hired political strategists Kent Oram and Billy Vassiliadis to run his campaign and has added Sig Rogich to serve as a consultant.

"I don't care who else runs. I'm not running against anyone, I'm running for the office of sheriff," said Young, who has been a police officer for 22 1/2 years and an ambulance driver for four years before that. "The crime rate under Sheriff Keller has gone way down, and I want to keep it going in that direction."

Young said many voters likely don't know him, but he will attempt to meet many residents between now and the election. Young currently heads the special operations division over the organized crime unit and the vice and narcotics unit. The groups work many undercover investigations.

"I have not been in the political world. I need to go out and meet a lot of people in the community," he said. "I'm running because the thought of sitting here 14 months from now and someone else coming in here and not keeping Metro the finest police department in America is unacceptable to me."

Young said he would not campaign while on duty, adding that he would use vacation time for campaign work. And, he said, after he files his candidacy he will turn in his police car and begin driving his own car to work.

If Young wins the election, he would have to retire as a police officer and would take a pay cut; he is making about $130,000 as a deputy chief, but would be paid $84,000 as sheriff. The sheriff's salary is set by state law.