Candidates to succeed Sheriff Keller abound

Erin Neff and Keith Paul

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

Jerry Keller's surprise announcement Monday that he will not seek re-election has opened the floodgates to potential candidates at the same time it crystalized Keller's tenure.

Within hours of Keller's announcement -- first made to close friends Sunday night and to Metro officials Monday morning -- names of potential successors circulated.

Noted political strategist Billy Vassiliadis said any sheriff would "have to be somebody whose entire career is in public safety and law enforcement and has a passion for it."

And although he doesn't rule an outsider out, Vassiliadis does give the early edge to those within Metro's ranks.

Two names popped up with some regularity Monday around Metro: Deputy Chief Bill Young and Capt. Gary Schofield.

Young, 45, with 23 years with Metro, had been rumored to be a possible candidate in five years after Keller's third term. That time frame appears to have been moved up following Keller's surprise announcement.

"I'm giving it (running for sheriff) serious consideration," Young said after Keller made his announcement. "I need to talk to my family first. It's a very big decision."

Political strategist Kent Oram, who with Vassiliadis ran Keller's two campaigns, thinks Young is the one to watch.

"Bill Young, if he decided to run is definitely going to be a contender," Oram said, referring to Young's extensive law enforcement experience.

Schofield, 38, and with 16 years at Metro, said he had not even thought about running for sheriff since he believed the job would have been filled by Keller through 2006.

"I'm just stunned right now," he said. "I am just getting my mind around the fact that he won't be running again."

"I wasn't even thinking about it because I would never run against the sheriff," he said.

Schofield worked on Keller's first campaign. When Keller sought re-election in 1998, Schofield worked on the failed campaign of retired Metro Lt. Bobby Hitt.

Hitt conceded the election before the general election and after Keller received 62 percent of the vote in the primary to Hitt's second-place finish with 16 percent. Schofield said Keller never held that decision against him.

A few former cops' names also have been raised to run for the sheriff's office including current Las Vegas Township Constable Robert "Bobby G." Gronauer.

"There hadn't been much time to think about it," said Gronauer, who retired from Metro in 1998 with 28 years of service after being elected constable. "Being sheriff is something that piques my interest, but I need to talk with my family before making any decisions."

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald, a former Metro officer, said he had no interest in being top cop.

"God no," McDonald said. "That's the toughest job in the world."

Richard Perkins, deputy police chief in Henderson and state Assembly Speaker, will not rule out a bid for sheriff in 2002.

"Law enforcement is a love of mine," Perkins said. "Jerry's announcement was just today, so it's something I'd have to give careful consideration."

Vassiliadis said someone like Perkins could have a chance if he garnered support within Metro.

"It's very hard to win without the department's support and rank-and-file support," Vassiliadis said. "Certainly being inside Metro is going to give that person a leg up."

Oram adds that with Keller out of the next sheriff's race, the general public won't recognize the candidates. As a result, police endorsements will be critical.

"Whoever will get the cop endorsements will win," he predicted.

The shuffling by potential candidates left other local leaders thinking only about the job Keller has done heading the nation's 10th largest police department.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Keller was always available to him at a moment's notice, specifically when it came to the Downtown Area Command.

"As a criminal defense lawyer, I always had respect for him," Goodman said.

Goodman said Keller's successor should have a similar love for the department that Keller exhibits each day.

"He takes great pride in his personnel and that attitude is contagious," Goodman said. "(Potential candidates) have to have the respect of their fellow peace officers, and they have to have a drive to make the department as good as the department can be."

Gary Peck, executive director of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, has been widely critical of some of Metro's tactics over the years. But even Peck admitted Keller will be a tough act to follow.

"Our differences with the department have always been about policies and practices rather than personalities," Peck said.

"We believe the sheriff has done many good things while at the helm," Peck said. "There have also been times when the department acted or failed to act that were deeply disappointing to us.

"That should surprise no one who understands the roles of law enforcement and civil rights watchdogs in our society," he added.

Vassiliadis credited Keller for reducing crime and instituting programs to make Metro more community-minded, such as the First Tuesday program and Keller's willingness to help pass a school bond issue.

"Jerry was probably as available to the community as any police chief, sheriff, in the country," Vassiliadis said. "I think his global approach is probably his hallmark."

Even potential candidates speak about Keller's accomplishments.

"Jerry's done an extraordinary job, and I'd wish he'd stay," Perkins said.

Keller, however, said he's bowing out of elected office.

"I have been asked to run for governor, asked to run for Congress and asked to run for Senate, and I can say I am not going to run for anything," Keller said.

Keller points out his retirement is still 14 months away -- when his second term ends.

"I'm still sheriff right now," he said.

Keller says he will look at who decides to run and then decide if he will endorse any of the candidates.