Young claims sheriff’s job

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 11:25 a.m.

Hugging his wife and children, Metro Police Deputy Chief Bill Young claimed victory in the race for sheriff Tuesday night, defeating Capt. Randy Oaks.

Young, who spent $1.1 million on his campaign, captured 55.2 percent of the vote. Oaks received 44.7 percent while spending $180,000.

"This is the biggest endeavor Sandy and I have ever taken on in our lives," Young told a crowd of about 100 cheering supporters at Big Dog's Cafe on Sahara Avenue. "We love Metro and we want to see it move forward."

Young told reporters he had dinner earlier with Sheriff Jerry Keller, but Keller didn't stay long at Young's victory celebration because "he wanted this to be my night."

Young said he plans to take a few days off to catch his breath, then begin a transition with Keller. Young will be sworn in Jan. 6.

"I'm on top of the world," he said. "I'm humbled."

Young said he has nothing against Oaks, pointing out that their campaigns weren't negative.

In a banquet room at the Castaways, Oaks' supporters were subdued as the election results trickled in.

"We're a little disappointed at the early numbers," Oaks said.

Oaks' daughter Staci Brick, who teaches honors and advanced placement government classes at Silverado High School, said she used her father's campaign as a teaching tool. It piqued the interest of a group of her students, who showed up at the Castaways to support Oaks.

Taking a break from a lively conversation about Question 2, Adrienne Barry, 17, said: "We came tonight because this is something (Brick) speaks passionately about. Also, free food is always good for teenagers."

Brandon Collins, 17, said he's interested in the sheriff's race because he wants to get involved in politics.

"If I get involved, maybe more teenagers will get involved," he said.

After the election results were finalized, Oaks said he was disappointed, but thought he ran a great race, considering he didn't have a lot of money to spend on campaigning.

"If the hotels want to band together and exclude me, there's nothing I can do," he said, referring to the fact that Young received campaign funding from resorts.

"If I had half the money (Young) had, I would have won, and I still believe that."

Oaks, a 29-year veteran of Metro, said he's not sure what the future holds. He said he's entitled to remain a captain, but said "the ball's in Bill's court to see what role he wants me to play in Metro."

During the campaign, Young and Oaks were most sharply divided over their assessment of Metro.

Young, who had the support of Keller, contended throughout his campaign that the department was running well, but could improve.

Meanwhile, Oaks tried to highlight his bid to be an agent of change by casting Young as part of the current administration, which he said had lost touch with the rank and file as well as the citizens.

Oaks ran for sheriff in 1994, but was defeated by Keller.

The candidates also clashed over a number of department policies, most visibly Metro's policies on drug testing and truthfulness.

Oaks said the department's internal drug testing was flawed because it was conducted by Metro's own lab, and employees who test positive are given a pass.

Young felt the policy was too harsh, saying during a debate that "our employees are human beings, and we can never lose sight of that."