Young, Oaks will meet in November election

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 11:22 a.m.

Metro Police Deputy Chief Bill Young finished first in the nonpartisan election for Clark County sheriff, but his closest competitor, Metro Capt. Randy Oaks, claimed that his respectable finish without spending big money was more impressive.

Young captured more than 51,000 votes or about 41.25 percent, and Oaks garnered more than 38,400 votes or about 30.9 percent. The pair easily outdistanced eight other candidates to claim the two spots in the general election in November to decide who will be the county's top cop.

But Oaks, surrounded by about 30 boisterous supporters, pointed out he spent less than $70,000 in his campaign to the more than $635,000 that Young spent.

"I am the candidate of the people, not of big money," Oaks said.

While Young admitted the 10-point victory in the primary's unofficial vote tally was not the knockout punch he was hoping for, he said he was pleased with the results.

"I started with zero name identification and have come a long way," Young said while standing in front of his headquarters with more than 75 supporters, including Sheriff Jerry Keller. "Randy has run for sheriff before and was the spokesman (for Metro) for a long time. So I am very happy with the vote."

Oaks ran for sheriff in 1994, an election won by Keller.

The two top vote-getters were followed by Metro Lt. Steve Franks with about 12 percent of the vote. The other seven candidates, including two current and one former Metro officer, attracted little attention from the voters.

The other candidates were: former Metro Lt. Debra Gauthier with 5.8 percent, real estate agent Joe Castillo with 4 percent, artist Rod Beasley with 2.2 percent, casino employee Christopher Grant with 1.1 percent, Metro robbery Detective Gordon Martines with 1.1 percent, Metro Officer Dirk Thomas with 0.96 percent and property manager Ronald Moers with 0.51 percent.

Young apparently will also have to contend with third-place challenger Franks throwing his support behind Oaks.

"I've talked with Randy and said that if it can't be me, then I want it to be him," said Franks, who spent about $41,000 in his campaign. "Bill Young better be scared because together Randy and I got more votes for a lot less money."

Oaks said his showing in the primary should lead to more campaign contributions. Young said he expects to also raise more money for the sprint to the Nov. 5 general election.

Young and Oaks are most sharply divided over the their assessment of Metro. Young says the department is running well, but can improve, while Oaks claims the administration has lost touch not only with the street cops but also the residents.

Oaks said 75 to 80 percent of Metro's cops support him, but he said the figure was not based on any poll, but on talking with officers. The Police Protective Association, union for the rank and file police and corrections officers, endorsed Young early in the campaign.

Keller, who surprised many in October when he announced would not be seeking a third term, has also appeared on television ads supporting Young, a member of Keller's administration.

The current sheriff's support of Young is one of the divisions between the two top vote-getters in the primary. Oaks took a not-so-veiled shot at Keller Tuesday night to the roaring approval of his supporters when he said, "There is a big void in this department in leadership."

He has also said Keller's "You lie, you fly" truthfulness policy has been unfairly administered to some officers and has created a culture among officers to never retract any statements made during an investigation. The policy created by Keller calls for the termination of any officer caught lying during an internal investigation.

Oaks said he wants to make the decision on firing officers based on the facts of the case.

Young, head of the Special Operations Division, says he will maintain Keller's truthfulness policy, adding that citizens expect that officers will tell the truth.

Young said he believes Metro is a good department. He said he will focus on homeland security and fighting identity theft and fraud.

Oaks, head of the General Services Bureau, said he wants to improve the department's 911 system and service to the community.