In a surprise move, Multnomah County Undersheriff Tom Slyter today filed (PDF) to run for sheriff in the May 2010 primary.
The move is startling because Slyter is a close friend of Sheriff Bob Skipper but is now running against Skipper’s own hand-picked successor, Lt. Dan Staton.
“Dan’s a nice guy, (but) I’ve got a few things I’d like to see happen in the sheriff’s office,” Slyter tells WW. “I decided that I’d give it a shot, stick my oar in the water and see what happens.”
Slyter retired from the sheriff’s office in 1999. He was working as a manager for Frontier Airlines when Skipper brought Slyter back to the sheriff’s office last year as undersheriff after Skipper replaced Sheriff Bernie Giusto.
Skipper at the time described Slyter as a trusted friend to help him reform the agency. Skipper even chose Slyter as his appointed interim in case Skipper had to step down.
But neither Skipper nor Slyter has a state law-enforcement certification, which is required to be sheriff. When Skipper twice failed a test to gain his certification and announced in September he was resigning, he switched to Staton as his appointed interm and has since backed Staton in his own bid to be elected sheriff.
Staton officially takes over as interim sheriff on Thursday, Nov. 5, when Skipper leaves office. Slyter also is stepping down as undersheriff.
Slyter says he planned to attend the police academy in October to gain his law-enforcement certification. But Slyter says when Skipper announced he was stepping down, Skipper also decided not to send Slyter to the academy.
Slyter, who is 63, says he has no doubt he can pass the 16-week basic police academy if he’s elected sheriff.
“I’m just as healthy as a horse,” he says. “A healthy horse.”
The board of county commissioners on Nov. 5 will set a date early next year for the election to complete the rest of Skipper’s term through the end of 2010. Candidates have not yet been allowed to file for that race, but Staton, retired Capt. Bruce McCain, and now Slyter all say they will run.
As of today, only Slyter, Staton and McCain are in the running for the May 2010 primary for a full four-year term as sheriff.
- Sheriff Skipper Announces Retirement Multnomah
- Two Races, Four Candidates: A New Filing for the MultCo Sheriff Primary Shortly a
- First Contender to Replace Sheriff Bob Skipper: Bruce McCain News that
- New Sheriff Asks State to Give MultCo Probe Top Priority In what a
- Same as the Old Boss: New Sheriff Keeps Concealed Handgun-Holders Secret Continuin
Tags: Tom Slyter
Skipper’s legacy is about to make us forget all about Bernie. Skipper flunks an open book test twice, after being tutored by Dan Staton. That triggers a special election that the county says will cost taxpayers nearly a half-million dollars. Thanks Bob!
So Skipper dumps his Undersheriff in favor of his personal tutor, Staton, to serve as interim sheriff. So, how does Slyter thank his buddy Bob who brought him in for a year at $135k to boost his PERS salary? By filing to run against Skipper’s boy the same day WWeek breaks the story about the training cover-up that happened with Skipper, Slyter and Staton in charge.
Bernie’s lawyer dude is looking better all the time, provided he goes back in there and cleans the place out.
Slyter or Staton? Pick your favorite Skipper crony, and pray they can pass an open book test.
[...] becomes the fourth candidate to file for the race, along with Staton, former Undersheriff Tom Slyter and retired Capt. Bruce [...]