Sheriff Curtis Hill today called a recent flier sent by Pat
Turturici a
”
mixed message
”
due to the internal investigation against the undersheriff and
said he will bypass throwing his official support behind either
candidate before Tuesday’s election.
Sheriff Curtis Hill today called a recent flier sent by Pat Turturici a “mixed message” due to the internal investigation against the undersheriff and said he will bypass throwing his official support behind either candidate before Tuesday’s election.
Turturici’s campaign in the past week sent a flier – which is a message from Hill with his picture touting the undersheriff for his experience, understanding of the local office and his Hollister roots. But the flier tells residents to cast their votes on June 8 – the date of the primary – while it was sent to voters late last week in the final days of the race, and as Hill’s office continues to conduct an internal investigation against Turturici.
Before the June primary, Hill publicly supported Turturici, as expressed in the flier. A day before the election, it isn’t so clear where he stands. On Tuesday’s ballot, the undersheriff faces Watsonville police Lt. Darren Thompson to succeed Hill, who is retiring after 12 years in the seat.
Hill said he is taking the stance of former Sheriff Harvey Nyland – whom he succeeded – by sending the message to a successor that, “You need to win this thing on your own.”
“It would be disingenuous for me (to endorse) on one hand because I’m calling for an investigation to look into some allegations,” Hill said. “Calling for that investigation to maintain the integrity and the honesty of the office and protect the county against liability, and yet have that kind of information distributed – it’s a mixed message.”
Hill today confirmed the probe launched last month and conducted by an outside investigator is “ongoing.” Although the sheriff said he could not comment on details, sources previously confirmed to the Free Lance how Hill called for the investigation due to allegations that Turturici threatened the job status of several office employees in relation to the sheriff’s race.
Hill took action regarding the allegations after office employees approached him about it. It also came on the heels of the San Benito County Deputy Sheriff’s Association pulling its prior endorsement of Turturici, while two other neighboring deputy unions followed suit and did the same.
Hill declined to say whether he officially is endorsing either candidate or staying neutral.
“I’m not going to say either way,” Hill said. “I just want people to understand, as sheriff, in order to maintain the honesty and integrity I’ve built over the last 12 years, that’s the reason I’m conducting this investigation, and it’s still ongoing.”
Hill noted how he “doesn’t have control over that” in regard to the flier going out with his message.
“The bottom line is, I’m sheriff until Dec. 30 of 2010,” he said. “And I’m going to maintain the honesty and integrity of the office. I don’t have control over things I don’t have control over.”
He went on: “Voters are smart. People need to vote for whoever is the best candidate.”
Neither Turturici nor Thompson could be reached immediately before publication.
