He gains 31 points since the primary in SBC sheriff’s race
Darren Thompson is the new sheriff as he opened up an early lead
election night and never trailed, according to unofficial
results.
Thompson ran away with the election with nearly 56.5 percent of
the vote as of the close of counting Tuesday. His opponent,
Undersheriff Pat Turturici, received around 43 percent.
He gains 31 points since the primary in SBC sheriff’s race
Darren Thompson is the new sheriff as he opened up an early lead election night and never trailed, according to unofficial results.
Thompson ran away with the election with nearly 56.5 percent of the vote as of the close of counting Tuesday. His opponent, Undersheriff Pat Turturici, received around 43 percent.
Thompson, a Watsonville police lieutenant, steadily increased his lead throughout the night as results were released but he continued to believe it wasn’t over and that one precinct could evaporate his margin.
But that all changed at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, when all the votes for the night were finally tallied and Thompson couldn’t wipe away a smile.
“I’m a little numb right now,” Thompson said. “This is the end of a journey 10 months in length. I kept not allowing myself to imagine what it would be like to be sheriff, and it allowed me to keep my focus campaigning.”
That celebration culminated a tumultuous race in which the two finalists advanced in June by out-gaining Hollister police Sgt. Ray Wood and Marshal Robert Scattini for the majority of votes. As campaigns hit their high gear in the final weeks before the election, Turturici ran into an array of roadblocks.
The undersheriff dealt with the county deputy sheriff’s association and two other neighboring unions pulling their endorsements of him, an internal investigation called by Sheriff Curtis Hill in relation to allegations Turturici threatened office employees in regard to the race, and the infamous “No on Turturici” sign that became the subject of questions and allegations over who posted it, and whether it was legal.
Thompson finally rejoiced late Tuesday and envisioned himself as being sheriff after all of the night’s votes were counted, aside from about 3,000 provisional and absentee ballots left to tally. Just before midnight Tuesday, Thompson proclaimed his victory by wearing a gold sheriff’s-badge sticker.
Thompson said his first step would be talking to every one of the sheriff’s office employees to “find what they care about – find what they want to do.”
“I want to make sure everyone is doing all the right things in all the right places for all the right reasons,” he said.
Thompson’s runaway victory was a dramatic change over his showing in the primary election earlier this year.
Thompson, the outsider in a four-person race, barely forced a runoff in June while gaining 25.2 percent of the votes.
Turturici had nearly 46.8 percent of the vote and had needed only 50 percent to avoid Tuesday’s election. But many things changed in the final five months before Nov. 2.
Along the way, the two candidates stayed strong in their campaigns’ focus. Turturici talked mostly about gang prevention, and Thompson continually expressed a desire to build the character of the department.
“I’m so strong about my values of competency, character and community,” he said. “It is very affirming that the community that I call home acknowledged my values.”
Thompson’s election party at Mars Hill attracted a large crowd that flowed outside the coffee shop’s doors. Throughout the night, until 11 p.m. when it closed, his supporters huddled around computers and cell phones to track the votes.
The crowd was loud and excited. It was a celebratory atmosphere that was ready to call a Thompson victory after the first results were announced.
“I’m here to celebrate regardless if he wins or loses,” Thompson supporter Deirdre Jara said. “He ran a clean campaign, and that’s reason to celebrate.”
Another supporter, Bob Wiltse believed there was no doubt – Thompson would eventually be crowned the winner.
“He’ll bring a higher degree of professionalism to the department,” he said.
At around 10 p.m., just after the second results were posted, Thompson addressed the large gathering to thank them and to remain cautiously optimistic.
Thompson admitted that the campaign was rough.
“It kind of reminded me when you’re out in the high country and you’re thinking about going out for a swim, and some idiot tells you to get into the water,” he said. “It’s not that cold? It’s that cold, let me tell you. It’s been cold water.”
By midnight, though, it was all worth it, Thompson said.
“I’m really glad the campaigning is over,” he admitted.
Turturici’s election party, filled with family and friends, was a little more somber until the candidate walked in at 8:30 p.m. Attendees stood and applauded as Turturici walked in from the back door of Paine’s Restaurant.
Turturici walked around the large dining hall shaking hands. Once Turturici appeared, he told one of his supporters to ask a reporter and photographer from the Pinnacle to leave his campaign event because it was a private party.
Afterward, Turturici did not return phone calls before publication.
