Duke Schirard has been La Plata County Sheriff since January 1995. He is seeking another term. One of his deputies, Sean Smith, seeks to replace him.
They answered audience questions at a Sept. 22 candidate forum hosted by the La Plata/ Archuleta Cattlemen.
Schirard, a Republican, is originally from Florida. He said he came here to hunt in 1970 and decided to live here. He got a part-time sheriff's job in airport security in 1974. That transitioned to a full-time jailer job, then patrolman, then investigator, then under-sheriff, then acting sheriff when the sheriff resigned. Back then, he said the sheriff's office had six deputies and three cars. In 1981, he moved to the Durango Police Department. In 1986, he became Bayfield Marshal. That continued until he became sheriff in 1995. He said he won election in November 1994 "by promising to remove the 'us versus them' attitude" of his predecessor, to reduce turnover, and to trust citizens with concealed carry rights.
He oversaw the start of the 911 emergency call system, creation of the DeNier youth detention center, major jail expansion, the start of the multi-agency Drug Task Force, and he led the incident command during the 2002 Missionary Ridge fire.
The sheriff's office now has 140 deputies and a $15 million budget, he said.
"We'll be there (when needed), but I don't need deputies leaning on you all the time for a stop sign or driving an ATV down the road with a shovel going to irrigate," he said. "There's more than enough for us to do without getting in your business."
Smith acknowledged he doesn't have a rural background but said his wife is from rural Oklahoma. "I haven't lived your ag life, but I understand it," he said. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was a La Plata County Sheriff's deputy, than worked for the Department of Justice in Oklahoma, covering 40 mostly rural counties. Then he returned to La Plata County and the sheriff's department.
He said he has both experience and ideas to make the office better. "There's technology that can help us do our job better," he said. He said he helped create the alternative to incarceration program. "I was hired in January 2000 for the pre-trial release position to reduce jail population. It wasn't working that well. We created the day reporting system and reduced recidivism (repeat arrests) and jail population."
He has been with the sheriff's office for a total of around 13 years, interrupted for two years in the DoJ position. "I applied to DoJ and beat out 47 other applicants. (But) I didn't belong in a skyscraper in Oklahoma City. This is where I wanted to be. When the opportunity came, I came back. This is my home."
Schirard was challenged on recent comments perceived as hostile and belittling to Durango residents.
"I don't like the political atmosphere of downtown Durango," he said. "There used to be 16 stores downtown that sold outdoor stuff. Now it's just tourist items." He said he objected to people spending "money on sculptures when there are so many other needs. That's what I mean. I don't despise anyone."
Gun issues came up.
Schirard said he's been a Durango Gun Club and NRA member for many years. "My avocation is guns, reloading and target shooting."
Asked whether he supports the 2nd Amendment and concealed carry rights, Smith said, "I got my first gun when I was 10. (Now) I only own 12. The legislature created a state system that the sheriff shall issue a (concealed carry) permit. I won't change anything with the current system."
Smith represented the sheriff's office at the 2013 state legislature hearings on controversial gun bills. He cited a study on whether a federal assault rifle ban did any good. "There was no evidence that it did," he said.
Asked how he would enforce the 2013 law limiting ammo magazines to 15 rounds, he agreed magazines aren't dated to show whether they were bought before or after that law took effect. "I own about 20 of those. You can go to New Mexico and get them. What is enforceable is if you use that in a crime, that's a crime in itself."
In closing, Schirard touted his long connections to ag and the land. "In 44 years, I've never tried to win a popularity contest, but I've tried to be the best sheriff you ever had, and I'm proud of my record."
Smith said voters have the choice of Schirard's position of "Please vote for me again for what I've done" and his position of "Please vote for me for what we can do together."
