Steven Martin Q&A

CANDIDATE INTERVIEW

Q&A With W. Steven Martin, Candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff

Ed. Note: W. Steven Martin, longtime country western disc jockey in Arizona, is running as an Independent for sheriff in Maricopa County. Martin is identified in the interview by "WSM." And The Arizona Conservative is identified as "TAC."

TAC: What led to your decision to run for sheriff of Maricopa County ?

WSM: With encouragement from many field and command officers within MCSO (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) as well as from the law enforcement community at large, I decided to make a run at this office. Most voters and the public in general have no idea about how inefficiently this office is run. There is quite a history of good lawmen making unsuccessful attempts at defeating this sheriff, but his self-proclaimed popularity has led to a stomping at the polls. I believe that with my positive name recognition and a long history of support of law enforcement, I have the best opportunity to unseat the current sheriff. My intention is to serve no more than two terms, in which time we will effect positive change in the MCSO for the good of the taxpayers as well as all local law enforcement.

TAC: Please describe your past law enforcement experience.

WSM: I joined the MCSO Jeep Posse in 1988, and earned the right to wear MCSO Badge #J-603.

At my own personal expense, I received all the requisite equipment and training. I have been involved in police support programs for over 20 years, and I have served on advisory boards for police departments and have participated on review boards over the last five years.

TAC: What do you think are the biggest issues today, involving the MCSO?

WSM: The top issue is to find a way to keep personnel on board the MCSO team. It’s not just about the money. It’s about respect and the right of deputies and the entire chain of command to provide input on issues without fear of retribution.

TAC: What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing the current employees of MCSO?

(1) Trust

(2) Getting control of the current budget

(3) Pride in leadership and uniform

(4) Positive communication with command staff, employees.

(5) Pay and retirement benefits for dedicated team workers.

(6) Better communication with all other law enforcement

(7) Better service to the public

TAC: If you were elected to the office of sheriff, what would be your top priorities?

WSM:

(1) Staff changes at the top

(2) Open lines of communication with deputies and detention staff

(3) Improving the information flow and working together with the county board of supervisors

(4) Building a better retirement package for dedicated employees

TAC: How would the sheriff's office operate differently under your direction than under the current sheriff?

WSM: After the election, we will bring in a cross section of employees from all departments to search for the best way to implement change and encourage staff to stay and work for the common goal of a united department. Until MCSO staff can come in and articulate the areas in need of critical change, we cannot fully understand what needs to change with any priority.

TAC: If elected sheriff, would you continue or discontinue Tent City?

WSM: Tent City is an affordable way to incarcerate or contain both inmates and citizens held for trial or who cannot afford bond. We will look at reorganizing Tent City in an attempt to make the tent areas safer, first for detention officers and then for inmates.

TAC: Sheriff Arpaio's critics accuse him of staging dog and pony shows. Also, there are a number of abuses, numerous lawsuits against the sheriff, and spending taxpayer money lavishly in his office. What is your assessment of his tenure as sheriff?

WSM: The current sheriff has long since outlived his usefulness as an effective leader. In his first term, he initiated some innovative programs (see Tent City above). However, he has become a product of his own publicity machine. He is a gold mine for all local media. His “dog and pony shows” frequently make the local news, including print, television and radio. In the battle to sell a local paper, local channel or news talk show, these kinds of stories help bring up the ratings and profits. However, law enforcement is not about gimmicks; it is about serving the community and being good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. I believe that vision has been lost in the glare of the publicity.

TAC: How would you describe your management style?

WSM:

(1) Allowing people in positions of trust to do their jobs without micromanagement

(2) Listening to input from employees at every level of the organization

(3) Making decisions based on good research and gut instinct

TAC: Can Joe Arpaio be beaten in a primary election?

WSM:

(1) Not likely. His toughness claim has created a hold on the Republican voters likely garnering him roughly 45 percent of the vote.

(2) The names of his primary opponents are not very well known.

(3) It would take about $300,000 or more in media dollars to match his name exposure.

(4) Most out-of-town voters 50+ will be out of state in the summer and will not hear the challengers’ messages.

TAC: How would you describe the confidence level of citizens that live in the unincorporated areas, are they safe in their homes and communities?

WSM: Low. Most people that I have talked to are not happy with the service, response time or general patrol of deputies in the outer, more rural areas. The sad thing is that people within the city limits (Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale) don’t know or care about how understaffed these areas of the county are.

TAC: What are you hearing from the people that you are contacting as you campaign for sheriff?

WSM: I have not met one person in over 30 public appearances who was not encouraging about my entering the race. I constantly hear comments such as, “I trust you, and I know you will do a good job for all of us. It’s about time someone with a good name ran against that man.”

My change to Independent status has also been well received. As the Republican field grew to four candidates, it became apparent to me that, even with my positive name recognition of 70 percent, it would be nearly impossible to defeat the incumbent. With three of us in the Republican primary, I felt I had a decent shot at victory; with four, the chances diminished. I realized as well that my support base extended well beyond the Republican Party. My decision to run as an independent will allow all the voters of Maricopa County to have a real choice come November. I believe that when my campaign begins in earnest after the September primary, many of the unsuccessful candidates and their supporters will unite behind me to unseat the incumbent.

TAC: You have stated that you have been watched and followed by sheriff's deputies. Can you explain further and do you know if any other candidates have also been watched?

WSM: All of us can tell you that we have been watched. Let him watch. I have nothing to hide. My life has been on public display for over 30 years in my media career. I need to focus on the task of getting elected and then interview the people we have on videotape from the Silver Pony set-up. Thanks to the sheriff, we now have names of people from the Ahwatukee incident to interview.

TAC: There have been debates between other candidates for sheriff. However, Sheriff Arpaio has not joined in these. Can you tell us why?

WSM: The current sheriff has nothing to gain by participating in the debates. The majority of people who attend are not his fans, and he would only lose the battle of yells and screams. The more he stays away, the better his chance is of winning the election. He is not hiding because he feels he is above the fray; he is hiding because he knows he is vulnerable. Most of the debates I have attended were more of a set-up for certain candidates than an informative debate of issues or the candidates’ vision for the office.

TAC: Do you have any endorsements, and if so, from whom?

WSM: I have the endorsement of over 10,000 voters who have signed my petition for the November 2004 general election. Other candidates have fewer than half, about 3,800. Former Congressman Matt Salmon is my campaign chairman. The Arizona Highway Patrolmen’s Association (AHPA) likewise has endorsed me. I have only spoken with four other groups about any kind of endorsement.

When I decided to run as an independent, I accepted a much larger role and challenge in the race. I had to begin all over with my petition signature collection, and toss over 2,500 names already in my support base. I also contacted every major group or supporter and offered to release them from their endorsements. As of this date, none of them have backed off of their support. Before the primary election, the choice to endorse a candidate is not easy for most associations. They have better choices this election, yet they do not want to offend anyone who may defeat the current sheriff. I’m certain all the support will flow to one candidate after the primary election. A good leader will welcome them all. The battle is not among the challengers but rather against the incumbent. The goal is to make a change for the better in November.