Bill Hunt tries to “take the hill” against Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

Can Bill Hunt defeat Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, with Tim Whitacre as his Campaign Manager?

 Loading ...

It looks like former OCSD Lt. Bill Hunt, who served as Chief of Police in San Clemente until disgraced former O.C. Sheriff Mike Carona booted him, is going to be running against Carona’s replacement, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.  Hunt’s campaign website is up and running – and he has already announced his first fundraiser.

Former Sheriff Richard Mack, of Graham County, Arizona, is going to be speaking at a fundraiser for Hunt on August 1, at the Old World in Huntington Beach.  Hunt’s campaign is asking for $100 donations.  Mack is famed for suing the U.S. government, over the Brady Bill.  Apparently he won that lawsuit, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

So obviously Hunt is making gun rights the centerpiece of his campaign.  In fact he put this statement up on his campaign website:

I will issue concealed weapons permits (CCW) to any applicant who is a law abiding resident of the county, meets state mandated requirements and is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. I will depoliticize the process and establish an annual audit to review each application to ensure the process is unbiased, non-political and equitable.

I am not sure that is the way to go.  The problems in the Sheriff’s office stem from a lack of accountability and from the Sheriff’s money-wasting ways.  Carona was awful, but Hutchens has not been much of an improvement in those areas.

Did Hutchens err by going after all those concealed weapons permits?  Sure, but some of those people deserved to have their concealed weapons permits pulled.  None of us should feel safe with a bunch of Carona cronies running around with guns – not to mention the badges he handed out like candy to his contributors.

But is this really THE biggest issue to focus on?  I don’t think so.  But it does distract us from the fact that Hunt used to be one of Carona’s cronies too.  He got in trouble once for looking the other way when he pulled over the son of one of Carona’s Assistant Sheriff’s.  I don’t think Hunt is the answer, but I know Hutchens isn’t either.  And SAPD Chief Paul Walters isn’t running so we don’t have any other choices.

You should know by the way that Hunt’s campaign office is located at the offices of Tim Whitacre, the notorious OC GOP Central Committee member who worked on the recall of Nativo Lopez.  Whitacre is a nutty Talibani type given to opening meetings with prayers and screaming out inanities like “take the hill!”  Is Whitacre going to be the next crazy Assistant Sheriff?  God help us.

Hunt is already claiming a few endorsements, mostly from local unions.  Let’s see if Whitacre can round up a few elected officials on his behalf.  That will be a tough hill to take…