Dean defeats Carpenter in sheriff’s race




Geoff Dean will be Ventura County’s next sheriff.

Dean, a 53-year-old commander with the sheriff’s department, beat Chief Dep. Dennis Carpenter 59.5 percent to 39.7 percent in a fight between two longtime lawmen that was one of the most contentious in the county’s history.

The final vote count was 59,063 to 39,429.

“I’m very proud of the campaign we’ve run,” said Dean during an election night party in Camarillo with nearly 300 supporters in attendance. “It’s extremely rewarding, and it’s all because of the team we had that helped us get the word out in Ventura County.”

Carpenter took the news in stride.

“Obviously we’re disappointed, but I’m excited about what the future holds for me,” the sheriff’s chief deputy said.

Carpenter would not comment on whether he plans to retire after more than 30 years with the department.

“I’m going to take a few days off and discuss that with my wife,” he said.

Dean will replace Sheriff Bob Brooks, who’s retiring after his third term in office and 36 years in law enforcement.

Brooks backed Chief Dep. Carpenter and, in the months leading up to Election Day, had openly criticized Dean for a 2008 incident involving database privacy that prompted Brooks to fire Dean.

Dean’s dismissal was later overturned by the Ventura County Civil Service Commission.

The board had ruled that Brooks’ decision to fire the former chief deputy was “clearly excessive.” Soon after, Dean announced his candidacy and set into motion the first contested sheriff’s race in more than 30 years.

When asked if he felt vindicated, Dean sidestepped the question and said he was focused on the job to come.

“I’ve just tried to put all that behind me. I’m just happy that the voters supported and believed in us,” Dean said.

He had the support of the deputies union and the backing of police chiefs from the five cities not under the sheriff’s jurisdiction, while Carpenter, 55, was endorsed by Brooks and the department’s command staff.

Politics aside, Dean will be faced with a number of challenges in the coming year when he takes over as sheriff.

The state budget crunch and the sluggish economy will force the department to trim its $225-million budget. Pension reform will likely be a hot topic in the near future, as will the impact of the state’s overcrowded prison system on Ventura County.

The sheriff’s office has no term limits, and the last contested race for the seat was in 1974 when Al Jalaty won.


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