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Plummer top choice in Montgomery County sheriff contest
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Two first-time candidates want to be the Montgomery County sheriff for the next four years, although one of them has had a chance to get his feet wet in the job during the past few months.
Sheriff Phil Plummer, a 20-year veteran of the department, was the Republican Party's choice to finish Sheriff Dave Vore's term following his retirement over the summer. Sheriff Plummer was picked over Butler Twp. Police Chief Danny Hobbs.
Sheriff Plummer is being challenged by Mike Tenore, an investigator in Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck Jr.'s office and a former Dayton police officer.
Both are dedicated law enforcement officers with solid track records, but Sheriff Plummer is the best fit for the job and a good bet to continue a tradition of solid leadership established by the quality people who preceded him — former Sheriffs Tom Wilson, Gary Haines and Vore.
The challenges ahead for the sheriff will require cooperation and strong alliances with county leaders and public officials as Montgomery County faces tight budgets and an increased need to consolidate services and cut spending.
In those efforts, Sheriff Plummer's style may prove to be refreshing to those who sometimes bristled at Sheriff Vore's more brusque approach.
As Sheriff Vore's chief deputy, Mr. Plummer ran the day-to-day operations of the department and managed many of the operations for which he is now responsible. The political realm is new for him, and he'll have to learn to navigate it and to compromise to get things done. He promises to do so.
In 2005, Dayton police dropped out of an effort to create a combined SWAT team partnership with the sheriff's office. That was a loss, and it partly resulted from hard feelings between the departments. Sheriff Plummer has pledged to clear the air and to keep trying to build one SWAT team.
Sheriff Vore's effort to create a countywide emergency communications center last year attracted fewer partners than hoped, and one complaint was that some small departments thought he wanted too much control. The complaint was bogus — the bigger issue was that some dispatchers might lose their jobs. Sheriff Plummer says he'll keep trying to bring more communities into the consolidated operation.
Mr. Tenore understandably is less familiar with the sheriff's department, but also less experienced as an administrator. His background is mostly in street-level policing, road patrol supervision and investigations.
Knowledge in those areas is useful for a sheriff, but the person in this post also is responsible for a $46 million budget, a jail and 470 employees. Management expertise is required.
Sheriff Plummer knows he has a strong tradition to uphold. He'll need to be a pragmatic problem-solver, and he can't be overly beholden to deputies who are not going to like some of the changes that are inevitable in tough economic times.
Sheriff Plummer understands the players and the inner workings of the office. He deserves your vote.
More about Phil Plummer
Age: 44
Education: Bachelor's degree in business management, University of Phoenix
Family: Married, three children
Web site: www.philplummerforsheriff.com
More about Mike Tenore
Age: 55
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration, Park University
Family: Married, two children
Web site: www.tenoreforsherrif.com
Candidates running in the Nov. 4 election were asked to provide an endorsement from someone of their choosing to appear along with our views.
Mike Tenore: 'He is tough, fair and compassionate'
This endorsement of Mike Tenore was provided by Dr. Rick Gebhart, of Butler Twp., a family physician at Crossroads Medical Center.
Mike Tenore deserves to be our sheriff. He is tough, fair and compassionate. Montgomery County is ripe with dangerous criminals; they need toughness. It is also dotted with good people who have made bad choices; they need fairness. And the county is also laden with the mentally challenged who find themselves in a frightening jail; these souls need compassion.
I was the medical director of a local jail for six years. I have known Tenore for more than a decade. I watched him rise from a Dayton street cop to the position of lieutenant. I've seen Tenore's toughness, I've witnessed his fairness, and I've experienced his compassion.
The world is a remarkable, yet dangerous, place. That's why the vote for sheriff is so important. No candidate could be more suited for the job. Tough, fair, and compassionate. I ask for your vote for Mike Tenore, sheriff.
Phil Plummer: 'Has extensive ... management experience'
This endorsement of Sheriff Phil Plummer was provided by retired Montgomery County Sheriff Dave Vore.
Sheriff Phil Plummer is a 20-year veteran of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. During his career, he has worked and supervised in every division within the office.
Prior to my retirement, Plummer served in my command staff as the operations commander, the personnel director, and as my chief deputy. Plummer has a bachelor's degree and successfully completed the 212th session of the National Federal Bureau of Investigations Academy. He also served as my emergency incident scene commander.
He has extensive law enforcement and management experience. He is actively involved in sports programs that help disadvantaged kids.
Plummer has experience managing a jail that has had overcrowding issues. He has managed a $46 million budget during difficult economic times. He is strongly involved in the gun violence reduction program in Montgomery County. Phil Plummer will carry on the proud tradition of the sheriff's office.
