Lupe Valdez
| Lupe Valdez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas | |
|
Assumed office January 1, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Bowles |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Guadalupe Valdez October 11, 1947 San Antonio, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Religion | Christian |
| Website | lupevaldez.com |
Guadalupe "Lupe" Valdez (born October 11, 1947) is an American law enforcement official who is currently the Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas.
Early life
Born to migrant farm worker parents, she was raised in San Antonio as the youngest of seven children. She started life working in the fields, but paid her way through college, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. She then earned a Master's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Career
Prior to entering law enforcement, Lupe Valdez was an officer in the United States Army. During her time in the Army, she attained the rank of Captain.
Her law enforcement career began as a jailer, first in a county jail and then a federal prison. She then moved on to investigative roles as an agent of the General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and, finally, the U.S. Customs Service where she was a leader in the federal Counter Smuggling Initiative. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, she was made a Senior Agent, serving in that role until her retirement in 2004. In January 2004, Lupe Valdez retired to run for the office of Dallas County Sheriff.
Election as Sheriff
On January 2, 2004, Lupe Valdez announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Dallas County Sheriff. During the primary election, she faced three opponents, and finished as the highest vote-getter with 13,867 votes. She subsequently won a run-off election against future Dallas County Judge Jim Foster. Valdez won 73% of the vote in the run-off.
As she entered the general campaign, Valdez was widely considered the underdog in her general election race against Republican Danny Chandler. Chandler, a 30-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, had defeated incumbent Sheriff Jim Bowles in the Republican primary. Bowles, who was tainted by corruption allegations, had held the office for 20 years.
The general election saw Valdez beat Chandler by 51.3% to 48.7% - a margin of some 18,000 votes. The election, combined with the fact that Valdez is female, Hispanic and a lesbian, made national headlines and was even reported overseas.
As an openly gay candidate for public office, Valdez's campaign won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. She was sworn in on January 1, 2005.
Valdez formerly attended the Cathedral of Hope of Greater Dallas.
Upon taking office as Dallas County Sheriff, Valdez faced a department that was wracked by poor morale, tainted by allegations of corruption and marred by the fact that the Dallas County Jail had begun failing state and federal inspections prior to her election. The jail had failed inspections because of poor sanitation conditions which endanger prisoners, many of whom have not ultimately been found to be guilty of any crime and are merely being held pending being formally charged or, released; a failing smoke evacuation system, unacceptable medical care, and a lack of sufficient guards to meet the legally required guard-to-inmate ratio.
Although the Dallas County Jail had begun failing state and federal inspections prior to Valdez being elected to office, the jail continued to fail inspections every year thereafter until 2010, when the jail passed certification by the State of Texas for the first time since 2003.[1]
2008 Re-election
Valdez formally filed for re-election to a second term on December 3, 2007.[2] She faced criticism from her opponents[3] and the Dallas Morning News.[4]
Valdez won the 2008 primary, narrowly avoiding a runoff by winning 50.85% in a four-candidate field on March 4, 2008.[5]
On November 4, 2008, Lupe Valdez was re-elected Sheriff of Dallas County with 388,327 votes to Lowell Cannaday's 322,808 votes, a margin of roughly 65,500. Valdez received over 99,000 more votes than the "Straight Democratic" option. She won in precincts across Dallas County, including formerly Republican areas including Valley Ranch in Irving and Mesquite. Her opponent won most precincts in far North Dallas, Richardson, Coppell, and the southern part of Irving.[6] She began her second four-year term on January 1, 2009.
Second Term
In 2010, the Dallas County Jails passed inspection by the State of Texas for the first time since 2003. Completion of a new jail facility in 2009 and continued investment from Dallas County were cited as steps towards re-certification of the Dallas County jail system, which passed inspection once again in 2011.[7]
Also in 2010, Sheriff Valdez was elected to the Democratic National Committee[8] and was appointed by President Barack Obama to a committee regarding immigration reform.[9]
Third Term
In November, 2012, Valdez won a third term, defeating Republican challenger Kirk Launius. She also announced in 2015 that she would be seeking a fourth term in 2016.
Controversy
Valdez's tenure has been marked by a number of controversies, including:
- Allegedly poor communications inside the department, with county officials, and with the press.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
- Dallas County jails still failing state inspections,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] though with improving levels of compliance at least partly due to Dallas County spending "millions" to improve sanitation and jail health.[26]
- Declining arrest rates for driving while intoxicated and alleged disproportionate DWI arrests of Hispanics.[27][28][28]
- High levels of overtime.[13][21][27][29][30][31][32]
- Using trainee jail guards in the jails.[33]
- Taking 2 years to successfully pass her Texas Peace Officer Certification examination after being elected.[14]
- Engaging in campaign activities while in uniform.[16][34] However, according to state law in Texas, it is not illegal for elected law enforcement officers, including sheriffs and constables, to campaign in their uniform.
- Grant applications management controversies.[35]
- Failing to update promotion lists via testing, and promoting some staff without currently valid lists.[36]
- Allowing some deputies to use take-home cars outside county Commissioners' Court-approved guidelines.[37][38]
- Violating "long-standing policy" in Dallas County, which was upheld by a state district judge,[39] by authorizing the Discovery Channel to film a documentary without gaining required Commissioner Court permission.[26] This prompted the Commissioners Court to unanimously seek[40] (and ultimately get[41]) a restraining order against the Sheriff. The Dallas Morning News editorial board criticized the Sheriff's handling of the matter: "the positive publicity from finally meeting state standards would have been superior to that of a cable documentary and an unnecessary fight with those who hold her purse strings."[42]
- Eliminating patrol officers and moving all of them to freeway patrols for a goal of "boosting ticket revenue".[43]
- Stop honoring immigration and Custom Enforcement requests for certain offense detainees. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott demanded she reverse this policy. [44]
References
- ↑ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/081210dnmetjails.44520b6a.html Dallas County jail system passes inspection for first time since 2003
- ↑ http://www.lupevaldez.com/media/filing2.html announcement speech
- ↑ Dallas county sheriff Valdez gets ready for nasty fight | pegasusnews.com | Dallas / Fort Worth
- ↑ We Recommend | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials
- ↑ ENR
- ↑ http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/Dallas/9051/13328/en/md.html?cid=0158 Dallas Election Results
- ↑ http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110429-dallas-county-jails-pass-second-straight-state-inspection.ece Dallas County jails pass second straight state inspection, Dallas Morning News
- ↑ http://www.tdw.org/newsTDW2009Q4.pdf
- ↑ http://www.dfwhispanic100.org/pdf/hispanic100april.pdf H-100 Congratulations
- ↑ Dallas - News - Sheriff Who? Dallas - News - Sheriff Who?]
- ↑ Dallas County jailers, deputies to get holiday meal after all | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas News Dallas County jailers, deputies to get holiday meal after all | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas News]
- ↑ JAMES RAGLAND | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News
- 1 2 Dallas - News - Gravy Train Dallas - News - Gravy Train]
- 1 2 Unfair Park - Exclusive: Sheriff Lupe Ain't a Good Test-Taker Unfair Park - Exclusive: Sheriff Lupe Ain't a Good Test-Taker] Unfair Park - Exclusive: Sheriff Lupe Ain't a Good Test-Taker]
- ↑ Dallas - News - Sheriff Who? Dallas - News - Sheriff Who?]4
- 1 2 Dallas County Sheriff Valdez accused of campaigning in county buildings | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News Dallas County Sheriff Valdez accused of campaigning in county buildings | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News]
- ↑ Dallas - News - Sheriff Who? Dallas - News - Sheriff Who?]2
- ↑ Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez gets a jump on re-election bid | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Editorial: What happened to 'change'? | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials
- ↑ Dallas County jail fails fifth straight inspection | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News
- 1 2 Jail reform a hot topic among Democrats running for Dallas County sheriff | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News Jail reform a hot topic among Democrats running for Dallas County sheriff | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News]
- ↑ State review: Dallas County Jail no better | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas News
- ↑ Dallas County approves order for jail improvements | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Jail bill targets Dallas | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas Legislature
- 1 2 Dallas County jail filming upsets some commissioners | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- 1 2 Dallas - News - Sheriff Who? Dallas - News - Sheriff Who?]5
- 1 2 Deputies getting little use from mobile rig in DWI fight | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News Deputies getting little use from mobile rig in DWI fight | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News]
- ↑ Dallas County sheriff battles commissioner over overtime report | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth Politics | The Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Overtime bill at Dallas jails tops $9 million | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Dallas County OKs raising tax rate 6.6% | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Dallas County jail OT still running into millions | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ New jailers work without training | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Front Page Stories
- ↑ Hits and Misses | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials
- ↑ Dallas Sheriff says grant writer did better than was reported | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Promotions made without using list | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Sheriff targeting car policy | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ↑ Dallas County taxpayers shelled out at least $5,800 in legal fight over jail filming | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dal...
- ↑ Judge to rule today in battle over filming at Dallas County jail | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News
- ↑ TV crew's departure a lucky break for Sheriff Lupe Valdez | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Columnist James Ragland | Dallas-Fort Worth News
- ↑ Editorial: Sheriff picks unnecessary fight | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials
- ↑ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-sherifftraffic_17met.ART0.North.Edition1.4ddc526.html
- ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/texas-gov-wants-dallas-revoke-sanctuary-city-policy-n452211
External links
| Preceded by Jim Bowles |
Sheriff of Dallas County, Texas January 1, 2005–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |