Meet San Diego County Sheriff Candidate John 'Gundo' Gunderson

SAN DIEGO, CA — Voters will help decide who should serve as the next sheriff of San Diego County in the June 7 primary election.

John "Gundo" Gunderson, a police captain, is among the seven candidates vying to replace retired Sheriff Bill Gore. Gore stepped down from the position in February after heading the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for 12 years.

In March, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors appointed Anthony Ray to temporarily fill the seat until voters elect a new sheriff. Ray, a 30-year veteran of the department, was sworn in as interim sheriff in April.

The top two vote-getters in the primary will face off in the Nov. 8 election.

Patch sent questionnaires to the candidates in the race. These are Gunderson's responses.

John "Gundo" Gunderson

Age (as of Election Day)

46

Party Affiliation

Independent

Family

Wife and three children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Master's in Public Administration, Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Occupation

Police Captain — 31 years in law enforcement

Campaign website

Website

Why are you seeking elective office?

It seems obvious, given the high number of jail deaths, continuous internal ethical issues resulting in arrests and convictions of line level and command level staff, and deputies leaving the department in greater numbers than are coming in, that we need a new sheriff who is not going to simply carry on the legacy of the old administration. I also feel strongly that a sheriff should be apolitical and represent all persons in our community. I jumped in the race because all I saw were candidates who were professing to represent one side of the political spectrum or the other, and San Diego residents deserve better.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate in the race who is a current police administrator with experience working for multiple law enforcement agencies. The current challenges facing the Sheriff's Department are not few, nor minor in scope. It is going to take a significant investment of time and effort to implement the needed changes and we cannot reasonably expect that from the candidates who are in the twilight of their careers or coming out of retirement to give it a try. I have the requisite experience, as well as many years left in my career to which I can devote serving the community members of San Diego.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

There is a growing crime epidemic in our society from rampant retail theft and auto burglaries, to a very concerning issue of home invasion robberies. Criminals have become emboldened through decriminalization politics and policies that have seemingly left victims as the only ones who suffer negative ramifications from the actions of criminals. I wholeheartedly support law and order, and the rule of law. I also believe in a well-rounded, community-based approach to enforcement that includes education, diversion, rehabilitation, etc., but at the end of the day, there has to be accountability for the indifferent actions of criminals because without accountability, laws are meaningless.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a tenured law enforcement administrator who has worked his way up through the ranks with experience developing and implementing community programs in multiple law enforcement agencies. In addition to my professional accomplishments, my wife and I also created, built and successfully operated a brick-and-mortar small business in San Diego for 10 years before we sold it. That experience taught me what it takes to make it in the business world, and how government can help or hurt small business owners. The Sheriff's Department is in need of strong leadership from someone who has demonstrated the ability to be successful personally and professionally.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You can be anything you want if you set your mind to it and have the work ethic to make it happen.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Please check out my website for videos from me about various issues and updates to my campaign. I do not accept campaign donations, so if you agree with my platform, please spread the word! Let's work together to make San Diego better.

Also see:

• San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore Announces Early Retirement
• Anthony Ray Sworn In As Interim San Diego County Sheriff
• 9 Cities Renew Contract With San Diego County Sheriff's Department
• Ballots Sent To San Diego County Voters For June Primary Election
• Vote-By-Mail Ballot Drop Box Locations In San Diego County