In a typical political campaign, the electorate is very limited as to any substantive information regarding a candidate’s qualifications to hold elected office.

Most campaigns mainly consist of glowing resumes and self-glorifying speeches prepared by the candidate herself or himself. Certainly, the electorate deserves more.

In the upcoming primary and general elections there is at least one possible exception to the rule, the elected office of Sheriff in El Dorado and Sacramento counties. Each of the candidates in both counties is currently a long tenured member of a highly respected law enforcement agency.

Significantly, and appropriately, each of the employing agencies maintains a comprehensive detailed personnel file on all of its officers from the moment of appointment.

Given the high profile, high visibility and high expectations inherent in the office of sheriff, why not ask the candidates to voluntarily waive privacy and divulge the contents of their personnel files?

Personality flaws, poor judgement, lapses in honesty and integrity, questionable moral conduct and other negatives will probably never appear in one’s resume.

Such factors may, however, appear in one’s personnel file and should be available for review by the electorate.

Al Le Bas, Cameron Park