BOBBY LINDSEY

Los Angeles

County

Sheriff ’s Office

Commander,

Bobby Lindsey,

is campaigning

for

the position

of sheriff of

Mariposa County.

Lindsey, who has been leasing

a residence in the County since

last November, says he is currently

negotiating for a piece of

property to establish permanent

residence.

He will square off against two

long-time Mariposa County

law enforcement officers in Undersheriff

Doug Binnewies and

Sergeant Mark Jones in the June

primary election.

Lindsey said he picked Mariposa

County because he “has

been coming to Mariposa for

some time, and has been visiting

Yosemite” since about age 18.

“I have a very good friend

who has retired up here, and

this is primarily where I plan to

retire and spend the rest of my

life,” Lindsey said.

The retiring commander said

he is “somewhat” familiar with

Mariposa County, but he

wouldn’t be relying on staff to educate him on the County’s geography and history. “As sheriff, I would be in every community learning and educating myself,” Lindsey said.

He launched his campaign online before the first of the year at www.bobbylindsey4sheriff.com, and some of the comments contained on that home page prompted several calls and emails to the GAZETTE.

One statement, “Despite my decades of experience within the largest sheriff’s department in the world, I am told by a few unbelieving politicians, long-time pessimists and ‘Good Old Boys’ that I haven’t paid by Mariposa dues,” he wrote.

“I have been apprised that the citizens of Mariposa County don’t care if their sheriff has qualifications. More imporant than the sheriff having policing skills, real management experience, and a bachelor’s degree is that they have graduated from Mariposa High School or have lived in the community for many years,” Lindsey’s statement said.

Lindsey attributes that statement to local residents and denies that that is his personal view. “I have talked to 40 to 50 people about the campaign so far,” Lindsey told the GAZETTE Monday.

Lindsey also said the statement, “Spend your money wisely on someone willing to engage and not just warm the seat,” is not directed at current Sheriff Brian Muller. “I am not going to come in from LA County and tell you he (Muller) is not doing a good job. He may be doing an outstanding job, but I don’t know that yet,” Lindsey said.

The content of that home page has changed drastically in the last two weeks.

Lindsey said be plans to issue a candidacy statement in the near future.