BACA CHALLENGERS AGREE ON OFF-DUTY GUNS, SCHEDULES.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer EAST LOS ANGELES East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. - Two Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County sheriff's sergeants running to unseat Sheriff Lee Baca Leroy David Baca (b. May 27 1942, East Los Angeles, California) is the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. After graduating from Benjamin Franklin High School (Los Angeles) in 1960, Baca worked his way through East Los Angeles College before starting with the L.A. in the March 5 election agreed on a number of issues Tuesday night, ranging from compressed work schedules to carrying weapons off duty. Members of the union representing about 6,700 sheriff's deputies asked questions of the two candidates, Sgt. John Stites and Sgt. Patrick Gomez, at the debate at East Los Angeles College ELAC is a two year college, offering associate degree programs in over 25 fields as well as both academic transfer courses which prepare students for admission to the University of California and California State University system and occupational programs which prepare students for . Baca, who did not attend, was at Gov. Gray Davis' State of the State address The State of the State Address (alternatively Condition of the State Address) is a speech customarily given once each year by the governors of most states of the United States. in Sacramento. Both Stites and Gomez said they support the ability for all sworn and retired law enforcement officers to carry guns anywhere, anyplace. ``My primary reason for carrying a weapon off-duty is to protect myself and my family and those close to me,'' Stites said. ``I hope every other law enforcement officer in here in plainclothes plain·clothes or plain-clothes adj. Wearing civilian clothes while on duty to avoid being identified as police or security: a plainclothes detective. has a weapon on 'em.'' Regarding compressed work schedules, with either four 10-hour days of work each week or three 12-hour days, Gomez said, ``I support those programs. I think custody division, court services could go on those schedules right now.'' The two candidates spoke to about 70 members of the union that represents sheriff's deputies, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, which sponsored the debate. The union board members who heard the debate Tuesday night were expected to meet today to decide who they might recommended to their members as their endorsement. Stites and Gomez had both criticized Baca for declining to attend, saying the debate was an opportunity to address questions from the Sheriff's Department union members. The two challengers have criticized Baca on a variety of issues, including the Sheriff's Department's budget problems, campaign contributions from the father of a drug dealer whose prison sentence was commuted, delays in DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. sample processing and staffing in unincorporated areas. Baca is a San Marino resident who served 33 years in the Sheriff's Department and was elected sheriff in 1998. Gomez, of Pasadena, is a 20-year Sheriff's Department veteran and is currently assigned to the custody training division and works at the Men's Central Jail downtown. Stites, a 21-year department veteran, is resident of the San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. community of Avocado Heights and is assigned to court services division and works at the El Monte Courthouse. A candidate who receives more than half the votes March 5 will win outright. If no one gets a majority, the runoff will be Nov. 5. |
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