Allaire seeks to unseat JoCo Sheriff Gilbertson
From our weekly issue dated March 10, 2010
It looks like Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson will not run unopposed as he seeks a second four-year term.
On Wednesday, March 3, Williams resident Don Allaire officially filed for the sheriff position. He has been a county resident since 1981, and was a volunteer firefighter with the Williams Rural Fire Protection District from 1983 to 1990.
Allaire began his stint with the Josephine County Sheriff“s Office (JCSO) as a special deputy in 1992 and became a reservist one year later. From 1994 to the present, he has worked as a corrections (jail) deputy.
“All of my police work has been in Josephine County,“ Allaire said.
Allaire said that one of his first priorities would be to eliminate the position of undersheriff, which he deems unnecessary. He added that he would have one patrol lieutenant and one jail lieutenant, and both would answer directly to him.
Also pledged by Allaire is restoration of around-the-clock deputy patrols. Those currently are limited to 20 hours per day.
Under his watch, Allaire said, there would be “zero tolerance“ for repeated property crimes. He said that persons booked at the jail three times in three months or seven times per year would be prohibited from being released.
Allaire said he also would take steps to increase security at the courthouse in Grants Pass. There currently are six access points.
“We have got to do something with all those doors,“ he said.
The county also should establish a Municipal Court to prevent Circuit Court funds from being sent to Salem, Allaire said.
“It“s absolutely foolhardy not to have one for the county,“ he said.
Allaire said that he would boost patrols to rural areas, and added that there is not a strong law enforcement presence near his Williams residence.
“I can“t remember the last time I saw a patrol car out there,“ he said.
Morale at JCSO would improve under his leadership, Allaire said, and more efficiency can be built into the department“s budget.
But Allaire said that he agrees with Gilbertson that it is the responsibility of the county commissioners to provide adequate funding.
County Clerk and Recorder Art Harvey verified that if only Allaire and Gilbertson run for sheriff, they will face each other in the November general election. A May 18 primary election would only be held if there were three or more candidates, Harvey said.
Allaire said he plans to raise money, knock on doors and do “pretty much whatever it takes“ to win the election: donallaire.org is being developed, and should be finished within the next couple of weeks.
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