SF County Sheriff Miyamoto and His Official Endorsement of Bianco for Governor

The San Francisco Chronicle, the SFist, and other San Francisco publications have all asked the same question over the last several days: Why did San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto officially endorse Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican and Trump supporter, for Governor?

It is something that has puzzled many in San Francisco. They area a majority Democratic stronghold of a county. Why would any elected official endorse a Republican? But, for anyone outside the Bay Area, it’s pretty clear why.

First of all, this shouldn’t have been a surprise. Miyamoto has been on Bianco’s side for months already, and his announcement last week was more of a confirmatory announcement more than anything. However, all anyone had to do was listen to what Miyamoto actually said. In fact, Miyamoto even said it wasn’t based on party or political affiliation. It was all policy, backing him even though he admitted that a win for Bianco may not happen next year.

“I don’t support him in terms of political affiliation or political party,” said Miyamoto last Friday. This is coming from the fact that we’re both sheriffs working together in a sheriffs’ association.

“One thing about law enforcement and public safety is that all sheriffs are consistent in wanting to keep their community safe. We all have different constituencies, but we have the underlying foundation of all working towards keeping people safe, and that’s something I know that Chad Bianco is earnest about.

“I support Sheriff Chad Bianco, alongside other sheriffs in California, as a peer leader in law enforcement and in the work we do to keep our communities safe. Law enforcement is not defined by political parties, but grounded in a commitment to public safety and the integrity of the profession. I honestly don’t know what his stance is on every issue. I’m looking at this as supporting a peer and a friend, someone who’s doing the exact same job that I am.

“That might have been part of my consideration: I’m not really thinking he’s gonna win.”

It’s all about public safety and knowing the Bianco is coming into the race as the only candidate with the most experience with it – in fact, so far, he’s the only candidate with any public safety experience. It’s why the majority of County Sheriffs have endorsed him, He also has several DAs on his side. No other candidate can claim any law enforcement endorsement so far, not even a local police union.

Some have tried to spin this as law enforcement looking out for each other, but in reality, these sheriffs know each other and have seen just how bad crime is in California. The rise in crime since Prop 47 in 2014 (Which 2 in 3 Californians now want gone). Huge rises in crime in cities like San Francisco. Destructive county measures made by DAs like George Gascon in Los Angeles County, or more pertinent for San Francisco, former DA Chesa Boudin.

The endorsement isn’t political, it isn’t personal, and it isn’t trying to pacify voters in the county. It is purely because he knows him, and he knows how well he can do to fight crime from a position as Governor. For every candidate, Republican and Democrat, an endorsement means that they believe that their candidate of choice will be the best Governor and will best represent them. For many in law enforcement wanting a return to arrests that stick and crime being lowered, Bianco, being a Sheriff, is their guy.