Union-Bulletin

I'm glad Michelle Dunaway asked her questions the other day. Although her negative tone is typical of the White campaign, her questions are valid and they were asked and answered long ago.

John Turner worked for a small police department while in college. Upon graduating with a degree in public administration, he joined the LAPD where he worked a number of assignments and gained expertise in areas of professional law enforcement that we need here in Walla Walla.

John went to law school at night and earned his law degree while working full time for LAPD. A few years after graduating from law school, an opportunity arose to become a police attorney. As an attorney, John successfully worked with a number of law enforcement agencies large and small.

This broad law enforcement legal experience, coupled with his previous law enforcement experience, allows John to bring the best of these practices here to benefit us all. John's law enforcement and legal career spanned some 20 years; 1984 to 2004.

While John was a police attorney, he was offered a position on the board of directors for Ash Hollow vineyard and winery, which led to many trips to Walla Walla. Upon his engagement to his wife, Jacqui, he and Jacqui moved back to Walla Walla to be close to family. Their move home to Walla Walla was motivated by their desire to be here, not Ash Hollow or anything else.

While John was at Ash Hollow, he was recruited for a Department of Defense position as a civilian law enforcement professional counter-terrorism investigator embedded with the U.S. Army.

John volunteered to stay longer than his one-year commitment when asked to fill a vacancy in another combat unit.

He went into serious harm's way for us for almost a year and a half, at a time in his life when he certainly didn't have to. To learn what he accomplished, go read the letters of recommendation on his website, JohnTurnerForSheriff.com.

John does not have a "job hopping track record." He has a record of solid experience and opportunities offered to him because of what he accomplishes. John is here to stay when we elect him. Look at all the local law enforcement leaders who endorse and want to work with John, including Police Chief Chuck Fulton. We mustn't let this opportunity slip by.

Please join me in voting for John Turner for sheriff.

Kathy Kopf
Walla Walla