The field of candidates for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s seat has gotten a little more crowded, as a fourth candidate announced her bid to replace Sheriff Alex Villanueva in the 2022 election.
Of the four current contenders, three are members of the LASD. A description of each candidate is below.
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Sheriff Alex Villanueva - Incumbent
Villanueva is the 33rd sheriff of L.A. County and the first spanish-speaking sheriff to ever serve the county. He was elected in 2018 after defeating then-incumbent Sheriff Jim McDonnell.
Villanueva has worked for the LASD for nearly 35 years. He worked as a patrol deputy, drill instructor, national guard lieutenant, among other positions within the department, before becoming sheriff.
A longtime war between the current sheriff and L.A. County’s Civilian Oversight Commission continues, with Villanueva refusing to honor a subpoena and answer questions about the department possibly launching bogus investigations into “perceived political enemies.”
The commission unanimously approved a call last October for Villanueva’s immediate resignation.
Villanueva has long dismissed the claims and said the commission members are “pawns of the Board of Supervisors, with whom the sheriff has repeatedly clashed on budget and other issues.”
He has also fielded criticisms over secret groups within the department that engage in illegal activities from community members and leaders. Villanueva has promised reform and blamed predecessors for the existence of the groups.
To follow his campaign visit his website, Facebook page or follow @LACoSheriff on Twitter.
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Commander Eli Vera - L.A. Sheriff’s Department
Vera is a 32-year veteran of the LASD who joined the department in 1988. In 2006, he was assigned to the office of the Sheriff, where he’s taken on several leadership roles.
In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of division chief but said he was recently demoted by Villanueva to the position of commander on Sept. 5, 2021. The sheriff’s letter reassigning Vera can be read here.
Vera has said the demotion was retribution for running against his superior, but the department denied that claim.
“The law is firmly established that...those who serve as confidential advisors to an elected leader, cannot oppose him/her politically and keep their post,” Capt. John Satterfield wrote in response to questions from The L.A. Times.
“Who has ever heard of a cabinet secretary running against the president who appointed them?”
To follow Vera’s campaign visit his website, Facebook page or follow @Vera4Sheriff on Twitter.
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Lt. Eric Strong - L.A. Sheriff’s Department
Strong is a nearly 30-year veteran of the LASD who has led units “across virtually every function of the department,” according to his campaign website. He announced his bid to run against Villanueva in late August.
If elected, Strong said eliminating “gangs” in the department will be one of his top priorities, according to the LAist.
“The leadership of this department is unwilling to even acknowledge the existence of gangs in our ranks,” Strong said. “That has left the community’s trust in the Sheriff’s Department in tatters.”
He has not shared specifics on how he would address the situation surrounding deputy gangs or groups.
To follow Strong's campaign visit his website, Facebook page or follow @Strong4Sheriff on Twitter.
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Police Chief. Cecil Rambo - L.A. International Airport
Rambo is the chief of police at LAX International Airport. He announced his run against Villanueva more than three months ago on July 12.
Rambo, a 33-year law enforcement veteran, formerly served as assistant sheriff to former Sheriff Lee Baca. In 2017, Baca was convicted of felony obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI for his role in a scheme to obstruct abuses in county jails.
He addressed the Baca conviction in his “For Good” campaign video and said he is, “fed up with the corruption that is plaguing LASD,” and he can no longer sit on the sidelines.
“The time for reform and new leadership is now,” Rambo said. “That’s why I’m running to be L.A. County’s next sheriff.”
Rambo said in his video that his primary goals are to address the issues of deputy gangs and the continued rise of murders in Los Angeles. He also vowed to stand up for the rights of people of color in the community.
“I’ve been a Black and Asian man long before I was a cop,” he said in the campaign video. “So I know what it’s like to walk down the street as a person of color. That’s why as chief of police at LAX, I banned the chokehold - so that what happened to George Floyed could never happen under my watch.”
To follow Strong's campaign visit his website, Facebook page or follow @Rambo4Sheriff on Twitter.
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Captain Britta Steinbrenner - L.A. Sheriff’s Department
Steinbrenner began her career with the LASD in 1986 and is a 35-year veteran of the department.
“There is much work to be done both internally and externally [at the LASD] and community,” Steinbrenner said in a statement shared by NBC4 News. “I pledge when elected as L.A. County sheriff to create the change that all residents of L.A. County deserve.”
During her time in LASD, Steinbrenner has served at stations in Crescenta Valley, Altadena, Santa Clarita Valley and West Hollywood. She is a lifelong resident of L.A. County, according to a bio written by LASD.
She has so far not elaborated on specific changes she wants to see in the department. Steinbrenner has not yet announced a way to follow her campaign for sheriff.
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