That Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is running for governor is the least surprising bit of political news possible.
It’s long been whispered about in Riverside County political circles and it’s been obvious given his frequent attempts to insert himself into state and national politics with appearances on Fox News.
Needless to say, this editorial board is completely unimpressed with the job Bianco has done as sheriff and somehow even less impressed with those who actually think he has a chance at becoming governor.
On his watch, Riverside County has seen a historic spike in jail deaths. Countless lawsuits have been filed against the county thanks to this alone.
Or what about the excessive rates of use of force by his deputies?
Who could forget also about the time his deputies lost 60 pounds of meth? Or about his deputies who have been arrested for trafficking drugs themselves or sexually abusing women in custody?
Who could forget about the time his deputies arrested a supporter of Donald Trump in Coachella and then Bianco ran to the media to act like he prevented yet another assassination attempt?
Who could forget about that time his deputies conducted warrantless raids against an elderly couple and got nothing out of it but yet another lawsuit?
Or how about the time Bianco pretended he knew how to bring down contract rates for cities getting policing services from his department? What happened there? Oh, right, he didn’t understand how those contracts worked and things have only gotten more expensive for cities.
What in his actual track record suggests he would be a competent governor?
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Sure, he goes on Fox News and podcasts and talks. But that’s not a basis for a competent or capable governor.
This editorial board is no fan of the one-party state. We even supported, as some may remember, the recall of Gavin Newsom in 2021. And in this past election we endorsed people like Rep. Ken Calvert, Asm. Greg Wallis and Asm. Bill Essayli.
We’d have more confidence in any of them over Bianco by a country mile. All of them, incidentally, have backed Bianco, enabling his doomed run for higher office on a track record of failure and incompetence.
When he loses, don’t be surprised.
