League of Women Voters election survey: Lowell Cannaday, candidate for Sheriff, Dallas County

by Staff of League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on November 4th features a number of local races to decide state and national Senate and House of Representatives seats, in addition to other races.

The responses of Lowell Cannaday (R), who is running for Dallas County Sheriff, appear below. Cannaday is running against Sheriff Lupe Valdez (D).

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Cannaday: Forty plus years in law enforcement, thirty years at command level, including assistant Chief of Police, Dallas and Chief of Police, Irving. Successfully managed multi-million dollar budgets, directed major police operations involving hundreds of officers, built neighborhood and community relationships in overall vision to protect families, property and businesses.

LWV: What are your plans to improve the delivery of health care services, including mental health services, at the Dallas County Jail?

Cannaday: Upon taking office I will address this issue immediately with Parkland administrators to intensify delivery of appropriate health care services, including mental health care. I will strengthen suitable training for jail personnel to identify mental health needs for inmates. I will work closely with the Justice Department to develop a swift plan of action that will facilitate services and systems between the Jail and Parkland.

LWV: What are your plans to resolve the issues of overcrowding and insufficient staffing at the Dallas County Jail?

Cannaday: Whatever overcrowding issues exist will resolve with the completion of the new jail tower. The real issue is staffing to control the inmate population. Recruiting is never a problem with strong respected leadership. Without experienced and responsible leadership employees become quickly disillusioned, productivity and morale suffer and recruitment drops. In my professional law enforcement career I have had great success in maintaining staffing needs at all levels.

LWV: What policies would you support to allow sufficient access to social services at the Dallas County Jail?

Cannaday: I’m dedicated to regulated and monitored programs with defined goals that identify needs of the inmates. Social services must address real challenges for the inmates and their families. In my experience merging social programs to educate, skill train and train in good decision making minimizes recidivism. Social service programs will never replace incarceration, but work programs and educational programs are always a better alternative to inmates lounging in front of TV’s or shooting pool.

LWV: Dallas County Commissioners have vowed not to raise taxes and have asked each county department to voluntarily cut 5% from their department budgets to balance a $34 million budget deficit for 2008. Are there areas in the Sheriff’s Department budget from which a 5% cut can be made? If so, what are they?

Cannaday: In any budget process every program must be evaluated in light of the mission. Essential programs should be analyzed to determine if goals can be met with reduced resources. Attention must be directed specifically toward budget areas that might be delayed or postponed, i.e., staggering purchases throughout the year, re-evaluating vendors, re-negotiating contracts, delaying hiring, rather than replacement or lay-offs. The Sheriff’s ultimate responsibility is to insure that budget reductions do not compromise neighborhood safety.