By RuthAnn Hogue

PINAL COUNTY (Aug. 30) — Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez wants to keep his post.

And he doesn’t want voters to rely on partisan ties to make that happen.

After all, he told a group assembled recently in Gold Canyon, that when citizens call 911 or any other PCSO phone line, all are treated equally regardless of party affiliation.

“We don’t ask you what your party is. We ask how can we help? How can we serve you?”

Vasquez disputed Valenzuela’s claim that as sheriff he’s attracted more “bad press” than not.

“We have received many positive stories in television and in the newspapers,” Vasquez said, citing coverage of the PCSO Community Service Unit, the Justice Foundation and the department’s handling of an Amber Alert issued for a missing 3-year-old child in Maricopa.

“That child was recovered and returned to her family,” he said.

Photo by RuthAnn Hogue