Below are the candidates running for the three available director positions on the 2022 DSA Board. Class 1 active DSA members will receive their ballots in mid-December. Contact the DSA at info@dsasd.org or (858) 486-9009 if you have not received your ballot by January 1. Winners will be announced at the January 13 member meeting.
Marshall Abbott
Deputy, Poway Station
My name is Marshall Abbott and I am currently assigned as the school resource officer for the City of Poway. I have been a Deputy Sheriff and a DSA member for 15 years. For six years I worked at the North Coastal Station as a field training officer, corporal, training coordinator, explorer advisor, PERT, and peer support. In 2014, I transferred to the Poway Station as a traffic investigator. Three years ago, I transferred into my current position, school resource officer. I’ve been a DSA station representative for the last seven years.
I enjoy the work that I do and I want you to know that I will be looking out for the best interest of ALL members of the DSA. We must be able to trust in our board of directors and know they will always look out for the best interest of our members. My goals are to ensure our deputies are protected and looked after by our DSA, as well as improve pay, benefits, and working conditions.
I want to be part of a board that is fully transparent so that collectively, we may always make informed decisions regarding our future. As I have the last seven years, I will continue to advocate for our members and ensure our money is spent in the best interests of the association. I will be a voice for you!
Dominic Aristide
Deputy, Alpine Station
My name is Dominic Aristide, and I’m proud to call myself a Deputy Sheriff. To all my brothers and sisters who work with me, I am proud to call you my family. I believe SDSO is the best department in the county, and I want to make it the best department in the state. My goals are to get us better pay with our new contract, better incentive pay for specialized positions, and help move our department forward into the future with better technology, training, and equipment.
I have been a police officer for approximately six years. I started my career with the San Diego Police Department as a patrol officer in Mid-City Division. I came over to SDSO in 2019 and worked in Spring Valley until mid-2020 when I transferred up to Alpine Station as a patrol deputy. Being a patrol officer, I understand the frustrations of our deputies out on the line because I work with them every day. This job is only getting harder for us, so I am asking for the privilege to represent you as a DSA Director to make life better for us any way we can. I care about all you guys and gals out there, and I would be honored to serve you.
Thank you for your time and all you do.
Brian Bentley
Deputy, San Marcos Station
For those who don’t know me, my name is Brian Bentley. I graduated from the Regional Academy in 2015 and worked at the San Diego Central Jail until August of 2017. Since then, I’ve been assigned to the San Marcos Station and worked patrol until recently moving to the Traffic Division in May of 2021. During my career, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the finest men and women in law enforcement. Their dedication to serving and protecting their communities is unmatched and is the cornerstone of this profession. I’m running for the DSA Board of Directors because I believe the DSA needs to have that same dedication when it comes to serving and protecting its members.
With a degree in political science and experience working in the U.S. House of Representatives, I recognize politics is an essential fact of life for labor unions. I understand the benefits of maintaining good working relationships and “strategic partnerships” between the DSA, the Department, and others. However, such relationships must not override the primary purpose of the DSA, which is to advocate for its members’ needs and concerns. That purpose is more critical now than ever, given the “anti-law enforcement” sentiment permeating this country, and I believe that the DSA must do better when it comes to calling out politicians who don’t support law enforcement.
For example, in a January 5, 2021, article by City News Service, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is quoted as saying, “But times change, and now [that] the voters have elected a new group of more progressive supervisors, we will govern more consistent with our values”. Experience tells us that such “values” may include perpetuating the false narrative that “systemic racism” permeates our profession. They may also include the imposition of vaccine mandates, even though an overwhelming majority of Deputies want to make their own health care decisions. They may also lead to policies that make the job of “Deputy Sheriff” even more dangerous and disheartening than it already is.
Ultimately, these “values” will devastate Department staffing, requiring exhausting levels of mandatory overtime, especially for Deputies in our detention facilities.
These are just some of the many issues that will face the next Board of Directors. I’m running for a seat on the Board, not to further my own career, but to represent all of you who make it a career worth having.
Brian Bloomberg
Deputy, San Marcos Station
My name is Deputy Brian Bloomberg, a father of three, San Marcos resident, and San Diego County native. I hold a BA and BS from San Diego State University. I am a 16-year veteran of Law Enforcement and 15-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSD I have worked the following positions during my 16 years in law enforcement: SDSD Search and Rescue, Tribal Police Officer_Sycuan /CSB San Diego/ Encinitas_North Coastal/ Honor Guard/ SID-Terrorism Early Warning Unit/ Ramona/ Valley Center/ San Marcos-Patrol, San Marcos Gangs_San Marcos COPPS/ and multiple TADs.
I am requesting your vote to appoint me to the DSA Board as I have a profound interest in the physical and mental health as well as the financial well-being of all SDSD DSA members. With my previous assignments, successes, hardships, professional and personal experience, I encompass the ability to make a difference as a contributing member of the DSA Board. The lessons I have learned throughout my career will directly benefit you in my role as a DSA Board member working to make effective, insightful, and meaningful team decisions. I will strive to ensure your physical, mental, and financial interests are considered before every decision I am asked to make on your behalf.
The sole purpose for the creation of our Deputy Sheriff’s Association was to protect and further the interests of ALL its members. As part of the DSA Board, I hope to accomplish an all-Service Bureau, efficient, effective and functional team. I will do this while working as a collaborative unit with the existing board members and maintain the mindset of YOUR needs first, always. I hope to assist in upcoming contract negotiations, special events, and developing new and innovative ways to benefit you, your family, your partners, and your community. You pay for it. You deserve the best we can give.
Thank you for your consideration.
David Leonhardi
Sergeant, DSA President
Incumbent Director
My name is David Leonhardi. I’ve been a member of the DSA board of directors for over 7 years and have been selected by the board to serve as our President since October 2018. I’m asking for your vote to re-elect me onto our board of directors so I can continue serving our membership. For the last three years, I’ve been extremely committed to serving each of our members in the most effective ways possible. We’ve created new member events, including the BBQ competition and Halloween party. We’ve also brought old events to new levels, such as the Memorial Golf tournament, which was the largest fundraiser in the history of the DSA last year. It’s true, we’ve also faced many challenges as an organization and as a profession, but I’ve helped navigate the DSA into positions where we could be successful whenever possible.
The most impactful issue for our members over the past few years has been the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying changes to the working conditions of deputies. While it was never possible to avoid all of the impacts from the pandemic, I worked politically to navigate the rapidly changing environment to benefit our deputies. I negotiated with the County for our deputies to receive hazard pay of $2500 for their commitment and continued work throughout the pandemic. I’ve also spent much time advocating the thoughts, feelings and concerns deputies had about a potential vaccination mandate. You can look across town at the City of San Diego and see that officers are being told they have to vaccinate or they will be terminated. No such mandate exists at the Sheriff’s department, and I believe the way the DSA has navigated this issue is the biggest factor.
I’ve spent the last several years building relationships and learning an entirely different side of law enforcement in an effort to have a positive influence in the most recognizable way for deputies, in their bank account. In June 2023, our current labor contract expires. I have already begun planning, meeting and strategizing ways to get deputies the best contract possible. Our next contract will undoubtedly be a team effort, but I believe I have the knowledge, experience and relationships to lead us through a successful contract negotiation with the county. I’m asking you to recognize that as well and support my candidacy again this year. Thank you!
Mike O’Deane
Deputy, Juvenile Court
My name is Deputy Mike O’Deane. I am running for the DSA board of directors to represent our members best interests. I am seeking your vote.
I joined our department in October of 2019, as an LE deputy assigned to CSB. I came to SDSD after working 17.5 years at San Diego State PD, 3.5 years with La Mesa PD, and 8 years as a reserve police officer at Chula Vista PD.
While working for the California State University PD, I was the local director for the Statewide University Police Association (SUPA) at SDSU for 10 years.
While working at La Mesa PD I was honored to be a board member and POA president. The POA worked closely with the members, chief and city council in negotiating fair contracts to increase the salaries, benefits and quality of life issues to the members.
I feel strongly that the law enforcement profession must have cohesive and capable association representation with courageous board members that are looking out for our best interest. This can only be accomplished with board members that are willing and able to work as a team when making decisions that impact its members.
I volunteered to be the station representative at Juvenile court and would be honored to represent the entire DSA membership on working toward improving our working conditions, MOU, and protecting our association members. The next few years are critical for the law enforcement profession and the sheriff’s department.
As the largest law enforcement agency in San Diego county, the DSA must with the board of supervisors to keep our salaries, benefits, and working conditions highly competitive in our county to ensure we recruit and RETAIN our deputies. In addition, we must continue to fight to protect our deputies from new laws that negatively impact our ability to stay safe and provide quality services to our community.
I am asking for your vote. In return I will always put you first and diligently represent all of us moving forward. If elected to the board, I will make sure that we stay focused on our mission of representing our members and protecting our rights in every decision we make.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mike O’Deane
Timothy Richards
Detentions Deputy, Las Colinas Detentions & Re-Entry Facility
Thank you for taking the time to read my self-aggrandizement. I am a thirteen-year employee of the department. During that time, it has become increasingly clear that the DSA can and should do better.
Our multi-million-dollar Association has become increasingly politicized toward a leftist ideology. Follow the money, a video justifying enforcement of covid lockdowns, cancel-culture, a delayed and perfunctory response to potentially unconstitutional and illegal vaccine mandates, and campaign donations toward a leftist, anti-cop ideology dressed up as “the lesser of two evils” (Undoubtedly, I will be accused of not understanding politics). Questions and transparency are discouraged. Nepotism is a problem. They continue to delay secure electronic voting and insist on archaic paper ballots with unsecured ballot boxes. There is reason to believe voter lists have been compromised and used to campaign on behalf of particular candidates. Our association should be above reproach. These things should be investigated, and I will do my best to ensure that they are.
If elected, I will pursue legal options to encourage sufficient staffing, specifically in the jails. I will fight for electronic voting and question the true motivation behind the delay. I will fight for holiday pay for the entire shift, not just 8.5 hours. I will challenge the woke culture of silencing opposition. Directors should openly debate contentious issues with respect for one another. I support our active membership in PORAC. I am against the current structure of the RMT, benefits should not cut in half at 65 (PORAC’s doesn’t).
Christ’s words are true, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” At times it is necessary for them to chase out the wolves before there is peace. Jeremiah 6 embodies our organization, “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” I will do my part to chase out the wolves for peace.
The relentless attacks against Dawn Morabe brought shame, mistrust, and chaos to the Association. Don’t let them now say “peace, peace.” There are real issues that effect the members of the DSA which have been placed on the back burner, for non-important self-serving peripheral issues.
A vote for me puts the members first and selfish ambitions in the trash.
Cliff Rinder
Lieutenant, Weapons Training Unit
Hello fellow DSA members! My name is Cliff Rinder and have proudly served the last three years as one of your DSA Board Members! I was part of the member event and wellness committees. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a damper on social gatherings, so we were very limited on some events. As we are starting to return to normal, we held our Memorial Golf Tournament, 1st Annual BBQ Competition and our DSA Dinner Dance. Even though our dinner dance was a smaller event, it was a success! None the less, we powered through the ever-changing times across our department and here we are approaching 2022. I hope to help bring our members more new and fun events over the next three years!
A little about me, I was hired in 1999 as a Corrections Deputy and worked the Bailey for three years and then attended the Regional Academy in 2003. After graduating, I was assigned to the Downtown Courts for about a year. I went on to work at several locations across the county: Lemon Grove, Alpine, Ramona, Lakeside, Safe Task Force, RSD, and most recently Weapons Training.
A lot will be happening with the DSA in the upcoming years. We will have the Sheriff’s election and we will be entering the last year of our contract. If you didn’t know, we will be getting a 2% contract raise during the last year of our contract which starts mid-2022. The county could be feeling the effects of the pandemic financially for a few years to come. With that, one of the main reasons I am choosing to run again is to be a part of the contract negotiations committee. I have some pay incentive ideas for Detentions Courts Services that I would like to put forth, in addition to trying to get us the best contract possible!
I have proudly served the last three years as one of your Board Members with honesty, integrity, and accountability. I am asking for your vote, in a time when having experienced directors on the board will matter the most! Thank you, stay safe and take care of each other! Cliff