The race for York County sheriff pits the Democratic incumbent, who has 12 years of experience running the department as chief deputy or sheriff, against a Republican who worked for many years as an officer in the sheriff’s department before serving as a security contractor overseas.

Republican Craig Gagne, 45, of Springvale is challenging Democrat Maurice Ouellette, 63, of Cornish, who is seeking his second four-year term.

The sheriff oversees the county jail, which averages about 200 inmates, patrol deputies serving the 14 towns in York County that have no police departments, and the transportation of inmates to court.

Craig says he will bring a more inclusive style of leadership to the sheriff’s office, inviting input from employees and community members.

“We can’t do this job effectively and be proactive, when it comes to crime, without engaging the community,” he said.

Gagne says the department must be more proactive in budgeting for the future, for instance, setting aside money to sustain grant-funded positions when the grants expire.

Gagne was endorsed this week by the union representing corrections officers, who have been without a contract since 2007. He said that shows a gap between the sheriff’s leadership and his employees.

Craig was a Coast Guard reservist when he became a corrections officer at the York County Jail in 1984. Two years later, he joined the Marine Corps. He served for four years before rejoining the sheriff’s office as a patrol deputy.

Over the ensuing 15 years, Gagne says, he helped to create the department’s canine unit, dive team and training programs.

For the past five years, he was a security consultant for the U.S. State Department, helping to lead a program providing protection for U.S. dignitaries in Iraq.

Ouellette is running on his record, having served as chief deputy for eight years before being elected sheriff in 2006.

Ouellette downplayed the corrections officers’ endorsement of his opponent, saying he understands their frustration at not having a contract. He said he does not have authority to bargain over compensation. He also said he must be responsive to the people of the county as well as his staff.

“I need to make sure the people of York County are comfortable with me, and the people in York County realize I’m looking out for them,” he said.

Ouellette said the jail received a 100 percent rating from the Maine Department of Corrections last year for its policies, procedures and operations.

He said he has helped usher in new technology for the department. The jail is automating records so it can share data with police agencies and instantly check fingerprints. He said the budget he submitted is less than the budget in 2008.

Ouellette started as a Sanford police officer and worked for the Maine State Police for 22 years.

 

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at: dhench@pressherald.com

 

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