Kent Vander Kamp was elected Deschutes County sheriff Tuesday with 60% of the vote in a decisive victory against his opponent and longtime sheriff’s office colleague William Bailey.

This election is the first time since 2000, when Les Stiles defeated Greg Brown, that an underdog has won the seat. While Bailey was not the incumbent, he was endorsed by sitting Sheriff Shane Nelson. As was typical of previous administrations, Nelson was appointed sheriff in 2015 by the Deschutes County Commission after former Sheriff Larry Blanton stepped down. Nelson then successfully ran as the incumbent in 2016.

This election is the first since 1996 that no incumbent was running.

Vander Kamp, a sergeant with the sheriff’s office who currently works on an interagency drug enforcement team, did not return phone calls Tuesday night. In a statement, he thanked the more than 40 volunteers and his supporters in the sheriff’s office for helping him achieve his goal.

“We ran a campaign grounded in the needs of the people, and it’s clear from tonight’s outcome that Deschutes County is ready for positive change,” Vander Kamp said. “This win belongs to the entire community, and I am deeply honored to serve as your Sheriff. I look forward to working to create a safer, stronger, and more united Deschutes County.”

Bailey did not concede after the initial results were released Tuesday, but said in a statement Wednesday:

“I have called Kent Vander Kamp to concede the election for Deschutes County Sheriff. I am disappointed in the election results, but proud of the campaign we ran focused on our most pressing public safety issues, specific action plans, and a vision for moving forward. My race was grounded in truth, integrity, and my lifetime of service will continue. Throughout the campaign, no matter the outcome of the election, Kent and I have agreed public safety must be the top priority.”

A contentious campaign

When it comes to policy, Bailey and Vander Kamp both campaigned on similar platforms. Both candidates are long-time sheriff’s office employees and believe in building strong relationships outside the sheriff’s office to combat homelessness and addiction. Both think the agency is understaffed for fast-growing Deschutes County, and both have decades of law enforcement experience.

Without much to differentiate the candidates, their campaigns were less about debating policy and more about finding who has more skeletons in their closet.

Over the last year, the sheriff’s office has faced accusations of harassment and election interference, budget mismanagement and rumors of a toxic work environment. Four tort claim notices — the official notification to a public agency of a potential lawsuit — filed by Vander Kamp, Sgt. Jeremiah Minton, Deputy Matthew Palmer and Lt. James McLaughlin over the last few months all accuse Nelson and other high-ranking sheriff’s office employees of subjecting them to workplace bullying and retaliation for supporting unionization and Vander Kamp’s campaign.

Vander Kamp has also made the news during his campaign. An internal investigation into Vander Kamp for omitting his volunteer experience with the City of La Mesa, California in the 1990s — and the ensuing lawsuit by Nelson to obtain Vander Kamp’s 27-year-old personnel records — has raised questions about Vander Kamp’s honesty and whether or not Nelson’s investigation was politically motivated. After Vander Kamp’s lawyers accidentally released the contested personnel records, it came to light Vander Kamp lied about having certifications to use a speed radar gun.

“I was young, immature, and inexperienced at that time, and I regret my actions. These incidents do not represent who I am today nor reflect the commitment I’ve shown to public safety in Deschutes County over the past 22 years. With time and experience, I’ve learned valuable lessons and take full responsibility for my past errors,” Vander Kamp said in a release at the time.

Vander Kamp’s goals

Once he takes office, Vander Kamp says he wants to address the toxic workplace culture inside the sheriff’s office.

He wants to create a better schedule for deputies and foster an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up about issues. He also intends to lean on people who think differently and challenge his leadership style, so the sheriff’s office can become a collaborative environment.

“People sit in their patrol cars in the parking lot before going into work, hoping that they’re going to get a call that will … prevent them from having to go inside the building. That’s horrible. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life, and that’s the way it is right now,” Vander Kamp said in an earlier interview with The Bulletin.

Vander Kamp, who has a master’s degree in business administration, also intends use his background to take a deep dive into the agency’s budget and spending. Last year, The Bulletin reported that the sheriff’s office overestimated its funds by more than $2 million, while also spending money on items like a $3,000 slushy machine. To compensate, the Deschutes County Commission agreed to raise tax rates, maxing out both the county’s and the sheriff’s office tax rates and helping the agency end this past year with a $4.4 million surplus.

Vander Kamp has come out strongly against raising taxes, and intends to make the sheriff’s office “tighten its belt” by treating it more like a traditional business.

“We need to bring people in that have different backgrounds and not have a room full of cops talking about how to spend money,” Vander Kamp said.

“We need to bring in some business people who understand economics and can tell us and explain to us how to forecast. We need to get out of that echo chamber.”

Vander Kamp will take office as Deschutes County’s 10th sheriff beginning Jan 1.

As previously announced by Nelson, the transition will largely be handled by Undersheriff Paul Garrison who he appointed specifically to address election-related tensions in the office.

Both Vander Kamp and Bailey said they are committed to creating a smooth transfer of power despite the contentious campaign.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office spends $37k on golf carts, more than previously disclosed