Fitch Slams Jones in Mailer, Calls Sacramento County Sheriff 'Mini Donald Trump'

May 17, 2018 | 

In a mailer widely distributed today in Sacramento County, Milo Fitch took a page out of campaigning 101 and attempted to link his opponent with an unpopular political figure. Fitch, a retired Sacramento County Sheriff is challenging incumbent Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones.

A two-term incumbent, Jones has closely aligned himself with President Donald Trump, particularly on the issue of immigration. Along these lines, Fitch tagged Jones saying he "Is a mini-Donald Trump."

In bullet points, the mailer claims Jones, like Trump, has been accused of sexual harassment by a subordinate; is an extremist on gun noting he has issued 9,000 concealed weapons permits in Sacramento County; supports arming teachers as a school safety measure; and has attended a known, though unidentified hate group's convention using county funds.

Recently Fitch earned the endorsement of the Sacramento Bee. While a welcome endorsement for Fitch, the Bee's move was as much as a criticism of Jones.

The Bee's editorial board noted that under Jones the sheriff's department has settled numerous multi-million lawsuits, and called him "partisan and tone deaf."

Although Jones is thought to be the front-runner in the four-candidate race, his campaign has been stumbling and could force him into a November run-off against Fitch. If none of the candidates in the June 5 primary receives more than 50-percent of the vote, the top two finishers, which are expected to be Jones and Fitch, will advance to the November election.