The Milan News-Leader
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Saline police chief to seek sheriff's post
Paul Bunten to run as a Republican in 2008 race for sheriff
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
Saline's top cop filed papers on Monday declaring his intent to run for Washtenaw County Sheriff in 2008.
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Police Chief Paul Bunten said he decided to challenge Sheriff Dan Minzey for the office after becoming frustrated with his leadership. Bunten said he believe much of the ongoing controversy between Minzey and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners over road patrol funding and jail overcrowding could have been avoided.
"I believe you need to keep your nose to the grindstone and run your outfit, and let the politicians handle the politics," he said. "I believe I can do a much better job as sheriff than Minzey or anyone else running right now."
After almost 13 years at the helm of the Saline Police Department, Bunten said he is ready for a new set of challenges and would make fiscal responsibility and accountability throughout the sheriff's department his top two priorities.
"I know the sheriff's department is facing some tough issues," he said. "I see an organization that could benefit from strong leadership and management."
Bunten, 63, joined the Saline department in 1994 after almost 30 years with the Ann Arbor Police Department, where he rose from a patrol officer to the captain of special investigations. He could have retired a while ago, he said, but he enjoys his work too much.
"I've been doing this job for over 40 years and I love it today as much as I did when I started," he said.
Bunten discussed the idea of running for sheriff with his wife, Judy, of 42 years, and their two children before making his decision.
Bunten, who serves on numerous law enforcement committees and boards, including the Lawnet Board of Control, said spearheading last year's passage of a 0.2-mill tax levy to purchase a new 800Mhz radio system for police, fire and emergency rescue services evolved into a countywide leadership role for him.
"It was kind of thrust upon me, and I grew to enjoy it," he said. It was a good opportunity for growth."
Bunten filed as a Republican, which will keep him out of a likely contentious Democratic primary, and while admitting that he knows little about the political arena, he recognizes running as a Republican could be a challenge in Washtenaw County.
"But I don't view this is as a partisan issue," he said. "We have to have the best person in the job."
In his 13 years as chief, Bunten is pleased with having turned the Saline Police Department into a completely computerized and extensively trained organization.
He said he is prepared in the campaign to address any questions regarding his tenure as chief, including a sexual discrimination suit brought against him and the department in 2005 by an officer. The officer said she was passed over for a promotion to sergeant because she was a woman. The case went to a jury trial and the jury found in the officer's favor, awarding her $195,000.
Bunten is forthright about the suit and what he learned from it.
"I know we didn't do anything wrong," he said. "I can tell you unequivocally that there was nothing shady with the process, but I can see it from her perspective. It didn't look fair, even though it was."
The suit prompted Bunten to revamp the department's promotion process to make it more transparent and he says he and the officer now have a "tremendous relationship."
Bunten said city officials and his staff have been supportive of his decision, adding that he hoped if he was elected his replacement as chief could be found in house.
He expects to have to raise some $20,000 to $30,000 for his campaign and plans to begin traveling widely throughout the county to speak to as many residents and civic organizations as possible.
"My purpose is to let people know that I'm committed," he said.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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