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Barker announces bid for appointed position

Christina Proctor

Sheriff Hal Barker formally announced his intention to run for the office he was appointed to in April of 1997 by filing his candidacy with the county clerk last Friday.

Barker, 60, was appointed sheriff by a unanimous vote of the county commissioners after the retirement of Sheriff Don McDonald. Leading up to his official announcement, Barker collected a long list of supporters with endorsements from several unions, several law enforcement associations, all five of the current members of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of El Dorado County. Barker is now running uncontested. The final deadline for candidates is March 6.

Barker’s law enforcement career spans 38 years including 10 years with San Mateo County as assistant sheriff, and 13 years as police chief of Folsom.



Barker obtained more than 2,000 signatures, the requisite number needed to exempt him from a filing fee, in support of his candidacy.

Barker said his two goals for the next four years are to ensure that El Dorado County is a safe place for its residents and to increase the amount of community service offered by his department.



“I want the department to be more community oriented and more people oriented,” Barker said. “I think that is already in place up here at the lake, the deputies up here have more time to spend with the people.”

Barker explained that the higher crime load on the West Slope and limited resources make it harder for deputies to devote time to the people they protect.

“Now I just have to convince people to give me more deputies so that can happen,” Barker said.

Barker said he also intends to hold office hours at the South Lake Tahoe substation at least one day a week to allow the public to express their concerns.

“I felt when I was appointed that I was in the position of caretaker,” Barker said. “Now I want to be elected to the position. I know what the county needs and now I just need four years to get it done.”

Tahoe Daily Tribune E-mail: tribune@tahoe.com

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