Contender for Pasco Sheriff 'About Accountability'
Longtime law enforcement officer and Pasco resident Kim Bogart is running on his record.
Kim Bogart wants Pasco County to have a sheriff’s office that’s “connected to the community.”
“I want deputies, and the employees of the sheriff’s office, to be engaged with the community; not to be Us and Them,” he said. “I would love to see it to where when a citizen asks: ‘Who do you work for?’ the deputy’s response is ‘I work for you.’”
Bogart is running for Sheriff of Pasco County as a Democrat. He’s running against incumbent Sheriff Chris Nocco, who is a Republican. Nocco was appointed to the position of top cop by Gov. Rick Scott in April 2011 to finish out the term of predecessor Bob White.
Bogart, 60, is a longtime Pasco resident. He joined the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in 1985. He worked for the agency for 16 years, ascending to the ranks of captain and major. Bogart was one of the people on the agency's command staff who was swept out the door after White was first elected in 2000.
Bogart became a reserve deputy with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office in 2001. He was interim chief of the Osceola County Jail. He also served 13 years as executive director of the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission.
When White ran for reelection in 2008, Bogart ran against him but lost by 4,000 votes.
A major focus of Bogart’s campaign has been a pledge to “focus on public safety, not politics.”
“One of the major priorities for me is going to be getting the politics out of the internal operations of the sheriff's office," he said.
Bogart said that there has been over the years an "exodus" of deputies who have left the sheriff's office, some of whom have resigned. Departures continue under Nocco's administration, he said.
Bogart says he’s “about accountability.”
He says he wants to implement Sheriff’s Advisory Councils. hese would be councils set up throughout the county. Each would be composed of members representing a geographic area and meet monthly. Bogart would want his field commanders responsible for that area to go these meetings.
“We don’t have all the answers,” Bogart said. “We have to collaborate. Who knows the neighborhood better than the people who live there?”
Bogart says he would look at expanding programs in the jail and outside the jail with service providers who can help former inmates integrate back into life outside of prison.
He has said he would review the Land O’ Lakes jail inmate farm work program to see if it’s worth keeping, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Another focus is getting the agency accredited again. White cut the accreditation in 2008.
When captain at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office during the Lee Cannon administration, Bogart “took on responsibility” for getting the agency accredited.
“I know the playbook,” he said.
Bogart lives in the New Port Richey area. His wife, Patricia Weston-Bogart, is a veterinarian whose office is right on Rowan Road. Bogart is on the boards of at least five community service organizations and is involved in more, he says.
Pasco has been Bogart's home for 28 years.
“I want to take what I have learned, my experience and put it to work in my own county and make it a truly safer county” he said.
cindy
9:35 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
I've spoke with both of them on certain issues, and I can tell you my vote will be going to Bogart...if you are an animal lover especially, vote for Bogart. He'll take the politics out of that office, thats for sure.
Lori
1:22 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
After calling the sheriff's office and speaking to his secretary about a serious matter, I was promised an appointment to speak with the sheriff, 3 weeks have gone by and still no call back. I am convinced there are too many politics in that office, and will be voting for Mr. Bogart.
Jamkat2000
10:56 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
I think Mr. Bogart is more than qualified for the job, he's got my vote!!
-Charlene
Mike Chubre
1:12 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
It does seem that sheriff Nocco likes to see his pic in the papers any chance he can . Some people think this is the case just untill the election is over ? Iam not sure about that ? What I do know is unlike sheriff White , sheriff Nocco seems to be very interested in arresting the prescription drug dealers and has done well in my opinion with this. The only problem I have as we speak with sheriff Nocco is that he is a republican . The republicans have fought against a prescription drug database for years . Sen Fasano another rep, under pressure from many people , fought for a database and got a watered down version passed. However its not mandatory for the doctors to use it . They say only 2% of doctors are using it ??? This is the only way the reps would pass this law and refused to let the tax payers fund it . I believe this was an effort to see it go away . Why are the reps protecting the doctors ? President Obama said a few years ago he would work on a national drug database that would be mandatory for the doctors to use . Why would the reps not do the same in Florida? Why are the drug companies being protected along with the doctors ? A mandatory database is a no brainer that would take many prescription drugs off our streets . Pasco county is the worst of 67 counties for this abuse.
Mike Chubre
1:19 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sheriff Nocco , Please ask your fellow reps why they refuse to pass a database with some teeth? After you are told the answer , please explain it to the people of Pasco county. Why would the reps not allow the tax payers to fund this database ? The money saved would be great . All the sheriffs time spent on the drug abuse problem and the states related cost is millions of dollars. The doctor shoppers would have to find another state to do their work if the database was mandatory . This is why we need a national database also . Why is BIG pharma being protected ? How can we even consider voting for the republicans knowing they are looking the other way at this .
Mike Chubre
1:25 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Sheriff Nocco , If you are really here to stay and have kids , get the answers to this question . Why did the republicans fight for years against the database ? And why did they only pass a weak version of a database that really does not do 100% of what it is meant to do ? Before the election lets hear the answer . Thank you
Art Moore
7:09 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Here's a major problem with this country! Single out one man because of party affiliation. This country has had bad presidents, congressman, sheriff's etc. etc. on both sides of the fence (republican or democrat). This country should focus on the issues and use a common sense approach. Bogart is trying to turn the word "politics" into a negative spin and use it as a campaign slogan. Guess what Mr. Bogart by virtue of your position you are in the political arena. Here's something else to think about Mr. Bogart was extremely political back when he worked for the Sheriff's Office, now he is using that against Nocco, like it's a negative. Nocco is a servant leader and the men and woman of the sheriff's office truly have his back and a desire for him to be elected as their Sheriff.
TBL35
8:45 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Enough of this "both sides do it" baloney, weak argument.
The biggest problem I have with Nocco is with who appointed him, major red flag to me & don't like the backhanded way he was put in office. Seemed like a subversion of the election process to me. However he seems to have done a good job so far and isn't constantly looking for more money like White was. I think he'll be tough to beat.
Jamkat2000
8:51 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
It is obvious that he would be in a political arena, not making it the focus, and making it more about the community and the people sounds like a good thing to me!