November 27, 2005

Police Associations Back Judge over Assistant DA

San Jose Mercury News
The Insider

Speculation about the race to succeed Santa Clara County District Attorney George Kennedy was that San Jose cops would pass over his chief assistant and personal favorite, Karyn Sinunu, and back Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Dolores Carr.

The judge's husband, John Carr, is a lieutenant on the San Jose police force. And Sinunu's division has yet to put a gunman charged with a San Jose cop's 2001 slaying on trial, but has made another San Jose officer answer to a public grand jury for fatally shooting a Vietnamese woman and now has a state agent on trial.

That theory was seemingly affirmed in endorsements last week by the San Jose Police Officers Association and Police Benevolent Association. The 1,800-strong officers association chose Carr by 71 percent. Assistant District Attorney Marc Buller got 12 percent, Deputy District Attorney Jim Shore got 9 percent and Sinunu got 8 percent. The 400-strong benevolent association, which Carr's husband leads, said it backed her ``with an overwhelming majority.''

Carr, whose stepson also is an officer, said cops indeed feel ``treated more harshly'' under Sinunu's leadership and that her office has been ``less than fair'' to them. But as the only candidate not working for Kennedy, the judge and former prosecutor said cops want a fresh perspective, and she and her husband have earned their respect.

``My husband has a very good reputation for the same kinds of qualities and characteristics that I have,'' Carr said. ``I have proven leadership. I've always been considered tough but fair.''
Sinunu said she couldn't compete with Carr's police connections -- ``She's like family to them'' -- and that her job sometimes puts her in a difficult position with officers.

``I love law enforcement, but a DA's role is to be independent of police,'' Sinunu said.
Buller, endorsed by former Sheriff Charles Gillingham, said he expected Carr to win with San Jose officers, but that his second-place standing with them was encouraging, indicating he stands a good chance for endorsements from other city police officers around the county. Shore said he was just happy to have clinched the California Association of Highway Patrolmen endorsement.

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