(Updated) Captain Manuel Gonzales Named Interim Bernalillo County Sheriff

KRQE News report on the appointment of Manny Gonzales

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Captain Manuel Gonzales was unanimously selected by the Bernalillo County Commission at their meeting today to replace Sheriff Darren White, who will serve as the Public Safety Director at the City of Albuquerque. Gonzales, who is a Democrat, was sworn in today by Judge Ted Baca, and will serve as interim Sheriff until the election of a new Sheriff in November of 2010.

Gonzales has reportedly indicted he will run for the post. Click to check out his campaign website.

KRQE reported that in the nominations before today's unanimous vote, Councilor Maggie Hart-Stebbins said she supported retired APD officer Marie Miranda, a Democrat, while Commissioner Michael Brasher stated he backed Repubican William Kurth -- a choice that was seconded by Commissioner Michael Wiener. Neither candidate, however, had the votes to win. Chairman Alan Armijo then nominated Gonzales, and the Commissioners decided to go along and gave him their unanimous support.

There were 21 candidates who applied for the position:

• Baragiola, Salvatore; BERNCO Undersheriff
• Bowdich, Joesph; former sheriff
• Candelaria, Conrad; APD Commander
• Chavez, Eli; former DEA & CIA
• Chavez, Joe; retired APD
• Chavez, Robert Gene; retired APD, APS employee
• Davis, Patrick; District Attorney’s office
• Dennis, Roy; former Torrance County Sheriff’s dept.
• Gonzales, Manuel; BERNCO Sheriff’s Captain
• Hatcher, Roger; Tucumcari Chief of Police
• Dan Houston; no info on him
• Kurth, William; retired APD
• Lincoln Jr., Douglas; BERNCO reserves, retired Air Force
• Lopez, Leslie; Bosque Farms Police Dept.
• Medina, Louis; private investigator, retired NM State Police
• Miranda, Marie; retired APD
• Nunez, Felix; former Town of Bernalillo Police Dept.
• Paiz, Ronald; retired APD
• Sanchez, Greg; retired APD
• Stanley, Sylvester; retired BERNCO Sheriff’s Dept.
• Studerus, Theodore; retired APD