John Pikramenos for Democrats, Pinellas sheriff

There may be no other local elected office as challenging and important as county sheriff. In Pinellas County, the job entails managing a department with more than 2,700 employees, overseeing a county jail that houses some 3,300 inmates and providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated area as well as a number of small cities.

Two veterans of the Sheriff's Office will compete in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary. The winner will face Sheriff Jim Coats, 64, a Republican who was elected to his first term four years ago. John Pikramenos, a 53-year-old Tarpon Springs resident, spent 30 years with the Sheriff's Office, 26 of those years as a supervisor, before retiring in June. Randall Jones, 39, of Clearwater was a deputy for 18 years before resigning in April to run for sheriff.

Jones had an excellent record as a deputy, and as a candidate he has some creative ideas about reducing costs and improving communication in the Sheriff's Office. But Pikramenos' educational background and supervisory experience better prepare him to challenge Coats.

Pikramenos earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Florida and joined the Sheriff's Office in 1978. He has worked under four Pinellas sheriffs, been a supervisor in numerous units of the department, and retired as a sergeant. Pikramenos has one blot on his 30-year record: In 2004 he was suspended for 10 days after an internal affairs investigation determined he had a romantic relationship with a co-worker and spent many hours talking with her during the work day.

Jones and Pikramenos are directing their thunder at Coats rather than each other. They contend the incumbent is indecisive, lacks vision and wastes money on nonessentials. As a consequence, they claim morale in the department has plummeted.

Pikramenos said he wants to rebuild the close relationship all deputies, not just community policing officers, should have with the communities they patrol. If it becomes necessary to make more budget cuts in the Sheriff's Office, he would avoid laying off deputies used for core law enforcement functions and achieve reductions through better use of technology, cutting some administrative positions and reducing staff in units such as the fugitive section and environmental lands division. Pikramenos acknowledges that to adequately fund public safety in Pinellas in the future, it may be necessary to consolidate police services.

In the Democratic primary for Pinellas County sheriff, the Times recommends John Pikramenos.