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Election '06: Endorsement flap stokes sheriff's race
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Posted: 12:18 PM- Salt Lake County's heated race for sheriff has spilled into the field of endorsements.

On Monday, incumbent Sheriff Aaron Kennard's camp got the nod from the Salt Lake County Law Enforcement Association, better known as the Fraternal Order of Police.

Well, sort of.

"Sheriff Kennard has been on the front lines of FOP's battle to improve training for officers and modernize equipment," FOP President Marcos Lopez said in a news release. "We are single-minded in our endorsement of his candidacy."

FOP's West Jordan Lodge is of another mind.

"Sheriff Kennard does not have our endorsement or support," stated a competing news release from West Jordan lodge president Brent Jex. "We have serious issues with the way Sheriff Kennard is running the Sheriff's Office, to include severe restrictions on booking criminals. We do not support his efforts for re-election."

Kennard's Democratic opponent, Jim Winder, wasted no time reacting to the retraction.

"It is disturbing that Sheriff Kennard is trying to mislead the public by suggesting he has the universal endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, when clearly this is not the case," Winder said.

Kennard, a Republican, does have the full support of the Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Salt Lake County Corrections Officers Association and Utah Public Employees Association, along with a host of mayors.

Winder is backed by the Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriffs Federation and Salt Lake Police Association, along with city and county firefighter unions.

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