.gif)
Darren White (politician)
Encyclopedia
Darren White is a former Sheriff of Bernalillo County, New Mexico
, having been elected that post in 2002, and re-elected in 2006. Prior to his election as Sheriff, he served as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in the Cabinet of Governor Gary Johnson
. White resigned his Cabinet position after Governor Johnson began advocating the legalization of drugs. White was appointed to the position of Chief Public Safety Officer for the City of Albuquerque on December 1, 2009 by the newly-elected Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry.
, in 1963 and moved to New Mexico in 1987. White holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Phoenix.
White started his career as a street cop with the Houston Police Department
and later joined the Albuquerque Police Department. Before entering law enforcement, White served in the U.S. Army as a member of the elite 82nd Airborne Division. As Bernalillo County Sheriff, White has targeted fugitives from justice by holding regular warrant sweeps, which result in hundreds of arrests throughout the calendar year.
Sheriff White's honors include the Jefferson Award from the coveted American Institute for Public Service in 1983. In 2006, following an eight-month search of more than 1,400 business, political, and civic leaders, the Aspen Institute recognized Sheriff White as one of the nation's top 24 young elected officials and selected him for a new fellowship program honoring public leaders. The Aspen Institute identified White as a "true rising star" in American politics.
After stepping down from his Secretary position, he worked in 1999 as a reporter for KRQE-TV, Channel 13, denouncing the isolationist religious sect Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps
(ACMTC) for their treatment of members children.
White was the Republican Candidate for Congress in New Mexico's 1st congressional district
in the 2008 elections, facing Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich
. The race was initially considered one of the hottest in the nation due to White's popularity in a Democratic-leaning county. However, in the end, White lost by a fairly convincing 11-point margin. He was likely swamped by Barack Obama
carrying the district with 60 percent of the vote.
Sheriff White has one son.
On March 2009, White began efforts to reinstate the New Mexico's death penalty. The campaign is called repeal the repeal
.
In September 2010, the Albuquerque Journal reported that as Sheriff of Bernalillo County, Darren White was found to have evaded state law in a class action case that could cost the county millions. District Judge Nan Nash found that the County and Sheriff White practiced stopping motorists on state highways and seizing funds they may have had, usually under $10,000, but the persons were never charged with a crime nor was their money returned but found its way to the Sheriff's department. The City of Albuquerque already settled the class action suit for over $800,000. The Mayor of Albuquerque, Richard Berry appointed Darren White to oversee the Police Department as the Chief Public Safety Officer, the highest law enforcement position in the City.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*69.4% White*3.0% Black*4.8% Native American*2.3% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.4% Two or more races*16.0% Other races*47.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, having been elected that post in 2002, and re-elected in 2006. Prior to his election as Sheriff, he served as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in the Cabinet of Governor Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
. White resigned his Cabinet position after Governor Johnson began advocating the legalization of drugs. White was appointed to the position of Chief Public Safety Officer for the City of Albuquerque on December 1, 2009 by the newly-elected Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry.
Biography
Darren White was born in Suffern, New YorkSuffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
, in 1963 and moved to New Mexico in 1987. White holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Phoenix.
White started his career as a street cop with the Houston Police Department
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
and later joined the Albuquerque Police Department. Before entering law enforcement, White served in the U.S. Army as a member of the elite 82nd Airborne Division. As Bernalillo County Sheriff, White has targeted fugitives from justice by holding regular warrant sweeps, which result in hundreds of arrests throughout the calendar year.
Sheriff White's honors include the Jefferson Award from the coveted American Institute for Public Service in 1983. In 2006, following an eight-month search of more than 1,400 business, political, and civic leaders, the Aspen Institute recognized Sheriff White as one of the nation's top 24 young elected officials and selected him for a new fellowship program honoring public leaders. The Aspen Institute identified White as a "true rising star" in American politics.
After stepping down from his Secretary position, he worked in 1999 as a reporter for KRQE-TV, Channel 13, denouncing the isolationist religious sect Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps
Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps
The Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps is an American absolutist, military structured, intentional community. Founded in 1981 by "Generals" Jim and Lila Green, it is based in a remote area of Cibola County, New Mexico...
(ACMTC) for their treatment of members children.
White was the Republican Candidate for Congress in New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico District 1 of the United States House of Representatives serves the central area of New Mexico, in and around Albuquerque. The current Representative is Democrat Martin Heinrich, who became the district's first Democratic representative in 2009.-History:Until the 1968 elections, New...
in the 2008 elections, facing Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich
Martin Heinrich
Martin T. Heinrich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the central area of the state, in and around Albuquerque.- Early life, education and career :...
. The race was initially considered one of the hottest in the nation due to White's popularity in a Democratic-leaning county. However, in the end, White lost by a fairly convincing 11-point margin. He was likely swamped by Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
carrying the district with 60 percent of the vote.
Sheriff White has one son.
On March 2009, White began efforts to reinstate the New Mexico's death penalty. The campaign is called repeal the repeal
Repeal the repeal
Repeal the repeal is the name of a campaign pushed by Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White to reinstate the death penalty in the state of New Mexico following the repeal of capital punishment by the state legislature, signed into law by Governor Bill Richardson on March 18, 2009.-The...
.
In September 2010, the Albuquerque Journal reported that as Sheriff of Bernalillo County, Darren White was found to have evaded state law in a class action case that could cost the county millions. District Judge Nan Nash found that the County and Sheriff White practiced stopping motorists on state highways and seizing funds they may have had, usually under $10,000, but the persons were never charged with a crime nor was their money returned but found its way to the Sheriff's department. The City of Albuquerque already settled the class action suit for over $800,000. The Mayor of Albuquerque, Richard Berry appointed Darren White to oversee the Police Department as the Chief Public Safety Officer, the highest law enforcement position in the City.