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Sheriff’s spokesman Bryn in Parkinson’s corner

March 22, 2009

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

Sheriff Pat Hedges won’t endorse a successor just yet, but his department spokesman isn’t bashful about trumpeting his choice. Rob Bryn wrote and distributed a press release last week announcing the candidacy of Ian Parkinson, a captain in the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Hedges said recently he will not run for a third term.

Bryn, who describes himself as “the official spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department,” said he sent the e-mail announcement late at night from his home computer, and testily defended his actions.

“I’m not going to be [Parkinson’s] press secretary nor am I going to be his campaign manager. What I do off duty is my own business, and it’s nobody’s business who I do, or do not, support in a political situation.” Bryn said of the upcoming campaign, “We will be paying a consultant, but until then I will be doing what I can to help out. I’ve known the guy for 25 years.”

Bryn then admonished a reporter: “You need to report this appropriately, because I know how you write. If you want to get into this, I’ll be happy to get into it with you. And we can become the biggest enemies in the United States. I’ll be happy to do that. If you want to attack me for this, fine.”

Hedges, said Bryn, “has made it very clear” that he will refrain from endorsing any candidate “until at least after the filing deadline.” That will be in March 2010.

As a member of the county’s GOP Central Committee, Bryn said he’s helped countless candidates with press releases over the years, “and always on my own time, and from private computers.”

Then he said, “If this is a political discussion, then I’ll have to cut it off right here, because I don’t have political discussions on a government phone.”

Former Third District Supervisor Jerry Lenthall and sheriff’s Sgt. Dale Strobridge, president of the county Deputy Sheriffs Association, are said to be considering a run for the post.


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Member Opinions:

By: tarandfeatherthejerk on 6/14/09

For the love of your country, read the constitution.


Pat Hedges is in need of tarring and feathering and run out of the country. He took an oath to uphold the Constitution and broke it.


Allowing the Constitutionally Criminal FBI to come into his town and arrest Charlie Lynch for LEGAL ACTIVITY was a total disreguard for the Constitution which I am sure Hedges is to ignorant to read or comprehend.


Pat's wife shoulda grabbed his gun and done the whole country a favor.


Charlie Lynch just got sentenced to a year in prison.


Pat Hedges and Judge George Wu need to spend a year at the bottom of a lake attached to a nice large rock. Better stay in your own states guys where you have your buddies to protect you because your disregusrd for the Constitution qualifies you to not be safe in mine.

By: StateofConfusion on 3/28/09

I've known both Ian and Rob for 20yrs, they worked together for Morro Bay Police years ago. I can see where Rob is backing him. And he needs to be careful what he says as he is still a county employee and they have rules about endorsements. Ian is absolutely the best choice. He has integrity and ethics, both are missing from the current administration. Lenthal has been out of the loop too long and Strobridge brought the city of SLO to it's knees with binding arbitration (do you think the county needs that mess?).

By: Saveslocounty on 3/24/09

Hold on to your shorts, here we go again. Rob Hedges, I meand Bryn, was able to threaten and voice his political opinion on the Government telephone but then asks if this is about politics when Dan starts to ask questions. Give us a break. This is the same old political stance that cost McCain the election and has destroyed the credibility of the Sheriff's Department. Bryn is a double dipping (retired SLOPD), self appointed campaign guru who has violated campaigning laws and county ordinances for his candidate already. What kind of impartial press information about the Sherriff's department can we expect from this guy. Besides, the Teflon Sherriff is misusing Bryn's position of Crime Prevention Specialist which was not an approved county position. Go to their budget page and check it out. Parkinson should dump this guy and distance himself from anyone in the current management of the Sheriff's Department if he hopes to be elected. Now I see why the GOP is in dire trouble locally and nationally. What a shame.

By: rogerfreberg on 3/24/09

Poor Rob Bryn…


The great negotiator Herb Cohen once said that he would never negotiate for himself because it was 'too important to him' and he observed that he was better off letting someone else do it. Some PR folks can learn from this.


Funny.


Defensiveness never works, nor do threats of being an 'enemy.' However, I think that Rob's reaction is merely a reflection of someone who is thrown into the limelight for THEIR OWN actions. chill out


Anyway, there's always something happening behind the scenes in little San Luis Obispo county…. what concerns me now is what the local politicos are planning to do regarding our taxes, fees and assessments.


I like old Mayor Rob-em Romaro, but how long will people put up with all the increases?


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By: calvertworthington on 3/23/09

It's good see that Mr. Bryn is once again building his nest in someone's pocket. Might be worth an in-depth look into past liaisons, alliances, and strategic migrations of the Bryn. Such a sincere smile.

By: Jan on 3/23/09

Who wouldn't want the local McCain campaign coordinator in their corner? Um, wait…..that's right, the county with 9000 more Republicans, went to Obama.


Okay, so he blew that one, but Bryn helped Lenthall, Ovitt, Hedges–all very popular Republicans in our county. Go Ian, Go!

You be the youngish good old boy, you be the latest status quo custodian, you be the Sarah Palin of SLO County!

By: Afriendindeed on 3/23/09

No need for Mr. Bryn to be so confrontational over what is a legitimate question from the local media. Where is the witch hunt in this, Newsome? Why is the current PIO doing campaign work for a candidate? Why is it wrong for Blackburn to pick up the phone and ask? Why does Mr. Bryn have to sound so threatening? And just what is happening over there in the Sheriff's department these days?


Keep making those calls, Dan.


By: OLDMANOFSLO on 3/23/09

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WHOMEVER RUNS FOR OFFICE DEALS WITH THE PROPOSAL OF THE FEDS BACKING OFF OF THE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA CLINICS AND LETTING THE STATES HANDLE IT, AND WILL THEY ALLOW THE STATE LAW ON THIS ISSUE FINALLY BE FREE OF FED AND LOCAL HARASSMENT. THE ONE WHO SUPPORTS MEDICINAL MARIJUANA CLINICS WILL LIKELY BE THE WINNER. THIS IS MY BET AND ALL THOSE AROUND ME THINK THIS WAY TOO.

By: Newsome on 3/23/09

Since every article eventually becomes a witch hunt, I empathize with Byrn's reluctance to talk to CCN.


More and more reasonable people are going to resist giving interviews to CCN, which will move the pool of interviewees more and more toward the fringe of axe-grinders and wackos.


I don't think that's going to make the reporters' jobs any easier. Nor will it improve the content of the site.


By: Clemintine on 3/23/09

Bryn said of the upcoming campaign, “We will be paying a consultant, but until then I will be doing what I can to help out.


A question for you Mr. Bryn. Who specifically is "We"?


By: Vagabond on 3/23/09

Where the hell is Barney Fife when you need him!


Please vote in someone that is beholden first to the county then the state and then to the feds.


And leave those poor cockfighters alone! we shouldn't be interfering with the bedrooms of normal gay guys!


Oh, uh, I just learned that it's about chicken rights…. nevermin


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