LAKE COUNTY— Since Sheriff Brian Martin’s retirement in January, interim Sheriff Robert Howe holds the position until the upcoming 2024 election. Currently Howe has expressed his intention to retire once this position is filled, not seeking permanent office himself. On Jan. 3 2023, Lieutenant Administrator Luke Bingham filed for candidacy with the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office and is running unopposed as of press time.
Bingham moved to Lake County when he was 6-years-old in 1980 when his family relocated from the Santa Cruz area. He is a graduate of Middletown High School and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1994 to 1998. It was then suggested to him to try out the Police Academy and with the help of the G.I. Bill Bingham attended the Napa Valley College Police Academy and returned home to Lake County after gaining employment with the Lake County Sheriff’s office. He has now been with the LCSO for over 25 years. His current duties include records handling, staff training, compliance with state and federal regulations, crisis response, and special projects like the upcoming move to the old armory.
Over the course of his career Bingham has held multiple positions and according to his campaign website www.Bingham4Sheriff.com, he has served “as a patrol deputy, field training deputy, SWAT team member, detective, and sergeant.” Bingham shared, “Being Sheriff was never the goal, my goal was to become Captain.” After Martin retired Bingham felt a strong desire to see the department continue improving stating. “I’m very proud of our department and what we have done over the years.” He continued “I want to see the Sheriff’s Office thrive. I am invested in this and want it to continue to improve.”
Both retired Sheriff Martin and interim Sheriff Howe have endorsed Bingham, with Howe sharing “I know him to have exceptional expertise and experience in all areas of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. More importantly, I see him as an honest leader who truly values our community.” While Martin stated, “Luke Bingham has demonstrated leadership, competence, professionalism, and impeccable character during the many years that he and I worked together at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.” Bingham expressed that he has a “good understanding of the Sheriff’s Office what it’s responsibilities are and what it does.”
Having a military background has helped Bingham in his career thus far and he noted, “As a leader, I should be able to train and develop my staff. It is your responsibility to lead by example, lead the employees and ensure that your people are experts.” He also believes his experience will help him work collaboratively with other county department’s adding that, “Lake County is small. All of the departments in the county are too small to operate without the support of one another.”
This collaboration strategy will be vital in confronting what Bingham feels are the county’s top issues – staffing, and the fentanyl epidemic. “Fentanyl increases other crimes, they are all tied together. Can’t focus on one and not the others… it will take a very collaborative effort.” Bingham’s solution to the problem will involve a multi-pronged approach, utilizing other agencies like behavioral health services to get those in need the proper resources in hopes of avoiding the prison system. These efforts would also help with staffing, an issue faced by law enforcement agencies across the nation, as departments in all categories lose good employees due to a lack of support. Bingham hopes that a “fresh set of eyes” will help him find creative solutions to these problems noting, “If you’re not evaluating and improving every five years you’re becoming irrelevant and stagnant.” He said communication and transparency will also help to establish solutions and are a key component in his campaign.
More information on Lt. Luke Bingham and his campaign can be found on his website www.Bingham4Sheriff.com and FaceBook page Bingham4Sheriff.
