It has come to the attention of the Lakeport Police Officers Association (LPOA) that at least one political candidate who was invited to the Lake County Law Enforcement Candidates Night has raised concern about this event not being open to the public. It is the position of the LPOA that it is proper for this event to be closed to the public. To explain our position I would like to let some things be known about how and why this event was planned.
 
Several of the Lake County law enforcement associations were individually approached by candidates for sheriff and district attorney. Those candidates requested to address the associations during association meetings with the desire to solicit a political endorsement.

Realizing that it is common for political candidates running for the offices of sheriff and district attorney to ask for a political endorsement from all of the county’s law enforcement groups, we joined together to create a group association meeting that would streamline the endorsement request process. This event will be focused on the issues most important to people employed in the law enforcement field in Lake County, so the candidates' comments will be specific to the group.
 
The LPOA is proud to be working with the other law enforcement associations in Lake County to produce a venue which will create a fair environment for candidates to solicit the associations for their individual support.
 
Norman Taylor is president of the Lakeport Police Officers Association.