Jackson gets deputies' endorsement

Stanislaus County law enforcement officers are looking past Tuesday's local government races and zeroing in on June's sheriff's race.

The 180-member Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association is backing challenger Rob Jackson against first-term Sheriff Adam Christianson. The group did not release a breakdown of the vote. "If they had endorsed Christianson, it would have told me that they were happy with the direction the department was going and there wouldn't be much sense in me continuing in this campaign," said Jackson, a Turlock police captain.

Christianson views the endorsement as a reflection of his decision to decentralize the department with area commands outside of Modesto, and on tough contract negotiations because of the recession. "My cops deserve a competitive salary and benefits package, but the reality with this economy is that right now, that's not going to happen," he said.

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