Boyer

To be elected county sheriff, a person must meet certain law-enforcement experience and education requirements set forth in Government Code, section 24004.3. Bruce Boyer has no law enforcement experience. He filed a petition for writ of mandate to compel respondents, Ventura County, Ventura County Board of Supervisors, and Ventura County Clerk Mark Lunn to put him on the June 5, 2018 Primary Election ballot for county sheriff. ( Code Civ. Proc., § 1085.) The trial court ruled that Government Code section 24004.3 was constitutional and denied the petition. We affirm. As we shall explain, constitutional, statutory, and case-law compel affirmance. We are quick to observe a common sense reason why appellant cannot prevail. Experience is the best teacher. This is true whether you are a plumber, a teacher, a doctor, or a lawyer. It also applies to being the elected sheriff of a county where there are several hundred deputy sheriffs and several hundred non-sworn personnel to supervise. It does not matter how intelligent you are or if you are acting in good faith. There is a good reason why the Legislature has imposed an experience requirement. To get a "feel" for law enforcement, i.e.,…