Amador County – Longtime law enforcement official John D’Agostini has made it all but official that he’ll be running for El Dorado Sheriff in the 2010 election. D’Agostini, a resident of El Dorado County, has served in Amador County for 15 years, as a former Amador County Sheriff’s sergeant and in his current role as 2nd in command for the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. He’ll be up against three other strong candidates: Stan Perez, a former chief of the CHP’s valley division; Bob Luca, an El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office Investigator; and Larry Hennick, a retired 32-year veteran of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Incumbent Sheriff Jeff Neves has not decided whether he will seek re-election. D’Agostini told TSPN he intends to “return to a type of community-oriented policing,” but that term “has been used for years to the point that people barely understand what it means.” Instead, he said he’ll base his campaign on a 3-prong policy he calls “total policing.” That stands for total enforcement, total care and total professionalism. After years of first-hand experience with the regions growing drug-related issues, he feels “drugs are directly or indirectly the cause of most crime in this area.” Other issues high on his agenda include combating domestic violence and vandalism in the county’s west-end that could be signs of an increasing gang presence. When asked to comment on whether he feels he’ll be a more effective Sheriff than Neves, D’Agostini said it’s simply a matter of having different leadership styles. “I’ll bring a different culture and personality to the position that I personally feel will be more effective. (Neves) has started some good programs, and I will build on those.” D’Agostini said he will formally announce his candidacy at his family’s ranch in Mt. Aukum on June 13. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.