Mendoza backs Furlong for sheriff

Primary election candidate Richard Mendoza said Friday he has thrown his support in the Carson City sheriff's race to state Department of Public Safety investigator Ken Furlong.

Sheriff's Deputy Bob Guimont and Furlong were the top vote getters the primary and face each other in the Nov. 5 election.

Among the five sheriff's candidates in the primary, Mendoza received 432 votes for 4.5 percent.

"I met with Ken after the primary and we found quite a few (political) deals going on," Mendoza said. "He would not stoop to making deals with anyone, so I later decided to give him my vote."

Mendoza, who has worked with the sheriff's department full-time for 19 years and two years as a reserve, would not say which candidates tried to make deals after the primary.

Furlong, who was the top vote-getter with 3,883 votes for 40.5 percent in the primary, was campaigning door-to-door Friday when asked about Mendoza's support. He said he was happy but surprised Mendoza announced it Friday.

Guimont said he has not garnered the open support of any of the other sheriff's candidates, but said he has discussed issues with Wayne Fazzino, an investigator for the Attorney General's Office, who placed fourth in the primary.

Guimont, 35, a seven-year Carson City deputy, garnered 2,246 votes -- 23.4 percent -- to defeat his boss, Chief Deputy Scott Burau, for a chance at the top job.

Burau, who drew 18.8 percent, or 1,805 votes, place third in the Sept. 3 election.