Posed With Deputy : Grand Jury Scolds Supervisor Jones

Campaign photographs showing Ventura County Supervisor Edwin A. Jones posing with a uniformed deputy sheriff were a “clear violation” of county election rules, the Ventura County Grand Jury said in a letter delivered Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.

The grand jury expressed its opinion in its role as watchdog over county government, and Jones was not accused of committing a crime. But the criticism comes during a tough runoff campaign against Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Madge Schaefer for the 2nd District supervisor’s seat.

The photos were taken April 11, when Jones was facing four challengers in the June primary, in which he eventually finished first.

Campaign Brochure

The pictures were used in a campaign brochure. They featured Jones standing next to Ray Wilkerson, a longtime friend and a sheriff’s deputy who is a Superior Court bailiff in Ventura County. After the controversy erupted, Jones withdrew the brochure and Wilkerson was suspended without pay for two days.

Under state election law and county personnel regulations, public employees may not pose for campaign pictures in uniform.

After investigating the accusations involving state law, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said in a report issued by his office May 12 that Jones, 55, would not be prosecuted for abetting a crime because it could not be proved that the supervisor knew that the photo session was illegal.

However, Jones’ political rivals, including Schaefer, contended that the incident represented sloppy campaigning and an attitude of being above the law.

The letter released Tuesday said: “The 1985-86 Ventura County Grand Jury wishes to express its displeasure with Supervisor Ed Jones for his recent political activities, which caused a clear violation of the county rules and regulations.”

Noting that Jones and other supervisors had been issued a memorandum on March 4 setting forth county rules on electioneering, the grand jury said, “The burden of responsibility falls on the candidate, who must be very aware to not use undue influence or make inappropriate requests of employees.”

Error Conceded

Jones on Tuesday repeated earlier statements that the photo session was an inadvertent violation of county rules and maintained that posing with police or firefighters is a common, though rarely investigated campaign practice.

“I’m saying I made a mistake,” he said. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and I’ve apologized to everyone I can think of.

“I now know it was an inappropriate request. Had I known, I never would have contacted Wilkerson,” Jones said.

Jones chided the grand jury, however, for failing to interview him during its review of the incident. “They should have heard my side,” he said.

Catherine M. Barringer, the grand jury foreman in whose name the letter was issued, declined to comment on the criticism.

“I would not want to have my hand slapped by the grand jury in that manner,” Dist. Atty. Bradbury said of the panel’s letter. “Normally, it’s a political negative.”

Bradbury said grand jury members did not consult the district attorney’s office before releasing the letter.

The district attorney’s report contended that Jones had “told different stories to different people at different times, thereby severely impairing his credibility.”