Editor's note
This is the ninth of a daily series of Q&A reports with the candidates in Collier and Lee counties, counting down to the Aug. 14 primary election.
2012 ELECTIONS
- Watch Editorial Board video interviews with candidates
- Photo Galleries: Photos about the 2012 Elections
- Videos: Videos about the 2012 Elections
- Database: Search for 2012 presidential campaign contributions
- Database: Search for presidential campaign contributions in the second quarter of 2012
- 2012 Collier County Election Results
- 2012 Lee County Election Results
- Find out where to vote in Collier and Lee counties
- Florida Democracy: Find stories about the 2012 Florida elections at fldemocracy2012.com
- Special Page: Find videos, photos and stories about the 2012 Elections at naplesnews.com/election
Republican voters might get a case of déjà vu when casting their votes for Collier County sheriff on Aug. 14.
The two candidates on the ballot, incumbent Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and his challenger, Victor Ortino, also faced off for the job four years ago. Rambosk won that race in a landslide, receiving about 75 percent of the vote to Ortino’s 20 percent.
Before he was elected sheriff in 2008, Rambosk served as Naples police chief, Naples city manager and Collier undersheriff. Ortino, a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper, is a private investigator and owner of the Golden Gate-based Ortino Investigations.
All registered Republicans in Collier County can cast votes. The winner will face local businessman Vinny Angiolillo, who is running without party affiliation, in the November general election. Angiolillo ran in the 2008 race as a Republican, winning about 5 percent of the vote.
This is the ninth in a series of reports about candidates on the Aug. 14 ballot.
* * * * *
Kevin J. Rambosk
Born: Oct. 26, 1954
How long you’ve lived in your county: 34 years
Education: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Nova University; Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Administration, William Paterson University; FBI National Academy, Class 172
Family: Married to high school sweetheart, Pat, for 33 years; son Kevin is a graduate of the University of Florida; and son Kyle is a Naples city firefighter and paramedic
Political Affiliation: Republican
Current Position: Sheriff of Collier County, 2009-present
Q: What is the first thing you would do if elected?
A: I will build on the many successful initiatives of the past four years and create new ones to meet the growing needs of our community in the future, including:
■ Build the next generation of emergency communications
■ Create a family safety skills academy
■ Stop texting and driving
■ Enhance prevention, awareness and protection services for senior citizens
■ Double the number of community partnerships in our neighborhoods and in our business centers
Q: What would you do to make your community a better place to live?
A: As your sheriff for the past four years with a proven commitment to public service for all my career, community involvement in all we do, safety above all else, and service to others before self is my philosophy, my policy and my life’s calling. I will continue to fulfill the promises I have made to our community that include holding the line on crime and keeping Collier County a great place and a safe place.
Q: What makes you the most qualified for this position?
A: I am the public safety leader with 34 years of demonstrated service and law enforcement supervisory, administrative and executive skills. I have extensive knowledge of contemporary law enforcement methods and procedures, crime reduction techniques, community partnerships, cost control and budget development, and more. I have provided effectual leadership resulting in Collier County having the lowest metropolitan crime rate in Florida, a significant budget reduction, a youth program participation rate increase of more than 40,000 and much more.
Q: What distinguishes you from your opponent?
A: I am the only candidate that meets or exceeds national standards for hiring a chief law enforcement officer. With my advanced education and relevant experience including sheriff, Naples city police chief and Naples city manager, I remain uniquely qualified to continue to lead the Collier County Sheriff’s Office as sheriff. I have saved Collier County tax payers $48 million by reducing our operating budget, while expanding community partnerships and enhancing our services to Collier County residents.
* * * * *
Victor P. Ortino
Born: Oct. 25, 1958
How long you’ve lived in your county: More than 30 years.
Education: Riverdale High School graduate; Air Force NCO: law enforcement specialist; Florida Highway Patrol police standards certified; commercial pilot: multi-engine - instrument rating; 7th degree black belt, Okinawa Kenpo Karate; Edison State College credits
Family: Married to Virginia Griffin; two children, two step-children and four grandchildren.
Political affiliation: Lifelong Republican
Current position: Owns Collier County’s largest legal investigative firm (27+ years); instructor, Lorenzo Walker Technology Institute
Q: What is the first thing you would do if elected?
A: My first focus as sheriff will be on the people that make the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) what it is. We will thoroughly review all HR and personnel components: reviews, salaries, pay scales. You name it. Once we fix the structure of the organization, we will be able to hire additional road deputies, improve public safety and improve logistics, all that and more. During the process, taxpayers will have full transparency into the CCSO.
Q: What would you do to make your community a better place to live?
A: As the county’s seventh largest business, the CCSO should be managed like a business and in partnership with the community. Under my leadership, the CCSO will preserve and protect the lives, property and constitutional guarantees of all persons, and will do so with efficiency and professionalism. Using common sense law enforcement yields positive results (not everyone should be arrested) and embracing community policing, the CCSO will work side-by-side with the community to make it better.
Q: What makes you the most qualified for this position?
A: I am a hands-on leader that delivers results quickly. When you see an organization of any size that has totally derailed, typically there are two root causes: poor senior management and poorly written policies and procedures that are neither communicated nor enforced. They go hand-in-hand, and you must fix both in order to fundamentally correct the problem, and the responsibility to fix these problems falls squarely on the shoulders of a single officer, the sheriff.
Q: What distinguishes you from your opponent?
A: Leadership is the defining issue of the race. Elected leaders must be trustworthy, ethical and individuals of the highest integrity, respected by their peers, associates and voters. The significant issues facing the Sheriff’s Office begin and end with respect and integrity. If the sheriff can “get away with it – bending the truth to his own needs” – why can’t everyone else do the same? Leadership starts at the top. No one is above the law.
Devastation takes focus as sun rises…
Devastation, death indescribable in…
2013 Winged Foot nominees
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 81
PrimaBallerina writes:
Victor Ortino---A Lifetime Movie husband.
mwyatt22 writes:
Here we go again with his vague accusations against Rambosk, but when pressed he offers no proof of anything. You wonder why? Becuase there is no proof, and his sources are disgruntled or FIRED former employees. What happened to the evidence he said he had months ago? Is he biding his time? He's starting to sound like Donald Trump, just without the panache.
Sheepdog writes:
You have to be kidding. The choice is obvious. Here's to Sheriff Rambosk's next term in office; he is the only candidate qualified for the job.
PeopleSpeak writes:
VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS 2012!!
Starting right here in Collier County!
LoadStar (Inactive) writes:
Huh??
wentfishn writes:
I agree!
slickwillie writes:
me too...........
staghorn writes:
Just "ain't" gonna happen especially in collier county.
Since we are supposed to RE-ELECT NO ONE and VOTE THEM ALL OUT that means no voting for the following:
Tom Henning
Donna Fiala
Jim Coletta
Kathy Passidomo
Connie Mack
Bill Nelson
Barack Obama
Abe Skinner
Dwight Brock
Kevin Rambosk
Larry Ray
Brian Bigelow
Ray Judah
Frank Mann
Mike Scott
Carlos Trujillo
Eugene Turner
Mike Carr
Meg Steinbeck
Take a ride anywhere in Naples/Ft. Myers and look how many signs contradict that republican war cry of RE-ELECT NO ONE and VOTE THEM ALL OUT. These same people will be right back in office swinging their feet under and farting in the cushions of the same chairs BEFORE the general election (excluding Obama) even gets here!
republican hypocrisy at its best.
luvsnaplessometimes (Inactive) writes:
me three.....
Notthesame writes:
come on victor, a trooper for two years doesnt make you sheriff material, and your loyals who feed you crap about the SO werent good officers either, thats why they arent now. Fists of Goodness!!!!
luvsnaplessometimes (Inactive) writes:
You are correct. I did a little research and was amazed at the salaries and more importantly, the salary increases over the last 5 years for Rambosk and his cronies!
www.FloridaOPENgov.com
John_Galt writes:
Why is it that Rambosk REFUSED to answer the NRA's candidate questionnaire? NRA says this is usually a sign of hostility towards the 2nd Amendment. Victor Ortino received a B rating. Only Vinny received an A rating. I know who I'm voting for. We NEED a Sheriff that will protect the 2nd Amendment, and protect us when Obama comes to take our guns! The Sheriff has the authority to stop ANYONE From violating our rights, even the President himself. Do NOT make this vote lightly!
shwing writes:
Ortino does have a chance to once again get 1/5th of the votes. These are from his employees and personal friends. Many of his employees are FIRED former deputies who want some misguided revenge. He has NO EXPERIENCE in law enforcement. Being in the Air Force, then a disgraced trooper 27 yrs ago doesn't count. If he was a retired trooper, maybe, but a disgraced (time card fraud) trooper...umm NO. Oh yeah, he has a black belt in karate, that will help with the kung fu vote.
Collier is the safest and best county in Florida in which to live, work, play and raise a family safely....yet 20% of you bozos want to 'vote them all out'.What sane person would want that?? Not gonna happen.
MisterK writes:
The only worthy challenger to Sheriff Rambosk is Sheriff Walt Longmire. But, since he's a fictional tv character and not on the ballot, then I'll be voting to re-elect Sheriff Rambosk. If I understand Ortino correctly, he wants to put more road deputies on. I think we're pretty well covered already. His plan is to cut the salaries. I suppose that helps pay for the equipment, vehicle and energy costs associated with added road patrols. If Victor Ortino were to be elected, then what becomes of his investigation business. Can we expect some malfeasance due to the public/private partnership that creates?
suzaunt writes:
Cutting salaries and benefits is an interesting concept. Wonder if he knows anything about employee rights, protected classes, labor laws?
my-opinion writes:
I ALREADY VOTED FOR NO INCUMBENTS...NOT ONE. Since 2007 I have had no pay raise and things are not better. If you're not part of a solution then you are the problem! Vote them all out, local, state, national...get new faces even if you don't like 'em
John_Q_Public writes:
Ortino in the primary, Angiolillo in the General. See ya, Rambosk!
I'll take Ortino's B rating and Vinny's A rating with the NRA before I'll ever cast a vote for Rambosk and his secrecy and hostility to the 2nd Amendment.
MisterK writes:
Wow. Your sky is falling. I'm glad Mr. Rambosk saw the big picture in regards to the NRA questionnaire. Hold down the fort, the rest of us are going to enjoy the peaceful and safe surroundings here in Collier County.
Jarvis (Inactive) writes:
36 of his employees earn over $100K per year?? I wonder what I have to do to get that kind of a job?
amuser writes:
There is so much profiling done by CCSO it is sickening. A prime example is the two missing young men last seen with cop Caulkins at a Circle K. Ortino has my vote. Serious changes need to be made to the CCSO the way it is now and has been for so many years.
All the pro Rambosk comments, are these made by his employees? You kind of get that sense, don't you?
wentfishn writes:
Yup
Corporate writes:
And I guess the one or two pro Vic comments were made by his employees who are fired deputies that want there jobs back. You kind of get that sense don't you?
vinnybumbotz writes:
Ortie is about to get a good ol fashioned political butt kicking. Rambosk will advance to the General Election with 85% of the vote.
seabuck2 writes:
RE: VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS 2012!! Starting right here in Collier County!
RE: I ALREADY VOTED FOR NO INCUMBENTS...NOT ONE. Since 2007 I have had no pay raise and things are not better. If you're not part of a solution then you are the problem! Vote them all out, local, state, national...get new faces even if you don't like 'em.
I too voted them all out! We are in dire need of new people and change (but not Obama's for sure). I really believe Victor Ortina will do a great job for Collier County fiscally, remvoing the red light cameras, keeping our deputies in check in their best-suited positions, stop predatory DUI practices and using common sense law enforcement.
harley2 writes:
You got that right! None of the challengers to Rambosk are certified law enforcement officers nor have they ever run a large organization. What have either of the challengers done during the past four years to boost their qualifications for the position? Absolutely nothing.
For the Ortino bloggers, I am not a CCSO employee. Just an informed citizen who appreciates the work Sheriff Rambosk has done in the community.
MisterK writes:
Ditto.
dab writes:
Time for some serious changes.....Ortino has more votes coming than some here think. He may lose, but it's a lot closer than many think. Either way, a signal will be sent.....
IrishFan writes:
WRONG. The reason the officers who were removed were in fact removed is because they could no longer stand the hypocrisy in and amongst the ranks of the Sheriff's Department, beginning at the top, all the way to the bottom. That office, along with School Administration, is top heavy and needs to take some weight off.
MarcoRobert writes:
Two main points to my comment:
1. In conjuction with the American Heart Association, Dr. Tober and some generous private benefactors Sheriff Rambosk has lived up to a big promise from the last election; there are now AED's (Auto. Emgergency Defibs.)in all marked CCSO vehicles and all the deputies are trained to use them. There are many people alive because of this lifesaving measure.
2. It's a sad fact that the City of Fort Myers is having to deal with a terible increase in homicides. Lee County has some of the same issues. Kevin Rambosk as Sheriff, and all of his highly trained and skilled cadre of Deputy Sheriffs won't let this happen in Collier County.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY. And vote Sheriff Rambosk for another term.
ZeroTolerance writes:
poster is a FRAUD
GeeRide writes:
But yet you hide behind a pseudo name Jinny! So everyone who posts here in support of our Sheriff Rambosk must work there huh? So when do you graduate from middle school? Oh, and your hubby Victor drools all over himself praising three of the highest paid people in the agency. Do you really think he’d cut their pay? It’ll never happen. I thought these very people he praises were some of the major reasons you people want a new sheriff. Remember, Kevin and his cronies must go? Just watch the interview and decide if that is the only really stupid statement he makes. I’m sure if anyone from MADD watches the interview, they would not be pleased. http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/deta...
Corporate writes:
Bravo Mrs. O!
Corporate writes:
It's funny how the weeds are taller than Vic's signs.
brighteyes writes:
My uncle was the first captain of the Thunderbirds many years ago. Being accepted into the air force is certainly an honor. For my uncle to know that his great nephew was falsely accused of a felony crime in Collier County that he did not commit and it was never properly investigated by the CCSO, if he were alive today, he would be devastated.
lemonjello writes:
Republican Hypocrisy? No, we just want the current POTUS out and back to Community Organizing.
Only an idiot would vote for Mr.58 states....
lemonjello writes:
I think you are right.
mwyatt22 writes:
I am no Obama fan, but the man has done absolutely nothing that would indicate he has any intention of proposing ANY new gun control laws. I guess you believe anything Limbaugh, Beck, or Palin tells you. They are all proven liars and discredit the Republican party. They make all other Republicans look bad.
swampfox writes:
Why no question about the thousands of illiegal aliens running around this county? I think that's a more important issue than "texting and driving" or reviewing salaries and pay scales. Do the d@mn job we pay you to do idiots!
Unions, go to h#ll!
I vote for Joe Arpaio for sheriff. Why can't one of the wealthiest places on earth, have a sheriff like this?
BigFan writes:
You are wrong in your research. If you did any real research you would see that the sheriffs salary is dictated by the population of a county. These facts cannot be disputed or voted on to change as they are set by the governing body of the state. Read and study and it will set you free, jackwagon.
Corporate writes:
Your uncle would also be devastated by what a blasted ignorant ding bat you turned to be.
vinnybumbotz writes:
Hope Vic seeks help for his demons. Poor guy needs professional intervention. Vic call me I know someone who can help you and keep it completely on the down low.
Bellle writes:
To restate the obvious... Ortino who was only a cop for a blink in the career for most cops says he is qualified because he is a "hands on leader". So was Sheriff Hunter and you lambast him and his management style at every corner. As to Vinny, how can any reasonable person take someone serious who doesn't even respect the position (if not the man) enough to call him by his name or title? "Kevie?" Are you serious? I may not be the brightest person in the world, but even I know that people in certain positions should be respected due to the position regardless of personality.
Corporate writes:
Vinny sniffs his fingers after he pulls out the undies out from the crack in his behind.
jbm9 writes:
rambosk is a qualified crook and that sums it up. he is a politician and not a leader. give scott in lee county, he is a hands on sheriff and puts up with no non-sense from the crooked deputies. rambosk knows he has an out of control department. just look at their track record of multiple deputies with multiple complaints for excessive force. when you allow a deputy with 19 complaints still driving around at night you have to ask yourself there is a big liability to the department. but don't worry when complaint #20 comes and someone is injured the public will pay for the lawsuit. other officers from other countys laugh at this many complaints plus planting dope on people at traffic stops? rambosk ,just keep turning your head the other way. collier county doesn't need another politician, we need a real sheriff.
jbm9 writes:
interesting when al sharpton talked about coming to town a tip falls from the sky and hunter and rambosk all of a sudden are interested again in the case. what a bunch of bull... if you people can't see whats going on then you deserve to get it...
jbm9 writes:
yaeh, their the ones on their laptops at night slamming into drivers and right away "lets check to see if the other driver has a little trace of anything in their system so we can shift blame" what a joke
jbm9 writes:
that's the key right there "common sense law enforcement"
jbm9 writes:
absolutely correct mr. angiolillo.
jbm9 writes:
people are falsely accused more often than you think inn this county. sad part you have to hire an attorney to get it dropped. the judges need to wake up and open their mouth about this common practice in collier coun ty and grow some.
jbm9 writes:
wrong, you earn respect!
Want to participate in the conversation? Become a subscriber today. Subscribers can read and comment on any story, anytime. Non-subscribers will only be able to view comments on select stories.