Sonoma County sheriff denied bid for legal counsel on oversight ballot measure

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has denied Sheriff Mark Essick’s request for approval to hire legal counsel to explore litigation against the county over a ballot measure that would strengthen the office that oversees his department.

The supervisors earlier this month unanimously voted to place the Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance on the county’s November ballot. But Essick said there were legal flaws in the ordinance that would make it difficult for him to perform his duties as sheriff.