Political evasion

Journalism is many things: Tireless reporting, critical thinking and puzzle-solving.

It’s also an act of trust between reporter, editor and reader. And trust, of course, requires transparency.

Which is why SN&R wants to make clear the process that went into this week’s feature. It’s not everyday a paper publishes a “profile” without actually interviewing the subject. But that’s exactly what we faced with this issue’s story on Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones, who is facing off against Rep. Ami Bera in a bid for the 7th Congressional District.

SN&R staff writer Scott Thomas Anderson first requested an interview with Jones in early September. Sure thing, Jones’ campaign handlers told us. We’ll make it happen.

But they didn’t. Repeated requests and repeated assurances followed.

“It’s really tough,” Jones’ campaign told SN&R as the deadline loomed.

Then they went radio silent.

Jones may have decided against an interview—we don’t take it personally, he’s long been evasive when it comes to answering tough questions—but the story still needed to be told.

Jones is one of Sacramento’s most controversial figures: Over the years, among other things, Jones has been embroiled in sexual harassment lawsuits and his department’s been accused of misconduct.

Now he’s running for a congressional seat. So Anderson attended a debate between Jones and Bera, interviewed as many parties as possible and dug deep into legal documents.

The result is a compelling profile (See “Badge of Mystery,” page 14) that manages to shed some light on Jones—even if the sheriff seemed to try his damnedest to make sure it would never happen.