With one week to go before the election, the two candidates for Salt Lake County sheriff are squabbling over endorsements.

Both incumbent Aaron Kennard, a Republican, and Democrat Jim Winder claim to have the support of front-line deputies, and technically, both do.

Winder has the support of more than 130 rank-and-file deputies from the Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriffs' Federation, who say Kennard is "unapproachable." Winder founded the federation and stepped down as its president to run for sheriff.

"We feel that the current sheriff is out of touch with the line-level personnel and has been for some time," said Shawn Roberts, the federation's president. "Our morale is at such a low point right now that it wasn't a difficult decision" to endorse Winder.

But more than 330 members of the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Association of the Fraternal Order of Police couldn't disagree more. The county FOP consists of deputies, corrections officers, protective services and support staff from the county sheriff's office. They say Kennard, who has been in office for 16 years, knows what is going on and always keeps his door open to listen to staff concerns.

"The sheriff is the best candidate in this race," said Kelly Atkinson, the association's executive director. "He's demonstrated time and time again that he should continue to protect the citizens of Salt Lake County."

Kennard said the split among deputy endorsements is natural, as several employees are likely bitter after suffering from disciplinary action at the hand of the current sheriff.

"Those who got discipline can't be happy about it," he said.

The Salt Lake County lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police is the only FOP lodge in the state that can endorse a Salt Lake County sheriff candidate. Union rules bar FOP lodges representing city police departments and other counties from making endorsements on an individual county's races.

Brent Jex, president of the West Jordan lodge, said he had heard that county GOP leader James Evans had made a comment that all FOP members support Kennard — and that didn't sit well with members of the West Jordan lodge.

"We have serious issues with the way Sheriff Kennard is running the sheriff's office," Jex said. "We do not support his efforts for re-election."

Evans said the only comment he has ever made about endorsements is that the "majority of law enforcement" supports Kennard.

Kennard insists he has never claimed to have the support of FOP members statewide. He said the West Jordan flap was just another attempt by the Winder campaign to stir up trouble instead of focusing on the real issues.

Winder used the flap to criticize Kennard.

"It's disturbing that Sheriff Kennard is trying to mislead the public by suggesting he has the universal endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, when clearly this is not the case," Winder said.

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