Bail Bondsman Wants to be North Bay Sheriff

A Bay Area bail bondsman who is running for Solano County sheriff is challenging his exclusion from the June primary election ballot.
     
Solano County Registrar of Voters Ira Rosenthal informed candidate Joel "Tom" Toler on Tuesday he does not qualify to run against Sheriff Gary Stanton because he does not have documentation of full-time salaried law enforcement experience within the past five years as required under the state  Penal Code.

Toler, 51, claims he has "substantially equivalent services" as a  "peace officer and peace officer-equivalent" through activities in civilian and military roles within the past five years and has performed contract services with the Vacaville Police Department.

The Solano County Deputy Sheriff's Association filed a lawsuit in  Solano County Superior Court asking the court to review Toler's qualifications. A hearing on the suit scheduled for Thursday may not be held because of Rosenthal's decision that Toler isn't qualified.

Toler said this morning he will file a writ of mandate in court  Thursday ordering Rosenthal to include his name on the ballot. He said he hopes a hearing on the filing will be held Monday or Tuesday.

The Registrar of Voters office said the June primary election  ballots are scheduled to be printed next week.