Orange County Register

In the latest installement of my Q&A with GOP insider Mike Schroeder, he somewhat obliquely acknowledges that George Jaramillo has been a bit of a political drag for Sheriff Mike Carona but steers clear of other difficulties Carona has had. He says Carona has a potential bright political future beyond sheriff, but is unclear on whether Carona will remain in politics.

Yet to come: Schroeder on his political influence, his efforts to get more GOP activity in minority communities, Mitt Romney’s California campaign. Plus some bonus coverage and more photos.

– Martin Wisckol

There was a time when Sheriff Carona was called “America’s Sheriff” by Larry King, and he was talked about as having a boundless political future. Lieutenant governor was talked about and even Congress was talked about. How do you see the sheriff’s career proceeding from here?

A lot of it depends on what he wants to do. He could be reelected sheriff indefinitely if he wanted to do that. It was his intention not to run for this current term. That was back in the day before everybody realized that George Jaramillo was corrupt and he was seen as being a successor and the department would be in good hands and all that. I know it was important to him to leave the department in good hands.

He’s one of the most dynamic political people I’ve seen, in terms of being in a room connecting with people. And he’s a great fundraiser. I think he’s the most prolific fundraiser I’ve ever seen in Orange County.

There’s a not a position I can think of in Orange County that if he ran for, he wouldn’t get elected. Including Congress, if that’s where he wanted to go.

If he wanted to run for higher office beyond that, that’s possible. Although I’ve never believed that you can run from a county position in Orange County directly to statewide office. No one’s ever done it. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. He’d need to run for state Senate or Congress, I think, then springboard from there. No one’s ever been a DA or sheriff and then run for statewide office.

But if he wanted to put himself on that track, I think he would. And ultimately, when it was all said and done, the things that came up were accusations made by people that ultimately proved to be groundless in terms of any conduct by him. That’s not going to stick for anything he’s going to run for, in my opinion.

Do you see him as having a career as an elected official beyond being sheriff?

Yeah, if he wants one.

You talk to him – do you think he wants one?

I think … I think at this point, he’s undecided. He could go into the private sector. He could do very well. He’s had some very very nice offers to do that. I think the idea of making a good salary for a few years is very appealing to him.

Right now, he’s being the sheriff for free – if he retired he be getting the same salary he’s getting for doing the job. (His pension if he quit today would match his current salary.) When you have a son that’s getting ready for college and you’ve got to think about your retirement – these things that are important factors.

It would not surprise me at all to see him go into the private sector. But like I said, if he decides to stay in public office, it’s hard to imagine a position here in Orange County that he couldn’t get elected to. State Senate, Congress – I think he’d be a virtual lock for any of those.

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