Why Did the Elk Grove Police Officers Association Endorse Bobbie Singh-Allen, Kirk Thomson?

Political endorsements are often portrayed as ideological statements. More often, they are business decisions.

The recent endorsements by the Elk Grove Police Officers Association illustrate that distinction better than any political science textbook.

There were two endorsements - for the Elk Grove Mayor and the Area 2 Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees seat- for candidates who are seemingly political opposites. These two candidates, in fact, have had pointed exchanges at public government meetings.

The association has issued endorsements for Elk Grove's Democratic mayor, Bobbie Singh-Allen, and EGUSD Area 2 candidate Kirk Thomson, who is likely affiliated with the Republican Party.

As seen in the video below, Mr. Thomson criticized and condemned Singh-Allen, saying the mayor called him a liar.

So why the seemingly conflicting endorsements between a Democrat and a conservative?

As for the mayor, the answer is simple: the EGPOA will support any incumbent city council member seeking reelection who has supported it in the past, thereby ensuring its dominance in contract negotiations. The EGPOA is the alpha dog over the mayor and city council, and the mayor and the city council direct the city manager's labor negotiations team - a perfect setup from their perspective.

It is the definition of a symbiotic relationship.

Police endorsements carry unusual weight because they imply expertise on public safety, an issue that consistently ranks among suburban voters' highest priorities. Even voters who disagree with a candidate on other issues may view a police endorsement as evidence the candidate will support effective law enforcement.

If the mayor or a city council member does not intervene to the EGPOA's satisfaction, the EGPOA can withhold future endorsements. In a public-safety-oriented suburb like Elk Grove, that would be a significant issue that could bolster the candidacy of a challenger more amenable to the EGPOA's economic interests.

As for the endorsement of Thomson, who is challenging the liberal incumbent Michael Vargas, a political protege of Mayor Singh-Allen, the EGPOA endorsed him not long after he entered the race. Interestingly, the EGPOA posted its endorsement of Thomson on its social media accounts well before its Singh-Allen announcement.

For the EGPOA, the difference lies in contract negotiations. The EGUSD Board of Trustees has no role in the EGPOA's wage and benefits, so they are free to issue endorsements based on political, not economic, considerations.

In the race between Thomson and Vargas, the two men have opposite stances on a wide range of issues, from social issues like the Transgender Day of Visibility to economic considerations like project labor agreements.

Free of economic considerations, the endorsements of Thomson and other social conservatives, such as EGPOA's endorsement of conservative EGUSD Trustee Heidi Moore in her 2024 three-candidate victory, indicate that they are playing the game. Endorse those who will economically benefit you, and in races where there is no direct financial benefit, cast support for those who match politician inclinations.

The seemingly contradictory endorsements aren't contradictory at all. They simply reveal that political endorsements often serve two different purposes.

When an officeholder influences police contracts, economic self-interest understandably comes first. When no such financial stake exists, ideology becomes far more visible.

Viewed through that lens, the EGPOA's endorsements tell a remarkably consistent story.