Embattled San Francisco sheriff loses re-election bid by wide margin

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco sheriff caught up in a national debate on immigration reform has lost his bid for re-election by a wide-margin.

Partial returns from Tuesday’s vote show Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi losing to retired sheriff’s official Vicki Hennessy. She has the backing of Mayor Ed Lee and the deputies association.

With more than 90,000 votes counted, Hennessy had 62 per cent compared to just 31 per cent for Mirkarimi.

The San Francisco sheriff’s office has been in the spotlight since a Mexican national in the country illegally was charged in the fatal shooting of a San Francisco woman this summer.

Prior to the shooting, the man was released from Mirkarimi’s jail even though federal officials had requested that he be detained.

Mirkarimi vigorously defended the city’s sanctuary policies, which generally prohibit law enforcement from co-operating with immigration officials.