https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/02/20/bay-area-lawmakers-bill-looks-to-reset-what-a-california-sheriff-can-be/

In California, since 1989, only those who are already certified police have been able to run for sheriff of their county. Now, a Bay Area lawmaker is saying the state would get more responsive, more effective law enforcement leadership if others can run too.

In authoring Senate Bill 271, San Francisco-based State Sen. Scott Wiener is hoping to allow civilians to become candidates for sheriff, something that has been prohibited in California for the past three decades.