Voces de la Frontera, a local immigrant rights advocacy group, supported Lucas in the race and recently clashed with Schmidt on such controversial issues as jail deaths under former Clarke,  while Schmidt was second in command though not the top jail administrator, and enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Voces representatives last week said Schmidt bears responsibility for deaths that occurred when he was second in command. Schmidt responded that he made changes in jail staffing and supervision soon after becoming the acting sheriff one year ago and that those reforms would not have been possible while Clarke was still the sheriff.

One of those reforms included adding three wellness monitors to the jail staff. They are responsible for daily one-on-one contact with inmates in mental health, medical and discipline units.

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