Reyes latest to run in crowded coroner's race

Raul Reyes

Raul Reyes has announced his intention to seek the Elmore County Coroner's office, currently held by incumbent Marla Spence.

Reyes, who is running on the Republican ticket, will face Spence and candidate Jerry Rost in the May 23 primary election. The winner will go up against Democrat John Watson in the fall general election.

Reyes was born in Weslacko Texas, the son of migrant workers who eventually settled in Emmett, where he completed his schooling.

After serving two tours in Vietnam with the Marine Corps, Reyes returned to Idaho and completed his law enforcement training at the POST Academy in 1989. He spent 10 years with the Emmett Police Department before joining the Gem County Sheriff's Department. He started with the Elmore County Sheriff's Department in 2000.

Today, Sgt. Reyes is in charge of the Glenns Ferry Substation for the sheriff. In 2002, he helped launch the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program in Glenns Ferry. He was the 2004 Grand Marshall of the Elmore County Fair and Rodeo, and is an active member of Post #3646 (Glenns Ferry) of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Reyes and his wife, Crystal, live in Mountain Home. The couple has been married for 27 years. They have four grown children and four grandchildren.

Reyes believes his experience and training in law enforcement equip him to perform the duties of coroner. In addition, he believes those same skills will help law enforcement in follow-up investigations if the death involves suspicious circumstances.

Reyes believes his experience and training in law enforcement would be a benefit because he would be able to assess the death scene and determine whether future investigation may be appropriate.

Reyes said he is seeking the coroner's post because he wants to make a positive contribution to his community. He does not see a conflict of interest serving as a deputy and coroner.

In 1992, the states attorney general addressed that issue when Ed Belk, then a sheriff's deputy with Elmore County, also served as coroner. In a letter to Belk, then Attorney General Larry Echohawk stated: "... there appears to be no conflict between the roles of county coroner and deputy sheriff that would prevent one person from holding both positions."

By state statute, the coroner is the officer responsible to act as county sheriff when the sheriff becomes incapacitated or when the office is vacated. The coroner also is the only person who can arrest a sheriff in Idaho.

In that same letter, Echohawk stated that there could be a conflict if a deputy was required to testify in a trial in which he had conducted the inquest as coroner. In that instance, the inquest into the death would be turned over to a coroner from another county. That's a decision with which Reyes said he is comfortable.

Reyes will decide whether to remain on the sheriffs department after the primary. If the current state attorney general should render an opposing opinion than that given by Echohawk in 1992, Reyes said he would consider retiring from his current job.