SALINAS, Calf. -- In the race for Monterey County Sheriff, two deputies -- Vincent Earland and Robert Oen -- are taking on incumbent Mike Kanalakis.

Kanalakis is the man to beat in this race.

The sheriff said he has accomplished a lot since taking office more than three years ago. He said his department is more efficient, accountable, and productive.

“My qualifications speak for themselves, as well as my track record. If you look at track record you'll see a track record of proven success despite lot of the difficulties I’ve had in last three and a half years,” Kanalakis said.

When he took office, one of the first things Kanalakis did was draw up a 10-year plan for fighting crime.

Kanalakis said he has accomplished the following:

Established a joint gang task force with the city of Salinas.

Formed a rural crime task force.

Created the department's first-ever bomb squad.

“So by bringing in funds from state and federal level, we've been able to start programs and services that we didn't have before,” he said.

Kanalakis said the payoff has been a safer county.

According to the sheriff violent crime, including assaults, rapes, robberies and murders, was down more than 22 percent in 2005 from the year before.

“And I think a lot of that has to do with the tenacity and effort of our deputies doing an outstanding job out there. We don't just have enough of them,” he said.

In fact, the department is dealing with fewer deputies.

Since taking office, the sheriff has had to eliminate 44 positions -- all part of $6 million in cuts he's made because of county budget woes.

Kanalakis also eliminated the DARE and Juvenile Impact programs and reassigned the one deputy who was assigned to patrol Big Sur.

His cuts haven't been popular and his opponents claim moral at the department is at an all-time low. The Deputy Sheriff's Association overwhelmingly voted to support Kanalakis in his first election. This time around he barely won the endorsement by one vote.

“Bottom line is I did get the endorsement -- that's what's important,” Kanalakis said.

Kanalakis said if re-elected, he hopes to hire more deputies and develop a wage and benefits package that will encourage them to stay. He also wants to build a new jail.

Action News will profile candidates Vincent Earland and Robert Oen in the coming days.