Victor P. Ortino recently filed with the Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office to run for Collier County Sheriff in the 2008 election.

Ortino, a private investigator, says he chose to run based on observations and discussions with local deputies and at the encouragement of the legal community.

“A lot of very well trained, talented and experienced deputies within this current agency cannot perform their jobs because of the micro-management mentality,” he says of the current administration. “Many of these deputies are afraid to act in the best interest of the community because they may be reprimanded or fired unjustly. When you train someone to do a job, you need to let them do it.”

Ortino graduated from high school in Lee County and enlisted in the United States Air Force at 17. He served in SPEC’s, a special operations combat ready unit assigned to air base defense and later on an investigative unit, stationed at Wheeler Air Force Base in Hawaii.

While in the Air Force, Ortino secured his private and commercial pilot license. He is also holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in Karate.

In 1982, Ortino joined the Florida Highway Patrol and served as a state trooper in Collier County. In 1984, he and another trooper launched an investigative agency, of which he is the sole owner/operator today.

Ortino has worked as a private investigator for the past 23 years and is a member of the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators and the National Association of Legal Investigators.

He is also a member of the Naples Pelican Bay Rotary Club and was awarded “Rookie Rotarian of the Year” in June 2007.

For information about the Ortino campaign, call 353-4224, email vortino@ortinopi.com or go online to www.ElectOrtino.com