Former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates, one of the most powerful and influential politicians in county history, has died. He was 85.

Gates, the 11th sheriff of Orange County, held the reins from 1975 to 1999. He was a self-styled Western lawman endorsed by none other than movie legend John Wayne, a resident of Newport Beach. Wayne’s portrait hung at the sheriff’s headquarters, where other Western art graced the walls under Gates’ administration.

A lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano, Gates worked the orange groves as a youngster, lighting smudge pots to keep the frost from damaging the crops. He rode on the volunteer Sheriff’s Junior Posse before joining the Sheriff’s Department in 1961.

While his tenure as sheriff was marked by controversy, Gates was highly admired for his tough, non-nonsense persona. When the county declared bankruptcy in 1994, Gates was one of a trio of department heads called to lead the county administration.

Under Gates leadership, the department gained national prominence for its anti-drug efforts, including a school program called “Drug Use is Life Abuse.”

Gates first won election in a landslide victory and held the department with an iron grip until he retired in 1999 at age 59, amid a backlash from former ultra-conservative Republican supporters angered by his endorsement of a half-cent sales tax to help the county recover from bankruptcy. The tax was rejected by voters. Gates’ top assistant sheriff at the time, Dennis Laducer, also faced civil accusations and was fired for alleged sexual harassment.

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Also during his tenure, Gates was sued by political opponents who alleged he used his department to spy on them and intimidate them.

Prominent Republicans threw their support behind former Orange County Marshal Michael S. Carona, who won the sheriff’s post but latter was imprisoned on a federal criminal corruption charge.

In 2009, Gates was inducted onto the city of San Juan Capistrano’s Wall of Recognition. He said community service was one of the guiding forces of his life.

“When the cause is something that my family or I believe in, then we have a responsibility to participate and ensure success,” Gates said in an article at the time. “My reward is being part of the effort that allows you to leave behind a positive accomplishment for the city for many generations to come.”

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