John D'Agostini is a lot more comfortable kicking in doors to meth labs than he is raising campaign funds.

But that's exactly why the long-time Amador narcotics operative says the nearby county he grew up in needs him - too much emphasis on politics in the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, not enough concern about the community.

D'Agostini has worn a badge in Amador County for 16 years. Starting as a patrol deputy for the Amador County Sheriff's Office, he worked his way up through the ranks of chief deputy commissioner, SWAT sniper, detective and, finally, head of the narcotics unit. In 2003, D'Agostini transferred to the Amador County District Attorney's Office, where he remains a key investigator for crimes ranging from fraud to homicide. He's also second in command of the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team, which was formed in 2007.

While D'Agostini likes working in the land of mine wheels and head frames, he now feels that El Dorado County, where he was born and raised, needs him more. "Over the last five years, a lot of people in El Dorado County have asked me to run," the candidate said. "At first, I would always say no, because I'm just not a politician. But now I realize that there's a major separation there between law enforcement and the people of El Dorado. There needs to be an involved leader who can fix that."

Currently believed to be running neck-and-neck in the race with former Department of Justice official Bob Luca, D'Agostini has continued to say that the office of sheriff in El Dorado County is too encumbered by the region's political tightropes. D'Agostini's campaign motto, "A modern approach to traditional values," not only emphasizes his credentials, but invokes his vision of an El Dorado County where locals and law enforcement have a partnership built on mutual respect.

"It's been about 30 years since anyone in El Dorado County has seen an active sheriff driving around in patrol cars with his deputies," D'Agostini told the Ledger Dispatch on Wednesday. "The recent history of elected sheriffs there is that they lock themselves up in their administrations and never get to know the community. The Amador County Sheriff who gave me my first job, Ken Blake, was really good about building those relationships with people. I think Amador's current sheriff, Martin Ryan, is doing a great job of getting out there and meeting the people he protects. El Dorado needs that same approach. It's good for the morale of the department, and good for the public it serves."

In Amador law enforcement circles, there seems to be little doubt over whether D'Agostini is up to the task of changing El Dorado County for the better. He's been officially endorsed by the Amador County Deputy Sheriff's Association, ACCNET Commander Jackie Long, Amador County Chief Probation Officer Mark Bonini and his current boss, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe.

In Riebe's opinion, El Dorado voters would be picking up a major asset if they elected D'Agostini. "John is a natural leader," Riebe said. "He's respected by his law enforcement colleagues. He talks straight, walks straight, has great instincts and listens. No excuses. No blame game. No finger-pointing. John just gets the job done. I think people are hungry for these qualities in their leaders right now."

El Dorado County voters seem to be coming around to the same conclusion. D'Agostini's last campaign event drew more than 600 people.