Pacific Grove's Scott Miller opened up his campaign for Monterey County sheriff this afternoon by voicing concern over Sheriff Mike Kanalakis' "ham-fisted' style," and his request to purchase a helicopter owned by businessman and political donor Don Chapin.

"His employees have told me of his apparent obsession with putting his name on everything the Sheriff's Department owns, and his incessant campaigning has earned him the department's nickname of 'Photo-Op Mike,'" Miller said in front of the Monterey courthouse. More troubling, Miller said is Kanalakis' "lack of openness and transparency" surrounding the helicopter, citing a Herald editorial where Kanalakis reportedly said he didn't recall whether he knew Chapin was a silent partner in 2007.

Kanalakis was not immediately available for comment.

The chopper program is not a new criticism against Kanalakis. His other challenger, Cmdr. Fred Garcia, was suspended for writing a reproachful letter to the Board of Supervisors when Kanalakis sought funding to get the helicopter back in the air. Many of the concerns Miller raised were detailed in Weekly cover story "Gun Control: Mike Kanalakis' critics are up in arms, but he's running for re-election anyway."