Prior to becoming Bernalillo County Sheriff, he was Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in Governor Gary Johnson's cabinet.
As Bernalillo County Sheriff White targeted fugitives from justice, holding regular warrant sweeps, which resulted in hundreds of arrests throughout the year.
Sheriff White's honors include the Jefferson award in 1983 from the coveted[clarification needed] American Institute for Public Service.
White was the Republican candidate for US Congress in New Mexico's 1st congressional district for the 2008 elections, facing Albuquerque city councilman Martin Heinrich.
Also, when his wife caused a traffic accident he went in person to pick her up and deliver her to the hospital so Mrs White was never assessed for intoxication, for another.