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Highlands Today

Highlands Today > News

Grimming For Sheriff

Mark Griffin DVM.

Published: October 18, 2008

Sheriff Benton's supporters in the past have submitted negative comments regarding Ron Grimming's qualifications and length of residency in this county. He certainly is a very qualified candidate when considering his administrative experience as former director of the Florida Highway Patrol and former deputy director of the Illinois State Police. However, it is the negative comments regarding his length of residency that I take issue with.
Obviously he has met the legal requirement to run for this office and that alone should be the determining factor.
Most of the residents in this county moved here from somewhere else. Most have moved from other states and assimilated to become an important part of our hometown community. We never see any derogatory remarks in the paper regarding new residents; in fact we are glad to have them; they help support our businesses, community development, churches and so forth.
As a community we never turn down the volunteer support the new residents offer. Therefore, to use the actual amount of time a person has lived here as criteria to judge a candidate's competency seems unfair to me. Rather than criticize Mr. Grimming in this fashion wouldn't it be more informative to attend one of his functions to better evaluate him as a candidate?
I've met with Ron Grimming and discussed many issues including his plan to control spending. What I find most amazing about this man is; he takes notes. When have any of us ever seen a candidate taking notes while listening to the public? That rarely happens.
Mr. Grimming listens and then responds with common sense answers. He was not born and raised in Highlands County but like all of our residents, he is here now and he deserves serious consideration for the office he seeks. If you want a candidate that understands fiscal responsibility and the fact that growth in government cannot exceed the taxpayer's ability to pay, then you need to consider Ron Grimming as your choice for sheriff.
Mark Griffin DVM.
Avon Park