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Highlands Today

Confusing Endorsement

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Maryanne Wandelt

Published: October 28, 2008

The Highlands Today endorsement of Sheriff Benton publically acknowledges she "has problems" and in the same article, states the clear fact that "Ron Grimming has a lot to offer Highlands County. It's difficult not to endorse him. He doesn't have a weakness we can see and there are plenty of positives." I find this a bit contradictory. It seems you talk from both sides of your keyboard!

In September 2004, prior to her election, Sheriff Benton personally conducted an evidence inventory and found missing evidence. It was clear then that changes were needed. Why has she not, for the last four years as sheriff, been aware of those continuing faulty procedures in the evidence unit and taken steps to make the improvements necessary to stem the flow of missing evidence?

She has been knowledgeable of the conditions of the inadequate and outdated procedures her evidence employees have been working under. If evidence procedures were properly in place, no evidence would ever be missing.

It cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in employee overtime to conduct a new inventory, (not even a 100 percent inventory) which found an additional 48 items missing. This, in addition to the missing 33 DNA evidence pieces, other miscellaneous items and all of the grow house marijuana disintegrated, thus creating a bio hazard. These facts were documented in the Newell report. Facts are facts and speak the truth.

I remind you that it was not until many months after the sheriff finally admitted that the thirteen page evidence report existed and it was made public, that she then began to spend a large amount of money to make the necessary corrections and improvements to the evidence unit. Why now? Could it be political?

I am sure she is using the publication of these recent improvements to present herself as innovative and progressive at this time of election, when in fact all of these issues were brought out in the Newell report in February and should have begun months ago.

I vote for Ron Grimming who "has lots to offer and no weaknesses."

Maryanne Wandelt
Sebring

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