Benton's Defense

Please allow me to respond to a letter in Thursday's paper (Oct. 9) regarding Sheriff Benton. The writer seems to think that our sheriff is rude and uncaring because she didn't take time to speak with him about free Spanish lessons he was offering the deputies back in January 2007. He stated that he was a part-time resident, so he might not have known that at that particular time, one of our brave state troopers, Sgt. Sottile, had been brutally murdered. Maybe if he had known that, he might realize that the sheriff was busy trying to catch a cop killer. It is possible that his generous offer was somehow forgotten in the process.

It is also possible that once the suspected killer was caught, and he was, the major that he spoke with passed the offer along and the deputies decided that they were not interested in giving up eight hours of their off-time to learn Spanish. Maybe, like many Americans, they believe that rather than us learning Spanish, immigrants should learn English! And maybe he's just mad because he had to wait an hour to speak with the sheriff, only to be given to a major, because again, the sheriff was too busy running the sheriff's office.

He thinks, as a part-time resident, that change is needed in our sheriff's office, and recommends Ron Grimming, a virtual unknown, for sheriff. Of course it is his right to feel that way, even though he isn't registered here. But as for me, a full-time resident of Highlands County, I will be voting for Susan Benton to be re-elected to office.

I know that Sheriff Benton is doing a fine job protecting this community from all kinds of bad guys. Her deputies are happy with her and so is this community. I will stick with a sure thing, thank you very much.

Mayr Malool
Lake Placid