The Other Story

Research the origins of the proposed new department facilities. You will find that the county commissioners suggested that all government departments bring forth their projected needs for the future and submit expansion possibilities. You will find Susan Benton complied with that request with energy and foresight. Unlike other department heads that will also need expansion for their departments, but haven't taken the time (i.e. extra work,) or used imagination to submit a plan, she did as requested.

The fact that Susan can find the time for this planning is just one more example of her leadership. She must have been able to allocate police duties to trained fellow workers, all the while achieving great arrest results, and taking work home with her. Add to this the many trips she must make to Tallahassee, etc. She uses the spare time (hotels at night) etc. to plan ahead. Would Ron Grimming be hobnobbing or working? His apparent self-interest, as evidenced by his job hopping, would lead one to believe the former.

Location is the key to a new police facility. Using an abandoned shopping center or other facility not well situated to areas where most police service is needed or not close to other needed facilities such as courtrooms, etc. would not be cost efficient due to increased fuel costs for transportation and perhaps vehicles. I agree fuel costs for all of us are astronomical. We certainly don't want future plans to be such that our taxes might have to pay unnecessary fuel costs for any government facility. Because Ron Grimming is a new resident of Lake Placid is no call to decentralize police facilities.

Subcontracting will probably be available under an experienced RQF. I think this is a smart move by Susan to avoid favoritism among our local building contractors. I think one would have to dig very deep to find evidence of favoritism by Susan to any outside source during her regime.

It is outright ludicrous to imitate "Sheriff Joe" in Arizona for jail "tents." My guess would be that Ron Grimming would do such then hire illegal aliens to oversee the "sweat camp." Doesn't he know that heat in Arizona is not felt like the humid heat conditions in Florida? Of course, only some inmates would be in the tents, I'd bet.

I sincerely hope, other than this letter, we get a better report of Susan's take on the evidence subject (once again!) I also hope it goes on Page 1 of this newspaper. I am sure she has already implemented changes to fix the "missing evidence" debacle. Let's not get hung up on this issue; it is over and done. Balanced with all the great things that have happened for us under Susan's leadership, it is like one leaf lowing in the wind on a fine winter morning.

Don't waste one of our county's greatest resources by voting for Ron Grimming. Go Susan Benton for Sheriff 2008.

Cindy Dall
Sebring