Sheriff's Race

I have watched the political landscape very closely this year, especially the sheriff's race. I have a concern for candidate Ron Grimming. First of all, he has lived in our county only two years and at the helm of the FHP lasted only four years, 1993-1997.

Referred to as the first outsider when hired for this job, Grimming had the opportunity to respond to a reporter with the St. Pete Times after leaving office in regards to the criticism of his leadership. This researcher-reporter mentioned Grimming's "innovative attempts to modernize the FHP and splintering its focus, his weakening performance and his alienating of command staff." The writer gave Mr. Grimming three opportunities to respond, but he preferred not to defend this record of bringing in helicopters, community policing squadrons, a car theft hotline, taking troopers off the road and putting them in special units, angering Florida sheriffs.

Will he bring unproductive leadership to the county sheriff's office? Will he bring people with ill intentions towards our law enforcement? If so, could it be the result of sour grapes from the 2004 election when Susan Benton defeated Mike Brown, who supports Ron Grimming? Could it be the result of recent inventory hullabaloo by Steve Newell, who also supports Ron Grimming?

In regards to storage for evidence, newspapers since 2005 informed the community of Susan Benton's concern for space for both these items. Those of us really concerned with this sheriff's race must ask ourselves if this outsider Ron Grimming, as referred to by reporters from 1993 to 1997, is misinformed or being less than honest in statements made about a new jail and office building.

It is necessary that we voters do our research on Ron Grimming, for we do not need to have our community faced with problems the FHP experienced from 1993 to 1997 under his leadership. All voters in Highland County should ask the same question Mrs. Millie Grime asked in her recent letter to the editor, "Does the Grimming group have a hidden agenda?"

Valma Francisco
Sebring