Soon, all those campaign signs and candidates at civic meetings will be gone. ...more

November 4, 2008

For some county residents who have cast their voters, it's all over, and they will be glad to see the campaign season coming to a close. ...more

November 4, 2008

Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said she considers flyers mailed recently by the Florida Police Benevolent Association in support of her opponent, Republican Ron Grimming, misleading. ...more

November 2, 2008

As we approach the finish line in this heated campaign, we must congratulate all those in the race: My most sincere congratulations to our Sheriff Susan Benton for her magnificent and professional wisdom. The P.B.A. has made a lot of noise against her, like a hen does when she has merely laid an egg, and when you listen to the hen noise it is as if she had laid an asteroid. ...more

November 2, 2008

Since 1998, Highlands County's population has grown from 80,500 to around 99,000. ...more

October 26, 2008

As a registered Republican, I was appalled to receive another flyer from the Police Benevolent Association defaming Susan Benton, the Democratic candidate for sheriff. This political advertisement states it was paid for by the Florida PBA Justice PAC, and it was independent of any candidate. What a bold face lie when it instructed me to vote "No" for Susan Benton on Nov. 4 It is rather clear the PBA, from a previous flyer as well as this one, is supporting outsider Ron Grimming, as it did for the FHP position. In addition, I feel this mailing was planned to arrive at Highlands County homes one day prior to a complimentary Ron Grimming paid political announcement. This planned attack has convinced me to vote "Yes" for Susan Benton, not only because of its audacity of telling me how to vote, but also because of its affiliation with Ron Grimming, despite the fact it claims no allegiance to a candidate. What duplicity! ...more

October 24, 2008

No local races are as hotly contested in Highlands County as the sheriff's race. No race draws as much attention, nor as much nastiness. This election season we have two extremely strong candidates. When all the nonsense being spouted on both sides is pushed aside, incumbent Sheriff Susan Benton and Ron Grimming both are well qualified and would serve our county well. ...more

October 24, 2008

Who is Susan Benton? She's lived in Highlands County since 1978, she's worked in highly visible jobs with the county and the sheriff's office. And she's been sheriff nearly four years. ...more

October 23, 2008

Four years ago, Highlands County voters saw an active campaign for sheriff. In the primaries, four qualified candidates squared off in debates, and the November election saw two very qualified candidates. This election campaign, while very heated, was run with no mud slinging and ranting promises. ...more

October 23, 2008

Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton compared past issues with evidence handling to "a tidal wave that drowned us." ...more

October 22, 2008