Someone suggested I explain my recent actions and objections to the local GOP blatantly abusing the Hall County Sheriff's Office's name for political gain.
The GOP used Facebook and the internet to publicize a 'public event' on private property. I objected to the language of the announcement as it read, "We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19th in conjunction with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office!"
The GOP used a banner which I have attached as a picture. It also used the phrase, "in conjunction with." I have other pictures of the announcement as it appeared on the party's webpage.
Although I feel strongly that the gun safety message trumps any partisan political point of view, the HCSO would not give its name to a street party.
I felt shock and outrage. Hall County's government abuses our 1st Responders with below standard wages and has, in my opinion, raided their pension benefits. No county Law Enforcement employee should be forced to sue his County Commission. Not even 1st Lt. Brad Rounds who, in the Times coverage of the lawsuit, would retire with a monthly pension of $389 after a career covering parts of four decades.
For the deceptive political ad, I took the issue to the County Commission. Looking back at the Times article of May 9th, you did reach out to the GOP on the issue. They did not at that point remove or change the ad. As I had expected, they resisted, continuing to use the HCSO as a co-hosting, in conjunction with, as a full sponsor of the candidate showcase.
I did characterize Matt Smith's response in the Times article as the 'denials of a slightly pregnant virgin.' Never was that comment directed at any county official or member of the Sheriff's office.
I continued to press the issue with the County, the Sheriff, and the Times until the false advertisement was removed and a new ad posted by the GOP.
The GOP never had a right to run such an ad. This GOP event seems very similar to another GOP event held in August of 2014. At that 'public' event, held on private property in Dawsonville, a citizen journalist, Nydia Tisdale, was arrested by a Law Enforcement officer. She faced a court trial for no better reason than acting within the 2nd Amendment's protections for journalists. For what some call a misunderstanding, Ms. Tisdale bears forever a criminal record with a conviction for obstruction.
Given this example, I feel justified in approaching the County and the Sheriff to clean up the GOP's language.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Sunday, May 13, 2018
New Private Prison in Florida
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice, in conjunction with others, studied prison reform and rehabilitation.
Among the factoids discovered, prisons are too harsh and lack the facilities for nurturing. Although other reformers consider rehab, Sessions prefers the teaching of new careers, especially those with a pleasant working environment, usually outdoors. This meets his criteria of nurturing and career paths with his stated goal of convicts re-entering society in useful and productive jobs.
With this in mind, the DOJ is paying for a long term study targeting new private prison system in Florida.
The first of these new prisons will be a private property with a golf course and an ocean side pool. The exact location remains a secret.
Among the factoids discovered, prisons are too harsh and lack the facilities for nurturing. Although other reformers consider rehab, Sessions prefers the teaching of new careers, especially those with a pleasant working environment, usually outdoors. This meets his criteria of nurturing and career paths with his stated goal of convicts re-entering society in useful and productive jobs.
With this in mind, the DOJ is paying for a long term study targeting new private prison system in Florida.
The first of these new prisons will be a private property with a golf course and an ocean side pool. The exact location remains a secret.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Update
After a couples days, the Hall County GOP'ers have reworded their advertising. It no longer mentions hosting in conjunction with the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
I'm going with this theory.
The GOP made a mistake, bragging about HCSO.
The HCSO wasn't aware of the language labeling the office as hosting a partisan political event.
Someone brought the issue to the Sheriff or another leader within the department.
That person, or the Sheriff contacted the right people and clarified a need for separation between law enforcement and the outcomes of local elections.
Who ever took the high road and behaved like an adult needs a pat on the back.
Since we'll never know, a well done to the HCSO and it's leadership.
I'm going with this theory.
The GOP made a mistake, bragging about HCSO.
The HCSO wasn't aware of the language labeling the office as hosting a partisan political event.
Someone brought the issue to the Sheriff or another leader within the department.
That person, or the Sheriff contacted the right people and clarified a need for separation between law enforcement and the outcomes of local elections.
Who ever took the high road and behaved like an adult needs a pat on the back.
Since we'll never know, a well done to the HCSO and it's leadership.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Hall County GOP lying?
On May 8th, I contacted Hall County in reference to a GOP political event being hosted "in conjunction" with the 'Hall County Sheriff's Office.'
The Commission did not respond.
Finally, I contacted the Commission's under paid and over worked clerk. Through her efforts, the Sheriff made a non-responsive reply.
I've demanded a press release to clarify to the public the exact role the Sheriff's Office is taking by hosting "in conjunction."
I've demanded the Sheriff's Office avoid the appearance of providing it's service and name to the campaigns of the GOP by withdrawing any unpaid or free service to the GOP.
I have no written reply and the ad remains worded:
"We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19th in conjunction with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office! "
To clarify my position, If the ad said, "We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19th in conjunction with the Southern Poverty Law Center," then I would understand the Law Center is a host and not merely making an appearance.
Here is a snap shot of the GOP's homepage.
What do you think? Is the GOP using the Sheriff's Office to attract donors? Is the GOP mixing it's brand with the Hall County Sheriff's Office for political gain?
Two days of asking Hall County for a direct response.
Nothing
The Commission did not respond.
Finally, I contacted the Commission's under paid and over worked clerk. Through her efforts, the Sheriff made a non-responsive reply.
I've demanded a press release to clarify to the public the exact role the Sheriff's Office is taking by hosting "in conjunction."
I've demanded the Sheriff's Office avoid the appearance of providing it's service and name to the campaigns of the GOP by withdrawing any unpaid or free service to the GOP.
I have no written reply and the ad remains worded:
"We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19th in conjunction with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office! "
To clarify my position, If the ad said, "We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19th in conjunction with the Southern Poverty Law Center," then I would understand the Law Center is a host and not merely making an appearance.
Here is a snap shot of the GOP's homepage.
What do you think? Is the GOP using the Sheriff's Office to attract donors? Is the GOP mixing it's brand with the Hall County Sheriff's Office for political gain?
Two days of asking Hall County for a direct response.
Nothing
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Stories
The pension stories started running in the Gainesville Times in 2017 when five current and former Hall County employees filed an estimated $75 million class-action lawsuit.
The story identifies 1st Lt. Bradford Rounds. Rounds, with 29 years of service, would get a pension of $389 at retirement. He doesn't want to get $75 million dollars. He wants the County Commission to pay a just and fair pension to all retiring employees.
Whatever happened in the back rooms before 2017, the 'pension shortage' for 1st Responders and court employees became public on January 12th, 2017 when the County got served with papers.
I'm sure the Commission was given a chance to do the right thing. They didn't. They are being sued.
The next story comes on March 17, 2017. The Commission, through its attorney, denies any responsibility for the pension promises.
"Plaintiffs ... did not ever have an employment contract with the County promising them unchanged retirement benefits." The County Commission can't be sued because the board is “not a legal entity capable of being sued.”
A local judge does the right thing on October the 6th, 2017. With the case moved from Fulton County, where it would get a fair and impartial hearing, Judge Oliver disqualified herself “to avoid any appearance of impropriety or the absence of impartiality.”
An honorable move. The case goes forward.
Senior Judge Martha Christian takes the case and conducts a first hearing on March 1st, 2018. The judge gives the plaintifs, numbering more than 100 current and former employees, a right to continue the suit and gather information through the discovery process.
The case remains in discovery, a process expected to take months.
The story identifies 1st Lt. Bradford Rounds. Rounds, with 29 years of service, would get a pension of $389 at retirement. He doesn't want to get $75 million dollars. He wants the County Commission to pay a just and fair pension to all retiring employees.
Whatever happened in the back rooms before 2017, the 'pension shortage' for 1st Responders and court employees became public on January 12th, 2017 when the County got served with papers.
I'm sure the Commission was given a chance to do the right thing. They didn't. They are being sued.
The next story comes on March 17, 2017. The Commission, through its attorney, denies any responsibility for the pension promises.
"Plaintiffs ... did not ever have an employment contract with the County promising them unchanged retirement benefits." The County Commission can't be sued because the board is “not a legal entity capable of being sued.”
A local judge does the right thing on October the 6th, 2017. With the case moved from Fulton County, where it would get a fair and impartial hearing, Judge Oliver disqualified herself “to avoid any appearance of impropriety or the absence of impartiality.”
An honorable move. The case goes forward.
Senior Judge Martha Christian takes the case and conducts a first hearing on March 1st, 2018. The judge gives the plaintifs, numbering more than 100 current and former employees, a right to continue the suit and gather information through the discovery process.
The case remains in discovery, a process expected to take months.
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