Home          Issues          Meet Andy          Get Involved          Media          Ask Andy

First the big endorsement, Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorsed our campaign.  Fox News contributor and the Sheriff who started “Tent City” and inmates in “pink underwear”.

Well this is just about it guys. The early voting has started and the big day is the 20th. I am really feeling good about this election by the actions of the Ferguson campaign. Here are two events that stand out.

The first story will be part of my “too funny…..”, but the second part I will try to explain why the current Sheriff is “afraid” of me.

Ok the Ferguson camp is on the run and is extremely defensive. Last week one of our campaign workers was eating at local Rogers’s restaurant. As our campaigner was leaving the restaurant he was approached by a member of Ferguson’s campaign offering him a Ferguson yard sign to take. When our worker said, “no thanks, I want a real Sheriff’s sign in my yard”, the Ferguson’s campaigner said a nasty word about me, ouch.

Too funny………. I can’t resist. “Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me!!!” My, my how one reacts when one hears foot steps rapidly approaching from behind.

Another indicator that we have that Ferguson is on the defensive is he “walked out” of a debate held last week. He knew I was going to ask him during the forum about his facts on how much money his Federal Prisoner program was really bringing into the county. To avoid having to debate the issue he fled. It is obvious to me that Sheriff Ferguson is afraid to sit down in a public forum and discuss several issues. The holding of Federal Prisoners for one!

I never thought I would see the day that Keith was afraid to defend his programs or be afraid to sit down and face me, but I guess when one is playing the cards of political poker and the dealer is a politician, anything is possible. Even trying to bluff your constituents!

Another key component that is helping our campaign is the “Jail Ministry” program. I have been contacted by members of the Ministry program who express their disappointment with the Sheriff. I have been told that the Sheriff has really restricted the volunteers time with inmates. Two ministers told me they had to make an appointment to visit with an inmate who wanted to visit with their minister. The kicker to this is when the ministers showed up at their scheduled time, they were turned away. That is wrong!

Keep up the “sprit of victory”. We have one more week. I really believe if we keep up the pace this election will be ours to win. Holly and I are going door to door again today. We hope to finish up Siloam Springs soon. We will be on the ground all next week and weekend knocking on doors. Those of you, who have the time to go door to door, give us a call and we will give you some addresses.

In closing lets keep in our prayers our neighbors in Missouri or anywhere that was affected by the weather yesterday. To those wonderful MOM’S - today is your day! Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you again for your continued support and your prayers, your endless energy amazes me!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

This editorial was written during the campaign of 2006 when I was running for Sheriff.  Keith Ferguson was the incumbent.  Throughout his campaign he stated that there were no gangs in Benton County.

Then there was a shooting that resulted in a murder.

While covering the story, the media asked the Sheriff’s Office if the shooting was gang related or if any of the suspects were gang members.

Click here to read an editorial on how incumbent Ferguson’s administration addressed the issue of crime and gangs.

Crime Prevention-Needs and Support

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER

The current Sheriff wants to build a jail annex at a cost of millions to Benton County tax payers. Major mistake! This county must get on track with building a new and effective Juvenile Detention Center. If we want to reduce crime, we need to get to the root of the problem, our youth!

I am asking the citizens of Benton County to get involved with this important issue now, before you have a personal need. No secret Benton County is the fastest growing county in the state and region and that holds true with juvenile issues. Studies have been done on juvenile crime. The studies revealed by the year 2015 we will have the largest population of juveniles ages 15 and under, on our streets in America.

Juvenile crime has risen sharply in the last two decades, many of these crimes are violent and we have witnessed that trend right here in Benton County. Remember when you are discussing the issue of a new JDC that all of our adult criminals were once juveniles!

Briefly, here is how the JDC should operate. After the youth is arrested and assigned to the JDC by the Circuit Court the process of maturing them should begin. This is strictly youths that have been convicted and have been assigned long term to the JDC. Immediately all their medical needs will be taken care of. Everything from head to toe! If they are on drugs will become drug free. Once on their feet they will spend the next three months in a JDC Boot Camp. The youth offender will get in shape, learn to respect authority, learn what team work is, learn proper hygiene, learn how make their beds, clean their clothes and police their surroundings, etc. Upon graduation of boot camp the youth offender will start rehabilitation programs that will develop them into a productive and mature young adult. JDC programs and education programs would run in tandem with the youth’s current education level. We will instruct the youth with hands on education, such as shop programs like carpentry, mechanical, welding, hair dressing, home ed, etc. Computer training, resume writing, job interviewing and how to manage a bank checking and saving account. Nearing the end of their incarceration, the youth offender will participate in wilderness survival training.  We will teach them how to set up camp, fish and trap for food, respect for the environment, completing this program on a positive and self confidence building theme. 

Benton County will be reconized for sending a juvenile delinquent into the juvenile system and releasing him or her into the world a mature young adult!

Benton County Women’s Shelter   and   Benton County Children’s Advocacy Center

You have seen on national and local news many stories of child pornography and sexual assaults on our children and missing women only to be discovered later, murdered. It almost seems that is a daily news lead.

Frequently we should be hearing from the elective Sheriff about two agencies in Benton County that play a major part in protecting our women and children. These agencies are the Benton County Women’s Shelter and the Benton County Children’s Advocacy Center. When elected I will see with the assistance of my wife, Holly, that the Sheriffs Office take the lead in obtaining funding to support these two agencies.

When I was Sheriff, my wife, Holly worked full time and was unable to get involved in important projects such as the Children Advocacy Center and the Women’s Shelter. Holly is now retired. She would like get involved in three projects and promote their importance by using the platform of the Sheriff’s Office. We will immediately start a campaign to secure the funding and monies it will take to support these three projects: The Juvenile Detention Center, The Children’s Advocate Center and the Women’s Shelter. We expect that corporations and citizens in Northwest Arkansas to support these vital agencies. So be on the lookout we will be knocking……..

A foot note; As your Sheriff in 1988 the first thing we did in training was to have every Deputy attend a training program on violence against women and then tour the Women Shelters of Benton and Washington Counties. This training went on every year I was Sheriff. This training will once again start up when I am re-elected Sheriff. Our Office will not neglect the importance of protecting women, and children against violence.

There simply is no excuse for women and child abuse anywhere and especially in Benton County.  I will deal with this growing epidemic with a vengeance! 

Suggested reading:

CHILDREN’S ADVOCATE CENTER

http://www.nationalcac.org/ncac/who_we_are.html
http://www.nationalcac.org

THE WOMEN’S SHELTER

http://www.vaw.umn.edu/library
www.wadt.org/index.php