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From: GERALD SMITH [mailto:arkycuz1@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 3:35 AM
Subject: Copy of my endorsement

To my friends and other residents of Benton Co.:

I have been reading news stories, clips, newspaper editorials, personal profiles and other ’snooping’ around of news articles, both past and present, for several weeks. Lots of ’stuff’ out there. I have even talked personally with one of the Sheriff candidates.

In what I consider a fair comparison - without prejudice, but with conviction – I have sought a candidate for Sheriff for whom I could vote. I think our county is in need of a Sheriff who will admit we need a new agenda in the policing of Benton Co., and, that the county is in need of a Sheriff who will not only initiate such a program but will prioritize it and truly fulfill the duties of County Sheriff.

True, we are in a relative safe community right now - when compared to many others around the Nation - but from what I have garnered from my own ‘investigation’ we are edging toward what I would call a potential crime syndicate haven. Criminals are creeping in like a serious cancer. Needless to say, cancer, ignored and untreated, will eventually bring death to its carrier. The same principle applies to criminals and the cities they occupy.

We need some immediate action from law enforcement leaders who are unafraid to face the fact that there is a need for immediate action. And, being unafraid, have the fortitude to activate the necessary programs that will bring crime to its knees - regardless of the bleeding hearts who want to cajole the criminal.

I am deeply concerned as to where our nation is headed. Crime prevention is only a start toward improving the national profile but it is the most effective way to keep the peace while we mend the profile. And, it has to start on the local levels.

After a pretty thorough ‘investigation’, Andy Lee is my choice for the office of Sheriff. He has the experience, integrity, fairness, and fortitude to bring law enforcement influence back to Benton Co. You can visit his website at www.voteandylee.com

I have had no previous personal friendship or business relations with any of the three candidates so as I said earlier, there was no prejudice in my choice - it was simply a matter of collecting facts - not political promises and propaganda.

I am going through the same process with other offices, both local and national - whew! I hope you do some ‘homework’ also. Charisma and charm abound, but the facts are revealing to me an alarmingly different agenda for the future of America than what we have had in the past.

I have never been so involved, in selecting my choice of candidates, as I have for the upcoming elections. This is a serious election year for America; we need to be serious in choosing our candidates. Please, Benton County residents, get out to the polls and let’s help make it a better America by choosing the better candidates – locally and nationally.

Jerry Smith

703 E. Sumac

Rogers, AR. 72746

arkycuz1@sbcglobal.net

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From: Guy [mailto:grhowe1@cox.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 4:13 PM
Subject: letter to the editor.

I just finished reading Bob Caudle’s editorial about the alleged flap over the old deputy’s badges between Benton County Judge Black and Sheriff Ferguson. Caudle went on to say that it was just a ‘cheap trick by a member of TV Lee’s personal posse’. The otherwise bland article could have been written without the obvious slam against former Sheriff Andy Lee.

As a retired deputy who worked under both Sheriffs Lee and Ferguson I would like to address the blatant politically biased reference to ‘TV Lee’.

When I went to work for the Sheriff’s Office in 1991 I was paid a paltry $11,900 a year. All of my equipment, except for the car, was my own. I got no training. There was no money in the budget for any of that. Andy knew that the only way to bring this county out of the 18th century was to get the attention of the public and the quorum court. He spent a good deal of his time ‘getting on TV’, appearing in front of the quorum court and pleading his case for bringing the Sheriff’s Office at least into the 20th century. Unless you were there you have no idea how dangerous working in the old jail was. I can’t count the number of nights I was the only deputy on duty in the entire county. Andy changed all that. And he made enemies doing it.

Since he left office there have been many changes. Many people view them as a digression. Andy wants to bring the Sheriff’s Office back up to speed. I think he’s just the man for the job.

Guy Howe

“Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.” —Daniel Webster

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

Here is a note written by Hunter Moore that I thought you might enjoy. He is an elderly gentleman kind of like a Mark Twain fella, this is what he wrote:

” There that newspaper goes insultin my intelligence agin. Someone over there is supportin the current sheriff cause he’s been so quiet? They equate doin a good job with quietness?? That’s downright ignorant.

My granddaddy used to say, when an elected official is too quiet they’re either, up to somethin, or up to nothin, and neither one one of those things is helpin us folks. I don’t recollect being a sheriff ought to be a quiet job, not if their doin their job and speakin up loud for me, after all, they’re workin for me, I’m payin their wages.

That’s what I always liked about Andy when a was sheriff, he wasn’t what they call, politically correct, he’d step on anyones toes when it came to doin the right thing. You see, when a true leader is turnin over lots of rocks to find the rattle snakes and bein a what ya call, a mover and a shaker, it does stir up some folks all around. Mostly, the very folks that needed to get stirred up and shakin in the first place!!!

I don’t want a sheriff who is a go-a-longer- to-get-alonger. I want a sheriff who talks the walk and then actually walks the talk!

Now if the county comes up with a new job such as commissioner of quiet naptime, that current guy has got my vote, but for sheriff, in these serious times, I’m votin for Andy Lee. I know that Andy built the County Sheriffs department up to what it is today. The current guy’s just been coastin on all the work Andy done before! Anybody could see that, cause during this campaign, now the current guy keeps adoptin all the ideas and things that Andy say’s need to start gettin done. I think Andy has given him every good idea he’s ever had.

Now we need Andy back, to take the County Sheriff’s Office up to the next level to meet today’s new challenges. Arkansawyers used to know how to recognize a lawman with true grit. Come May 20th, I hope they still do, and put Andrew Lee, Andy, back in the sheriffs offce where he can pick up right where he left off.”

Well, that’s the way the cow eats the cabbage, yall hear?.

Hunter Moore

Take the time to read this article(click here).  Remember the current Sheriff still says we do not have a gang problem.  Also remember when Ferguson is pressured about gangs, he will say if we do have any, they are in the cites where he has no jurisdiction (click here).  At a recent Sheriff’s debate the Ferguson alluded to the fact that gangs started in Rogers.  The Sheriff was shooting jabs at Sgt Cradduck, a candidate for Sheriff.  I felt the Sheriff was saying if you the citizens of Rogers and the Rogers Police had their act together we would not have a gang problem in Benton County.  Remarkable!  Ferguson blames the City of Rogers for gangs.  However he will ask you for your vote while saying, remember if you reelect me as your Sheriff and you live in a city there is nothing I can do to keep you safe because I have “no jurisdiction”. Remarkable, again!

You know what would be informative?  If Keith Ferguson, Sgt. Kelly Cradduck and myself would sit down on live radio to discuss the issues of gangs, the holding of Federal Prisoners and other issues that have surface during the campaign?

Keith my campaign will pay for the hour of radio time if you do not want to share the cost.