Home          Issues          Meet Andy          Get Involved          Media          Ask Andy

 ——————————————————————————–

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

 ——————————————————————————–

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)

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!

This will be short.  I have been working Siloam Springs very diligently.  I am about to finish up in Siloam and then will move to Bentonville to assist Joe and continue to go door to door.  Holly, Linda and friends are working Bella Vista and they should be  finished the end of this week. 

Here is the link to Channel 40/29’s interview of the Sheriff’s candidates, http://www.4029tv.com/news/16116766/detail.html 

Let those you visit with know they can go to our web page and see the interview. Also get a copy of Celebrate Magazine and read the article. It is a good one to read.

I will do a mid week update with some information on what we are doing in the marketing department.

As always Holly and I thank you for all the support. We really feel blessed. 

Andy