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)

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” 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

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. 

It has been a good week!

The sign locations are coming along.  James Walls and I worked Siloam Springs and coverage there is good.  There are still a couple of high traffic locations that came in this week.  I will make sure they get a sign.  Gravette, Hiwassee, and other rural areas have all been tagged with signs.

Jeff Smith, a bondsman and farmer, has been a great help.  Thanks Jeff!  Jeff has his sights set on Gentry.  If anyone knows of any high traffic location there, please let me know.  We hope to get signs up in Gentry by the end of the week.

Please keep checking on sign locations.  I would like two signs next to every one of our opponent’s signs.

Linda K. has out done herself along with her 98 year old companion, Ruth.  They both worked the Rogers area and secured some great sign locations.  Ruth was at the coffee that Linda hosted and she is now on our team!  Thank-you Ruth!

Another big THANKS goes out to David Ibarra.  David took me around to the Latino businesses in the area and introduced me to the owners and employees.

I will be meeting with a lady who came to the coffee only because she had heard many bad rumors about me.  During the coffee, I gave the group the “check facts, challenge rumors” talk.

One of the rumors, I had some fun with, is the one where I allegedly told deputies to throw the body of a drowning victim back into Beaver Lake.  Why would I do that?  As the rumor goes, I wanted to arrive on the crime scene and have my picture taken while pulling the body out of the lake.  I LOVE THAT RUMOR!…

So, I challenged the rumor in front of the group.  These are the questions I asked.

1. Did the deputies, after receiving the radio call from me, pick the body up off the boat deck, raise it above their heads, and heave it back into the lake?
2. If the deputies did not pick the body up over their heads, did they just roll it back into the water?
3. As Sheriff, when I arrived at the scene, did I ask the press to destroy all the pictures they had of the deputies recovering the body and only print the pictures of me?
4. Did any of the “witnesses” to the event, see me “walk on water” to get out to the rescue boat?

Keep in mind that everyone who tells this rumor says that the person who told them was either there or a good friend was there.  I have never heard this story from anyone who was actually there!

OK.  Enough of that.  Have fun with the rumors.

Don’t forget, coffees are a great tool to promote the campaign.  I encourage everyone to host one.

Thanks to everyone for your support.  This campaign really feels good. 

We are winning and we will continue to win!

Andy

Just a quick update.

We started putting up highway signs this past week and will continue until all the highway signs are out.  Lena Lewis and Betty Cole are the chiefs of sign locations!

A BIG thanks to James Wall for all the west side help.  The response when asking for permission has been well received.

Most of the campaign this past week has been in Siloam Springs.  I will be in Siloam Springs several days again this week.  If you live in the Siloam Springs area or know of a location that might host a sign, please email me with the address and name of the property owner.  We did put up a few signs north of Bella Vista that generated calls for two additional highway sign locations.

Speaking engagements are coming in.  Last week Sgt. Kelly Cradduck and I were guest speakers at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Bella Vista.  There were around 50 men and one lady, Holly, present.  If you know anyone from St. Bernard’s, give them a “thank-you” for inviting Kelly and I to speak.

Next week I will be speaking to the Kansas Sunflower Club.  The Club will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m., February 18, in the Metfield Clubhouse, Bella Vista.  Following lunch, I will speak to the group in the Robin Hood Room.  All those interested in attending, here are the numbers to make a reservation: 855-9652 or 855-3466.  Hope to see you there!

Thanks for all your support,

Andy

Andy Lee para Sheriff 2008

Primario Republicano 20 de Mayo

Aguarde la fecha!

Dirección Preactiva Para un condado mas seguro!

No hay necesidad de ampliar la cárcel del condado de Benton!!!

· Actualmente, tenemos detenidos a presos estatales y federales que son una de las causas principales de que este superpoblado nuestra cárcel.

· Necesitamos eliminar el programa del prisionero federal y cerciorarse que los criminales en el condado de Benton no sean lanzados a las calles de nuestro condado y que nuestros ciudadanos no vuelvan a ser victimas.

· La necesidad verdadera para la extensión es un nuevo Centro de Detención Juvenil.

Control de Crimen

Puntos dominantes para mantener la seguridad del Condado de Benton.

• Pandillas 
• Drogas
• Programa 287(g)

Tenemos pandillas en el Condado de Benton.

Si tenemos pandillas, tenemos drogas, si tenemos drogas también tenemos crimen.

En nuestra campaña pasada, hemos llevado adelante el programa 287(g). Ahora tenemos la herramienta necesaria para efectivamente tratar asuntos de inmigración que estén relacionados al crimen en nuestro condado. Es muy importante que nosotros como oficiales de la ley, nunca perdamos la “integridad” del programa 287(g).

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.