Jacksonville Sheriff's race 2015

[mtraininjax]

NO police department should EVER have access to military equipment against it's citizens. Military items are used in war and should not be used against fellow citizens.

Do you live in the real world? 9/11 ring any bells? Oklahoma City Bombing? Americans are at war with Americans and terrorists are everywhere. You should check out the news and read the statements from law enforcement about the greatest possibilities for the next decade. They won't be coming from abroad, but from within. To that end, I am all for giving law enforcement EVERYTHING necessary to help law biding Americans feel safe.

Without safety, the entire American way of life grounds to a halt. 9/11 proved just that. We will always be at war in our own homeland, they day we become passive is the day of another 9/11 type event.

[coredumped]

NO police department should EVER have access to military equipment against it's citizens. Military items are used in war and should not be used against fellow citizens.

Do you live in the real world? 9/11 ring any bells? Oklahoma City Bombing? Americans are at war with Americans and terrorists are everywhere. You should check out the news and read the statements from law enforcement about the greatest possibilities for the next decade. They won't be coming from abroad, but from within. To that end, I am all for giving law enforcement EVERYTHING necessary to help law biding Americans feel safe.

Without safety, the entire American way of life grounds to a halt. 9/11 proved just that. We will always be at war in our own homeland, they day we become passive is the day of another 9/11 type event.

I do live in the real world. Have you ever read the constitution? I believe Benjamin Franklin said it best:
"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."

You know how many terrorists have been caught by the TSA: 0. You know how many TSA agents have been arrested for violating American Citizens rights (theft, etc): Over 100.

Live in fear all you want, but the police need to serve and protect, and they can do that without military equipment.

BTW, I think most officers are good and want to help citizens. I'm glad we have them, I just think they shouldn't be a full on military.

[Cheshire Cat]

This race continues to be engaging and one to watch.  At last nights Hob Nob it was clear that Holderfield has a pretty solid ground game going in his campaign.  Supporters turned out in a big way which impacted the end poll that evening.  Mike Williams campaign table was kind of tucked into a corner by accident or design.  Not sure which.  He also has a solid group of dedicated supporters.  Farhat is also rocking with his campaign and is not a force to ignore in this contest.  Ken Jefferson will most certainly get a runoff spot as the Dem in this race with name recognition.  In spite of this being a "unitary" election we will likely see a Republican and a Dem in the runoff.  Tony Cummings can't catch Jefferson but it remains to be seen if he can pull off enough voters from him to knock him below not one but two Republican candidates.  Right now I am sure the Republican candidates for Sheriff all are fighting for that runoff position.  I expect the last few weeks to be intense. 

[Cheshire Cat]

DEBATE    DEBATE    DEBATE for Sheriff

There will be a debate between the candidates vying for Sheriff on Thursday March 19 at 8:00 PM.  It will be live on television and streaming as well.  This is being held in conjunction with JU!

[Cheshire Cat]

The times Union has endorsed Jimmy Holder as Jacksonville's next Sheriff! 

Holderfield tops a crowded field for sheriff
By Times-Union Editorial Fri, Mar 6, 2015 @ 6:38 pm

There are seven candidates seeking to succeed longtime Sheriff John Rutherford. Each is credible. Each has substance.
Voters should be pleased to have such a wealth of options for sheriff.

But one key question should guide voters: Which candidate is most capable from Day One to lead the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, a massive $400 million organization with more than 3,000 employees?

The best candidate to meet that high standard is Jimmy Holderfield.

Voters should choose him in the March 24 election.

TOUGH CHALLENGES AWAIT

The next sheriff must attack numerous tasks, quickly and directly. They include:

■ Filling the huge shadow of Rutherford, who was popular, effective but also polarizing during his 12 years as sheriff.

■ Handling a department budget that has limited flexibility; nearly 86 percent of it is devoted to employee salaries and benefits.

■ Boosting low morale among JSO employees who have withstood layoffs and budget cuts in recent years — and are now leery about the city's efforts to reform pension benefits.

■ Addressing a perception that violent crime, gang activity and other forms of lawlessness are on the rise across Jacksonville.

■ Establishing better relationships between the JSO and residents, the media and other community stakeholders — and sharply departing from Rutherford's often-adversarial "You don't need to know anything" approach to transparency.

These are tough challenges. Holderfield is well-equipped to handle them.

He certainly has the proper experience for the job.

Holderfield retired from the JSO in 2013 as director of its corrections department, his final position in a 35-year career that included stints as a corrections officer, patrolman, sergeant, chief investigator for the city's General Counsel Office, police assistant division chief, police chief for the human resources division and president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

But, equally important, Holderfield has the proper sense of perspective for this complex job.

BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE

For full article click this link:    http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2015-03-06/story/holderfield-tops-crowded-field-sheriff

[coredumped]

Shouldn't media outlets, such as the newspaper be unbiased on things like this? Or at least pretend.

[bill]

This race continues to be engaging and one to watch.  At last nights Hob Nob it was clear that Holderfield has a pretty solid ground game going in his campaign.  Supporters turned out in a big way which impacted the end poll that evening.  Mike Williams campaign table was kind of tucked into a corner by accident or design.  Not sure which.  He also has a solid group of dedicated supporters.  Farhat is also rocking with his campaign and is not a force to ignore in this contest.  Ken Jefferson will most certainly get a runoff spot as the Dem in this race with name recognition.  In spite of this being a "unitary" election we will likely see a Republican and a Dem in the runoff.  Tony Cummings can't catch Jefferson but it remains to be seen if he can pull off enough voters from him to knock him below not one but two Republican candidates.  Right now I am sure the Republican candidates for Sheriff all are fighting for that runoff position.  I expect the last few weeks to be intense.

Im not passionate about anyone in this race, but I tend to like what I am hearing from Mike Williams.

He was trained to be the homeland security liaison for the sheriff's office (which anyone knows would be a major factor against him in my normal considerations) but I was impressed with his hard defense of privacy and civil liberty when a plan to install security cameras throughout downtown and in residential neighborhoods in the north side was being considered.

He was one of the few adults in the conversation who really checked to see whether or not surveillance cameras are effective crime deterrents in the first place (hint: they are not) and he presented a lot of objections based on the right to privacy.

Kindof like that kind of thinking from a guy running for sheriff who got experience at department of homeland defense.

Sadly I agree with big red, though hopefully without the excessive verbiage, arrogance and condescension. Although this means he has no chance because Clifford is batting .000 because he is an ideologue and I do poorly as I tend to back normal people that have no business in politics. Hopefully he gets elected.

[Cheshire Cat]

Shouldn't media outlets, such as the newspaper be unbiased on things like this? Or at least pretend.

This is an endorsement not just an opinion piece, so it is meant to be biased.  Times Union endorses candidates in major races every election cycle. 

[tufsu1]

I wonder if Holderfield strong-armed the paper....he comes across as old school mafia-like  to me

[Cheshire Cat]

I wonder if Holderfield strong-armed the paper....he comes across as old school mafia-like  to me

They weren't strong armed, that much is sure.  If strong arming worked, they would have endorsed Curry.  lol

[mtraininjax]

president of the Fraternal Order of Police

How is it Holderfield was able to escape the whole FOP issue with Cuba going down?

[Cheshire Cat]

president of the Fraternal Order of Police

How is it Holderfield was able to escape the whole FOP issue with Cuba going down?

There was apparently no evidence that he participated in any of what Cuba did.  You can't do guilt by association even if you want to.  lol

[sheclown]

Oops

[Cheshire Cat]

For those who are interested, after much research and soul searching I decided my vote would go to Mike Williams for Sheriff.   

[Bill Hoff]

For those who are interested, after much research and soul searching I decided my vote would go to Mike Williams for Sheriff.   

The status quo candidate? No thanks.