To the Editor:
The sheriff’s endorsement of any candidate for county commissioner, whether incumbent or challenger, is a distasteful display of poor judgement to this voter.
To seemingly prefer one candidate or one business over any other seems like unethical bias. Law enforcement should not be partial to any interest if they are to appear equally partial to ALL interests.
Furthermore, for the sheriff to suggest that he favors the incumbents “because they have always given me what I asked for” is poor criteria and worse, inference. Having previously had no reason to question the quality of policing I receive — his endorsements have caused me “pause.” I doubt that this was the sheriff’s intention; but any further engagement on his part in the election for commissioners of Sumter County will ensure that I will not vote for his re-election. The sheriff should be ready to work with whomever the voters prefer. Plain and simple.
Donald Smith
Village of Gilchrist
