Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Commissioners can't decide who to appoint to replace Bridges as Sheriff
Maybe the best way to determine the next Sheriff is to hold a special election. That way the voters/taxpayers can select who they want for their Sheriff
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Editor's Note: Numerous citizens addressed commissioners at their regular Tuesday morning meeting, Dec. 16, advocating for various favorites to replace Allen Bridges as Hays County Sheriff. Bridges died Dec. 6. Commissioners voted to delay naming a replacement until possibly next month.
By Peter Stern
It's a shame Sheriff Alan Bridges died unexpectedly last week. He was a good man and will be missed.
Hays County Commissioners are charged with the legal responsibility to determine a new Sheriff. Apparently, they can't make the decision [see article].
Does anyone else question the ongoing inability of commissioners to make some hard choices in the best interests of the community? Seems like it isn't the first time and most likely won't be the last.
I voted for Karen Ford and I like her, but she shows a lack of leadership when she wants to postpone selecting a Sheriff until a later date. The decision is not going to get any easier. There is nothing wrong with making a decision when "emotions are running high" if it is an intelligent and reality-based selection without partisan interests being rewarded.
Also, I agree with Commissioner Will Conley when he states the selection should be discussed and made in public and not behind closed doors. Meeting behind closed doors sends a bad message to the people of Hays County. Voters must demand public accountability.
Finally, if the Commissioners are having such a difficult time making the selection maybe the best way to determine the next Sheriff is to hold a special election for the vacant Sheriff position. That way the voters/taxpayers can select who they want for their Sheriff.
Mr. Stern is a Driftwood area resident and frequent commenter on local political issues. His articles appear in a variety of local and regional venues.
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2 comments:
Peter,
Less than 24 hours after the sheriff's tragic death the wheels were already turning. Your old pal Linda Kinney, who is incensed that there's only one republican left on Commissioners Court, started making the calls about keeping a republican sheriff. You can bet one of those calls was to the R commissioner. Supposedly after the funeral public talk surfaced about the replacement. You know, probably stuff like "what he would have wanted..." and so on. Then, they probably got the widow on board with this deputy Brodwick, who was a Bridges friend, and a republican. According to Ms. Andrea Lorenz of the Statesman, in 1984 a family member alleged sexual misconduct against Mr. Brodwick. He was indicted, but the charges were dropped when the family member withdrew her complaint.
Next, the press conference in the cold yesterday with commissioner Conley next to the widow, and any republicans they could round up. They certainly couldn't let a D get the job, even if another candidate had been endorsed by a county law enforcement agency. Or Huddleston, the D who lost the election. So Peter, it's not hard to see why Conley wants it all out in the open next Monday. He and your pal will pack the courtroom with family, friends, cops, and republicans- and it will be a zoo. You know, whoever has the more people and is loudest wins. The people will speak and the court will respond accordingly. Peter,
Dr. O'Dell says Mr. Ramus claims to be evolved from a leopard and is a guru in a Toltec cult.For real. If he had no checkered past, which is reallllly stretching it (see O'Dell's list of Ramus doings, and you knowing he's a Vet fraud)), I might respect this leopard as a commissioner, as he would have convictions (no pun intended), knows how he feels, and vote the way his leopard conscience tells him to vote. He certainly could be no worse than Barton or Conley. Then again he could. Sorry.
wouldn't a special, county-wide election cost a great deal of money for the taxpayers?
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