The upcoming sheriff election is important, but not just for many obvious reasons. Some of the most important items are not being mentioned.
First, the sheriff is the primary lawman in the county. Their viewpoint and background is basic to how they will do this job.
One candidate, I believe, has no intention of coming out from behind his desk, ever, and responded to a crime spree in the Sykesville area with a door-hanger campaign six months later. So much for leadership there. Roll the forum tapes for confirmation.
Another candidate has major backing coming in from Baltimore County FOP transfers and many large donations high in the O'Malley machine. Feel free to verify via finance reports. An independent sheriff for Carroll, who wraps his campaign signs in O'Malley green? Shouldn't Carroll County have its choice of sheriff and not be purchased by Baltimore County, or O'Malley? It shows under the nice guy exterior the adherence to the governor's police mindset will certainly continue. I don't believe we should have to fear our local law enforcement, do you?
Both these candidates had past opportunities to assist us, or show what they could accomplish, but under their watches, crime rates went up, and response times grew longer. There are your choices, between the bureaucrat or the establishment candidates. Both failed to handle the recent South Carroll High bomb threat properly, which was part of their current jobs, so we should promote them?
However, if you wish to protect your family, and your constitutional rights, thankfully, there is a third, and much preferred candidate, Chris Fiora.
There isn't space to review all of the positives in his background, but Fiora is well qualified for the job, including as a former Alexandria beat cop, federal marshal and crime scene investigator.
Anyone doubting where he stands on the Second Amendment could participate in his second gun raffle being pulled on June 14, Flag Day, or talk with him as he travels the county, something neither of the other two candidates are doing, or would do if they happened to be elected. After all, the best way to police the county is to get out in the county and resolve the citizens' problems and concerns.
We need a representative, interactive community involved sheriff, and I say only one candidate running will provide us that type of representation.
Joe Burns, Jr.
Westminster
