Topics for 2010 Election
If you had to pick one big topic for each local office for the 2010 election what would it be?
Let's go office by office:
Judge-Executive
Magistrates
Sheriff
County Clerk
Corner
Jailer
PVA
County Attorney
Guthrie Mayor
Elkton Mayor
Trenton Mayor
City Council
You don't have to come up with a topic for all, but give us your (top) issue that should be addressed about any of the offices above.
posted by Administrator at
2:21 PM
38 Comments:
I would say.... The Judge Executive should address luring industry and career growth for county residents. Magistrates, maintaining efficiently run departments is critical. Obviously, we'd all love to a functional Sheriff that is available for more than just photo ops at public events, period. There are too many improvements to be made in that office to list just one topic. The jailer should approach the long term profitability of the jail with ideas. As for local city governments, I'm sure there are individual needs for each community that should be addressed by those candidates respectively. Anyone else have thoughts?......
Who is running for County Court Clerk?
I would ask the jailers, if either one of them are qualified to run a jail. One has been in trouble for embezzeling and the other has been in trouble for bounced checks. There has got to be someone better to run for jailer than convicts. The jailer we have now can not keep good people there. They are always hiring. And it's not because the people can not take it, it's because of the people he has over the jail.
Are they gonna answer us????? Probably not. They never do.
County Clerk candidates are Kim Chapman and Terry Stokes... so far...
So, are the County Clerk candidates Kim Chapman and Terry Stokes? Looks like Todd County Clerk's Office will remain the joke it currently is.
It is a fact it cost us citizens more to hire attorney's to do title searches and opinions because the office is so disorganized that no one wants to do research there.
Let's ask both candidates (since they both have worked there) about all the missing and wrong pages in the books they haven't had time to organize. (Ever notice that each clerk has a book on their desk to read in their down time?)
Also, why aren't our documents computerized and/or available online? Will the current candidates apply for grants to digitize all records?
Will the candidates ask their employees to smile every once in a while and act like or pretend they care about what their doing?
The Sheriff's office is the joke of the Courthouse. Terry Stokes does not work in the Clerk's Office she works in the Sheriff's office for her husband Billy Stokes. I never read about the Clerk's office in the paper and as far as I know Billy Fowler parks in a regular parking space when he goes to Wal-Mart.
First, the Sheriff being a joke is a forgone conclusion. His office staff is at least friendly to the public.
In my comment, I said both "worked" there, not work there as in currently. Terry did work in that office a while back. And, as far as I know, there has been no effort to improve that office. Everybody just keeps doing everything the same way they have been doing it for years and years. It takes too much effort to improve. The first candidate to say they will computerize all records gets my vote.
Is the Bobby Miller running for sheriff the same one who is a retired State Police detective?
NO! They are two different Bobby Millers.
It is pretty sad that one of the Sheriff candidates only campaign strategy is running on a former police chief's name and reputation. Look into all of these candidates closely before you make a decision!
Bobby miller that is running for sheriff is NOT the same Bobby Miller that was the chief of police in Elkton. He just wants everybody to think he is. That is sad in my book, that you just try and hope noone finds out your not who you say you are just to try and STEAL votes.
As far as Keith Wells getting back into the race, it's just a joke to him. He did not care enough about his office when he had it so why would any of us as citizens want to let him have it again. When I asked him if he was going to run, He said he did not want to put up with the bull----! And that he was for Joey Johnson. So, Thats is who he should have stuck with in my opinion.
COP 1 - Wells told many people in the county he was NOT running and backing Johnson. Then one week before the deadline he throws his name in the hat. Now he (Wells) expects all these Johnson supporters to back him (Wells). It doesn't matter because if I need someone at my home, in case of an emergency, I would choose Johnson over Wells anyday.
Wells also said he would back Giles Taylor for sheriff. He even had some signs in his yard for him. I believe voting for Wells would be a mistake.
I am a deputy at the Todd County Detention Center and I feel there are some things the voters of Todd County deserve the right to know how Mr. Greg Allen runs his facility. There are some things that are unethical that he is doing with the facility.
I personally have seen Mr. Allen give a cell phone to an inmate. There are phones in each cell inmates can use to call home and the jail makes a profit from these phones. If Mr. Allen gives inmates cell phones to use, that means less money for our county and more taxes we have to pay.
We had a state inmate that Mr. Allen used to buy personal items for. One day, he had her shipped to another facility. We were notified that Mr. Allen had a personal relationship with this inmate and had decided to end it. That is why he had her shipped to another facility.
We had another deputy, caught on camera, bring in some illegal tobacco for the inmates and nothing was ever done to this individual. This deputies' son is now trying to run for jailer. He has also bought cell phones for the inmates and has smuggled them into the facility. Mr. Allen knew about this and nothing was ever done. This deputy is still employed at the detention center.
Mr. Allen has illegally fired people that worked in the facility and these people have won their cases with the unemployment office. When they went to Mr. Green about this, the only thing that was said was "Mr. Allen is an elected official and nothing can be done."
Mr. Allen had his daughter employed with the detention center. When a captain wrote her up for doing something she shouldn't, that captain got demoted. I thought nepotism within the facility was illegal.
Instead of Mr. Allen letting inmates do work inside the jail, he has hired outside people to do it which cost more. For example, a company was charging $1800.00 to change the air filters. The inmates could have done it for free.
At the present time, he is dating a former inmate that lives with him, Jennifer Blake. This inmate's ex-husband is still incarcerated in our facility. He allows her to go in the back with her ex-husband still living there. He is flaunting her in front of him.
A deputy was trying to defend himself with pepper spray. Mr. Allen fired him for defending himself. If we aren't supposed to use the spray, then why waste our time and the counties money to train us.
He allows his married chief deputy to have affairs with deputies underneath him. At any other facility, he would have been fired on the spot. One day, we had an inmate escape due to the fact that we were so short handed because of the chief deputy and this other deputy decided to play hooky from work. And nothing was ever done.
There is a new lawsuit from an ex-inmate, Mary Ford, of the detention center who is suing Greg Allen and his deputies. She claims they beat her up for her asking for her reading glasses. Chief Wood, Major Christmas, Lt. Goff, and Captain Dunning are named in the lawsuits too.
He refuses to give us the training we deserve to handle these inmates. Most of us came off of the streets, not knowing how to defend ourselves. Instead of training us, he ships the ones we can not handle. They might just get on his nerves that day and he decides to ship them. That's why we can't keep our state inmates. Once you start shipping them, the state gets tired of sending you them. The ones that they consider being trouble at that jail, they shipped because they are intimidated and afraid of confrontation. Which means less money we are receiving from the state for housing these inmates. We have not paid for the jail yet, which means higher taxes for voting tax payers to make the payment for the mortgage of the jail.
We had a knife missing from the kitchen. Not one time have we gone to look for this knife. That is putting all of us in harms way.
I believe Mr. Allen should have never been put into office. I am not understanding why he was voted in. I have heard rumors of him embezzling from the insurance company he was working for, so why on earth did someone elect him to be over a jail. He has put all of our lives in danger. Some of these deputies have worked her since the jail has been opened without getting a raise and the training that they deserve. If a deputy gets hurt in the jail, we have to pay for their disability, doctors bills, and maybe a lawsuit. In return, that means higher taxes. Please, be aware of who you are voting for on May 18.
What I find sad is that anyone would defame another’s character on numerous discussions found within this forum. To do such is in fact a crime and prosecutable. Despite hiding behind “anonymous” headings, IP addresses can be traced and this “anonymous” person may in fact have to provide documentation to back up their claims. Also, whoever is posting such lies must live with their own conscience. There are people’s reputations, employment, and families being affected by the slanderous and defamatory statements on this blog. I understand there is an election coming up but there is no need to post things that are simply not true in an effort to make others look bad and I don’t believe anyone would want to win based upon making the other person look bad.
For some reason, my husband and I are showing up quite frequently in such posts. This is puzzling to me because we reside in Logan County and my husband is an employee of the jail, the same as the other men and women he works beside every day. There is nothing to be gained by someone spreading lies about us other than to personally attack our character.
Though I do not believe in airing my private business, I do believe in protecting both of our personal and professional reputations.
My husband and I were not present the day of the escape but neither were the majority of county employees. That is because the day in question was Memorial Day 2009 which was a non-paid holiday for all non-essential personnel. All administrative personnel (including my husband and I) were off for the holiday, there were no court proceedings that day and the jail was fully staffed. We were not “playing hooky” that day as suggested and I refuse to allow my husband or myself to have blame placed upon us for taking a required day off.
My husband is also not being named in any lawsuit. As his wife, I believe that I would be the first to know if he were. I was employed as a deputy when the inmate in question was incarcerated and there is a lot more to this story that what is posted by the “anonymous” poster. I will not elaborate because this is a pending case but I do have faith that our judicial system will see the truth and judge accordingly.
If this “anonymous” poster were in fact a current employee of the jail, they would certainly know that the jail is running at the highest number of state inmates it ever has-more than many of our surrounding counties. Simply put, this means more revenue for the county from the jail than ever before. They would also know that the jail has received superb reports from the Dept. of Corrections during their past inspections. This is no easy feat and is reserved for only those Correctional facilities that are deemed the best of the best. These are facts, documented facts which can be supported.
I ask that for those reading this blog to please see that someone can slant things in a way that supports their views and hide behind an “anonymous” name. By stating they are “anonymous”, they are not required to provide proof of anything they say. They can paint whatever picture they want the readers to I see.
I would also like to ask whoever is choosing to write such horrendous things about my family and the hardworking people of the jail to either please leave your name and back up your opinion with solid facts or to please stop writing lies. The latter would be the most preferred.
I am a deputy at the jail and not a candidate. You were supposed to be there and chose not to come in that day and play hooky. Jail is a 24 hour business and everyone is essential in its running. And if Greg has gotten such good reports from the Dept. of Corrections, where are they. If he has received the award for the best small jail of Kentucky, why hasn't it been put in the newspaper and again where is it. I work there and haven't heard of it. I wish you would search my ISP address then you can tell who this is. If it is the best of the best, then why can't we keep good people here. I believe you and your husband's conscience should be bothering you since you two decided to have an affair. The truth hurts sometimes. And it's not illegal to tell the truth. And if there is no such lawsuit why is it on the internet. And in your own words you say "I will not elaborate because this is a pending case but I do have faith that our judicial system will see the truth and judge accordingly. If there's no lawsuit, then why is there a pending case? This is my own opinion and that is what blog spot is for. Everyone has one and you have one too.
Travis Harris is no better. He got fired from Logan County Detention Center and the Logan County sheriff's department. And if Krystal Choate is any good, then why isn't she still at the jail?
I have never responded to anything that has been put on this blog and I don't even live in Todd County. I have personally worked with Travis Harris in Logan County and as far as the Logan County Detention Center goes he was Jailer Bill Jenkins right hand man. He was the commander of our S.W.A.T. team. He did all of the interviews and background checks on all new employee applicants. He was also the Class D coordinator. He was not fired I know this 100%. He got hurt while fighting an inmate that was high on meth and pcp. Travis had to have multiple surgeries on injuries that was a result from the fight. As far as the Logan County Sheriff's Dept. goes he resigned to go to work for Jailer Bill Jenkins at the Logan County Detention Center. Defamation of character is when you tell things on someone that are not true. I know this information that I have just listed is the absolute truth. For the one who listed that he was fired please list your name, telephone number and address and we will set up a time for me, Travis and Logan County Jailer Bill Jenkins to meet with you and verify the facts and then hopefully I will be able to talk Travis into suing the hell out of you for listing a total lie on this blog. But in reality someone who would list something like this knowing its a lie don't have anything that would be worth suing for. I know I can't vote in Todd County cause I don't live there but it just disgust me when people just ball face lie. Travis please do not be upset with me for responding to this. I know I put anonymous but if you think hard enough you will know who this is. I just felt like someone should tell the truth on your behalf.
For the person that says their a “Deputy” at the Jail, why don’t you list your name if you have all these “facts”, Mrs. Woods did? You won’t because there unsupported and most likely false. And your right this blog is for people to lay out their opinion. Usually when they label it as anonymous though they have no proof because he/she might be confronted about what they post. As far as the Jail reports…it’s called an open records request. Anybody can get them if they want to. I also believe if someone was fired from somewhere you can request that also, I think.
It does sound like you’re an ex-employee that’s disgruntle. I have read all of these blogs and apparently your really upset because you didn’t read Mrs. Woods posting clearly because your miss quoting her in your rebuttal paragraph. Sorry that you lost your job but that gives you no reason to slander others unless you’re willing to say it to their face. Then you wouldn’t need a blog to hide behind and people would know that what you were saying wasn’t just made up by a disgruntle ex-employee.
I say good luck to all the candidates in the upcoming elections and if this blog is only going to be used for negativity than it should be shutdown by the administrator. It allows people to form opinions of people without facts without even meeting the people that are being slandered. You got to love politics; well not really we just have to tolerate it. I am not slandering or praising anybody on this blog so I will remain anonymous.
To the “current deputy”, I believe you should re-read my post as you are trying to argue points against statements that I never made.
Cases in point:
-I never stated you were a candidate. I did state that if you were a current deputy that you would in fact know that the jail is currently running at the highest number of state inmates they ever had which would refute your point that the jail is shipping state inmates out of the facility and that the state would in turn get tired of sending them.
-As stated in my post, neither I nor my husband was required to work the day in question. As a matter of fact, all administrative employees in the county were encouraged to take the non-paid holiday off from work in an effort to save money during a lean part of the county budget. There is a difference in playing hooky and taking Memorial Day off as millions of Americans do and as all administrative employees were asked to do by the county.
-I never stated that Jailer Allen had received any award for best small jail in Kentucky. I’m not even certain that any award of that nature exist. What I did say is that the jail has received superb inspections from the Department of Corrections. All documentation to support this statement can be found by filing an open records request through the jail or through the Department of Corrections.
-I never stated there wasn’t a lawsuit brought against the jail. My words were my husband is not being named in any lawsuit which is what you had stated.
- It is not illegal to tell the truth. It is in fact illegal to tell a lie or to slander some else without having proof of your statements. That is documented in KRS.
Now for my own personal opinion (which according to your post I am allowed to have…thank you) & which differs from the above facts.
-Todd County Jail is one of the best of the best. Don’t believe me…try working another county and you will soon see the difference in the level of dedication most put into their jobs. Working in a correctional facility is the toughest job most people will ever have. You get to see people at their worst. You are faced with mental and physical situations that at times can test your patience and your strength. Some people can handle those types of stresses and some cannot. Even still, Todd County Jail has a very low turnover compared to other institutions. That is because of the level of professionalism most deputies carry themselves at.
-If you are in fact a deputy there, perhaps you could take a few pointers from your fellow co-workers. Stop caring so much about what others are doing in their private lives and concentrate on how you could work to make your job and others work more efficiently.
I have heard the candidates say that they will give raises and so on if they are elected Jailer. What they fail to understand it’s not the Jailer stopping the deputies from getting a raise, sure the Jailer could say heck with fiscal court and give them a raise but then the Jail would run out of money.
The necessities of the Jail have to be paid!!!! These necessities are the water bill, electric bill, medical, food and maintenance. When the money runs out because some inexperienced person gets in office and spends all the money and then its has to pay for all the necessities how do you think they will manage their budget to keep the lights on; by letting go of the Deputies. Not pointing any fingers toward the Sheriff Department but they have had many issues with their budget and the first thing to go is the Deputy.
It’s not the Jailers or fiscal court fault. Todd County is just not as wealthy as our surrounding counties and I believe that is in part to the lack of industry.Todd County just don't have the money!!!
Another issue is the treatment of Inmates the candidates are talking about. I believe these inmates are incarcerated for a reason. They owe society a debt and now their serving it. Treat them like humans but also like criminals because that’s why their in there in the first place.
The above post talks of a lawsuit, I say I’m surprised the Jail went this long without one. Most Jails I have heard of have 2-3 active lawsuits a year. So just one lawsuit in almost three years is not a bad record.
Greg ask for a raise for Mrs. Wells a 2 dollar per. hr. raise and they give it. Why didn't he ask for a raise for everyone HE DID NOT ASK so if he don't ask they can't give one. Looked like if you were going to ask for one you would at least ask for all. When you pay people good money they do better work.
All the above slandering is obviously just dirty politics. I find it unusual that all of these “bad” things are just now coming to surface since it is so close to election time. It even looks like a Deputy from the Jail (which must have been given their job by the current Jailer) has turned against his/her employer. I ask all readers of this post to go out and meet your candidates for Jailer, Sheriff, Judge Executive etc. sit down with them and form your own opinion of them. That’s what politics is all about, not a bunch of slanderous remarks that are unsupported by an anonymous writer on a blog.
Come on Todd County! Inverstigate the candidates for Jailer. Ms. Choate's personal finances are in ruins, do you want her to do the same at the jail? She wants better food in the kitchen. When she left her job at the jail, was she not under suspicion for stealing food from the kitchen. Take a look at her vehicles. Is she not driving a truck that is not properly licenced or titled.
Take a look and see. She may belong at the jail, but not as the jailer!!!
Even more slander!!!! Can it not just stop and we vote for the one who deserves it???
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Since I'm only allowed to leave 4,096 characters (including spaces) I'm having to break this blog up into multiple post.
Part I
Let me first start off by saying this is my opinion, my view.
It is not an endorsement of any candidate. Although I am currently working as a Public Relations/Marketing hack, my heart, soul and roots are firmly embedded in the principles of journalism.
I was advised to post this anonymously, but that isn’t my style. Anyone who knew any of the Armstrongs know that we say what we think and aren’t shy about saying it, for better or worse.
I've been writing this since list of candidates was published and the closer it gets to May 18 and the more signs I see promising this, that and the moon, the more annoyed I get.
Not to pick on anyone in particular, one sign that annoys me most is one that promises a vocational technology school, more industry, and jobs.
How does he plan to do that?
The current judge-executive hasn’t been able to do that and it wasn’t from lack of trying.
Why has the current judge-executive managed to get a vocational school in the county or bring in more industry or more jobs?
It isn’t because he hasn’t tried.
But I’ll let everyone in on a little secret: “judge-executive” may sound high and mighty. He gets to sign the ordinances, gets his picture in the paper a lot and he has an office in the courthouse. He even has a fancy hammer.
Unfortunately that’s about all he has. He doesn’t have the final say on if taxes are raised, if more money is allotted to pave roads or to recruit new industry or to get a vocational school in the county.
The judge-executive has no true power. Just like the president has no real power. Yeah, the president gets a fancy round office and his very own air plane but if the House and the Senate doesn’t pass a bill, that’s it. The end. That’s all folks. The fat lady has sung. The curtain has closed.
So what we need to focus on is getting some fresh blood, someone interested in the future of the county. Right now it the county is governed by people who want to see Todd County stay quaint and Mayberry-esque.
While that may be what big industry says it wants, it also wants the comforts and conveniences of the big town. It wants hotels and restaurants and convention centers to host corporate meetings.
Every time the words “rate increase” or “tax increase” are brought up, the hemming and hawing begins. Reasons why there’s no need for an increase in water, sewage, taxes, etc.
Allow me to burst another bubble for you: haircuts are no longer $1.50 either.
I’ve not had the pleasure of attending many fiscal court meetings but I have attended plenty of Elkton City Council meetings during which the taboo word “increase” was attached to something. The minute “increase” is said it becomes so quiet in that room you could hear a pin drop and as if choreographed council members sit back in their chairs, cross their arms over their chests and begin rubbing their chin or fidgeting — looking anywhere but at the table or the mayor or city clerk — the most dour expressions on their facing.
Eventually though someone will speak up. Who speaks first is always different but the gist of what they are saying is the same. “We can’t do that.”
TO BE CONTINUED
CONTINUED
Part II
So, the city clerk is given the task of cutting the “fat” from the budget — things like contributions to the industrial foundation. It’s completely justifiable, after all, what has the industrial foundation done for Elkton?
What has Elkton done for Elkton?
Not a thing.
Perhaps if we had people sitting around that table willing to raise taxes, it would have the funds to give money to the industrial foundation and the foundation could afford to send representatives to Japan or Korea or Canada or Minnesota to recruit a company looking to relocate.
And, perhaps if we got some people in those chairs who didn’t huff and puff every time “increase” was mentioned we could retain some of the students who leave the county, go to college and go on to become successful members of communities somewhere else because the one they were born and raised in shudders at the thought of change, of prospering and of growing.
Times are hard. But until we elect people who are open thinkers, who are willing to do what is best for the county and the cities as a whole — not just themselves or their customers —for the business owners and those who live there now and for the next generation times are going to continue to be hard for Todd County.
What Todd County needs is new blood in its government. While we need strong leaders at the helm of these bodies that comprise the government of Todd County and its cities we need people who are willing to take risk, who are willing to welcome change and who aren’t afraid to put their necks out to initiate that change.
Earlier I mentioned that the industry that the county allegedly wants so badly to bring in. I also mentioned that the industry would want the comforts and conveniences of a larger city (the quaint square and people waving to anyone and everyone is a façade. It looks good. It is apple pie and Norman Rockwell) with hotels and restaurants and conventions centers. Well, to get chain restaurants (besides Subway and Dairy Queen, which we are thrilled to have) like O’Charley’s or Applebee’s, etc., we are going to have to knock some of the stiff out of those shirts and discuss the possibility of the county becoming moist.
We currently have restaurants that would benefit immensely if allowed to serve a margarita with an enchilada or a beer with a slice of pizza.
It would bring in more people for events like bike night and other events. As Hopkinsville and Russellville continue to grow along U.S. 68-Ky. 80, eventually they will hit the county line and like an invisible force field the growth stops and begins to spread north and southward. Wouldn’t it make more sense for that growth to continue along a major highway? Why should it not continue through Todd County?
Allowing liquor by the drink is not going to turn Todd County into Amsterdam or Las Vegas or even Oak Grove. Remember, Oak Grove came about because the stiff shirts that ran Hopkinsville for so long rebuked growth and change and instead of accepting the inevitable and setting ordinances and codes in place to prevent “massage parlors” and “gentlemen’s clubs,” etc. there was nothing to be done when they began popping up left and right.
Growth is going to happen eventually like it or not. Change is going to happen eventually like it or not. It’s called evolution, and I am not referring to the evolution where man was allegedly once ape but the textbook definition of evolution — progress, growth development.
Would it not be better that we elect magistrates and council members and commissioners who are open to allowing that growth to happen before it erupts and chaos ensues? Instead of focusing so hard on the individual who sits at the head of the table let’s try instead on focusing on getting people around the table who will work for Todd County, Elkton, Trenton, Guthrie, Allegre and every city, town and community that comprises Todd County.
we have some people that needs to put remarks on here we need someone like mrs choates experience so just vote for her she has more experience behind her then the rest of the runners so just grow up and vote
In response to the last post....huh?
What is wrong with Bobby Miller? He has lost his mind. He is on the square screaming at people.
oops...sorry he was just campaigning.
I guess all that slandering didn’t do anybody any good after all…see people believe what they see not what they hear and a few disgruntle employees is not going to change the fact that the best candidates are in office and they will stay there. Nice try TS and KC. Congratulations to all the winners of the elections.
Unfortunately some of the slandering continues.
I wish people would grow some balls and actually put their names with their comments. If you have something to say, say it but have enough balls to say it or keep it to yourself.
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