Blanchard misses mark on experience, budget

Editor:

In all the articles concerning the Sheriff's race, not one has given legitimate grounds for the information being spoken about Lewis Blanchard or against Sheriff Clay Whittle. The two major issues Blanchard is trying to use against Whittle, drugs in Columbia County and a "lack of business experience", don't make sense.

First, I'd like to know where you can go in this nation and not find a problem with keeping drugs to a minimum. On this point, Blanchard had a very powerful position to do something about the drugs in Columbia County schools. If he was indeed the director of the county's school system security, he missed a golden opportunity to make a big impact on the drugs in our schools!

On the second point, implying that Whittle's business skills are weaker than Blanchard's is something that can't be measured. Running a very large and growing county's sheriff's department as opposed to a couple of local evening businesses is like comparing apples to oranges.

I believe the majority would agree that Whittle has done a commendable job over the past nine years. Otherwise, county commissioners and tax payers would have "hollered" long before now if money had been a problem.

No company or large department goes without problems, because you're dealing with human beings. The leader's personal beliefs can make the difference. Whittle is a man who gives the benefit of the doubt to those that others may not trust. He is a caring and honest man who is dedicated to serving the people. Let's re-elect the man whose record speaks for itself. Vote for Clay Whittle as sheriff of Columbia County on July 20.

Beth W. Hensley

Martinez