Sheriff ‘on thin legal and ethical ice’: Letters, Aug. 7, 2022
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Sheriff ‘intent on exerting total control’
I see that the Czar of Brevard is at it again, this time on thin legal and ethical ice. Not one candidate, not two, but three no less!
Who will go after him? Attorney General Moody? State Attorney Archer? Let’s see … but don’t hold your breath.
I’ve already voted for Kimberly Musselman. I donated to her campaign. I know her deep background in the broad area of criminal justice.
His political philosophy of all county elected officials being on the same page is interesting, but it should be confined to table talk. This retired lawyer doesn’t want a lock-step county government. That may be consistency in his myopic view, but it also smacks of authoritarianism, his real political philosophy. Intelligent citizens favor differences of opinion.
I’m sure that FLORIDA TODAY is not shocked at not receiving a response from his office for comment. It would be truly patriotic if our Sheriff of Nottingham recognized the First Amendment as much as he does the Second. He can dish it out, but he can’t take it.
Should we infer from FLORIDA TODAY’s report that Attorney Tropy will do his bidding on the county court bench? That court only has authority to sentence up to one year in the county lockup. That’s small potatoes in the criminal justice system.
Thanks to FLORIDA TODAY for exposing this brash and brazen behavior of this inflated ego operating way outside his official duties and intent on exerting total control over our county government behind his badge.
Francis J. Clifford, Suntree
Belford endorsement is appreciated
I was pleased to see the endorsement of Misty Belford by the FLORIDA TODAY editorial board.
When a candidate refuses to participate in a forum or debate, it makes me wonder what he or she may be hiding. To quote the endorsement, “If a candidate can’t make time to participate in a forum, how responsive will they be once in office?”
As a former teacher, I pay attention to what is happening in our local education system. When possible I also tune into the meetings of the Brevard County School Board. Ms. Belford did indeed maintain a calm demeanor during some very “heated” meetings. Some who appeared before the board were loud and obnoxious, rather than addressing the board in a civilized manner. Belford always spoke to them civilly and appropriately.
We need members of the school board to be reasonable, to listen, and especially, to be available to the public.
Linda Lopardo, Titusville
Articles help voter make choices
I want to thank FLORIDA TODAY’s staff for assisting me with my election choices.
As an independently minded voter, I always choose the best candidate regardless of their political persuasion or party registration. Your recent articles that include background information on the candidates running for various offices have been very helpful.
The other articles regarding our sheriff’s efforts to influence some candidates to reconsider their decision to run and/or drop out of their race have been heartbreaking. Since I do not know how deep our sheriff’s influence runs, I decided to not vote for any candidate this sheriff has endorsed. The other reason for this decision is that I want elected officials with different thoughts and opinions, which is very unlikely when our sheriff’s preferred choices are probably groupthink individuals who think and believe like him.
George Papp, Titusville
In simple terms: Enough already
“I am a big, big term limit guy.” Really?
The hypocrisy in Commissioner Curt Smith’s statement is a trend running rampant in today’s political climate. His justification is ridiculous. Two terms in a row is enough. Take a break and educate yourself like the rest of your constituents from the outside. Then run again with all the new knowledge and wisdom you have gained from the time you have taken off.
As far as the cost of living increase for their salaries, my question to you, sir, is “How many other public servants have that in their contracts?” I agree with Nick Tomboulides that the majority of the American people want to restrict term limits not expand them.
Shari Deane, Melbourne
Do the right thing: Address gun control
Thank you, Bob Reid, for your very informative recent column titled “Why it is time to address gun control.”
It inspired me to write this letter to my representatives.
I am writing this letter to all my representatives regarding the mass murders we have had over the past years. We have been burying men, women and sadly, children, because our representatives refuse to ban automatic weapons. They are war weapons and do not belong in civilian hands so they can gun down innocent people.
Imagine going to a Fourth of July parade with your family and watching your family or friends being gunned down, or your son or daughter left crippled for life.
This should not be a political issue but just a matter of what is right. The right to bear doesn’t mean the right to have a war weapon. Do the right thing and ban these weapons.
Kathleen Durtschi, West Melbourne
‘I am ashamed of Kansas’
I grew up in little Mankato, Kansas, and attended Kansas State. My dad was a cattle farmer; he taught me to value life. I have lived on Merritt Island the past 30 years but I still consider myself a Kansan, because that is where I grew up.
After Tuesday’s election, I must say, I am ashamed of Kansans. I cannot understand why all those women want the right to kill babies before they are born. As I watched the TV, I saw women carrying signs like, “Don’t mess with my body.” The baby you are carrying is not your body. If a baby was part of your body, he/she would have the same DNA; the baby has a different DNA and often even has a different blood type. According to recent research, a significant number of babies who were born just over five months survived after being cared for in a hospital. How can women be so passionate about wanting to kill a baby, even up to the baby’s birth?
I understand how “inconvenient” an unplanned pregnancy can be. If that is the case, let a family adopt your baby — don’t kill your baby. There are so many couples who are unable to get pregnant who would love to adopt the baby; they are flying all over the world to adopt a baby, at great expense.
People today seem to be more concerned about saving baby seals than about human babies. How can this be? What does this say about our culture?
Cheryl Warren, Merritt Island
Some questions for Moms for Liberty
I just read a recent FLORIDA TODAY article about a Moms for Liberty conference in Tampa. I found it commendable that they are trying to get more moms (parents) involved in what’s going on in their local schools.
Then I read they believe there’s a secret Marxist and cynical conspiracies infiltrating American public schools. That schools are brainwashing students into thinking they’re transgender or queer, and teaching racial and gender equity that’s sowing division and hatred. That school districts are actively trying to harm children. The speakers made all these claims with little or no evidence to support them.
Conference participants came from across the country, some spending five days. The question I have for them is, “How many days have you spent observing your children in the class? How many PTA meetings have you attended?” I would be surprised if they spent more than five days doing any of those activities.
I would suggest before you try to tear down the system, visit your kids’ schools. Get involved in school activities; participate in the PTA. At least try to determine on your own if some or any of these recent Republican talking points have any validity.
Schools are having a hard enough time to find qualified teachers.
Why would these Moms of Liberty drive teachers from their profession with false conspiracy allegations? Florida is so short of teachers that DeSantis is allowing military veterans without four-year degrees to teach school. A small patch on a big wound Republicans have inflicted!
Bradley J. Skarpness, Rockledge
Here’s something to ask candidates
In response to your letter writer who suggested every political candidate be asked one question as to whether they believe Joe Biden was elected president, I would suggest one additional question for voters in regard to Joe Biden; do you believe he is competent, coherent, constructive, or even conscious?
William Alford, Melbourne Beach
Senate hopeful’s ad seems a stretch
Wouldn’t you think political commercials would contain a majority of truthfulness?
One heard recently wants you to “send a cop on the beat” to the Senate. It must be over 30 years since that individual walked/rode a beat.
Another ad says the same candidate worked for 27 years never knowing if I’d come home to my family.” During the time an officer walks/drives a beat, that would be a truthful statement. Once promoted to sergeant and above, each step decreases that likelihood, until, at chief, it seems very highly unlikely.
Garey Hartman, Melbourne
Trump is ‘a menace to our democracy’
As I listened to Trump’s speech on Jan. 6, 2021, I messaged a friend that he should turn it on because it’s a real “barn burner,” a real “fire starter.”
His words were an intended, serious, and directly motivated invitation to march on the Capitol to overturn the election outcome. It kept me glued to the television. But as Trump has often done, he disowns accountability for the consequences of his actions, saying he isn’t responsible for the uprising that resulted in damages, injuries, and deaths. Of course, before his speech Trump called on his loyalists to come to Washington, and during the speech he called on them to march on the Capitol.
The precise words he used were of his own making; his rhetoric was of his own creation. That included allegedly saying that “Maybe our supporters have the right idea. Mike Pence deserves it,” for not overturning the election. He tried to get the governors to do it, and they wouldn’t. He tried to get the courts to do it, and they wouldn’t, in 60 separate decisions. So now all that remained was Mike Pence and of course Trump’s rebellious followers occupying the Capitol and chanting, “Hang Mike Pence.”
People need to recognize Trump is a menace to our democracy and to the American people. His loyal followers need to stop pandering to him — I guess who the voters choose doesn’t matter to Trump.
Robert Soltau, Cape Canaveral
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