Beseler runs office in absentia?

It's not absentia, it is called smart business. 

I for one am glad somebody has been given a "major role in daily operations" while the Sheriff is doing what every other incumbent in every other office since the days of old does - run for re-election. 

I'm not saying I am going to vote for him, just that this is regular efficient business - you have to work harder to find the spectacular headline. 

Maybe something like "Sheriff discovered to be an alien from the planet Ork and working in cahoots with the St. John's River monster to drain us dry" or something like that.

Good luck.

When the Sheriff took office he made the decision not to have and Under Sheriff. I believe he said one was not needed and he could handle the day to day operations of the Sheriff's Office himself and this would save the tax payers money. It does not sound very efficient to me, what has he been doing with that salary (for the under sheriff) for the last three years? I agree he has the right that every other incumbent has but what has changed other than its an election year and he is up to bat.

Whenever I was transferred by my company to head up a newsroom at a different paper, I considered it one of my priorities to train my staff about how to handle things if I wasn't in the office.  Business, whether reporting news or fighting crime, can't stop because the boss isn't behind his desk.

It's not necessary, Insider, to take normal business practice and try to distort it with a word like "absentia."  I've watched politicians, sheriffs included, long enough to know that you don't have to make up stuff about them.  Just pay attention and sooner or later they'll do something real you can campaign against.

Michael S. Mann

michaelsmann@comcast.net

I understand that partisan 24 hour news outlets have made this sort of tirade fashionable, however it only alienates readers like me.

You've obviously made your attitude toward Beseler apparent through your choice of screen name. Fair enough. However, to make wild accusations about someone's motivations just because that person has the audacity not to agree with your perspective will not win many people to your side.

Ditto with the off color comments about your original target. 

Impress me with facts, not innuendo. 

(I know the bloggers to whom I refer have plenty of capacity for self defense; this is just a pet peeve of mine.)

Snuggling up?  Drinking Ricky Koolaid?

What a moron.

Michael S. Mann

michaelsmann@comcast.net

Adioscredibility

I would think if you dislike the Sherriffs job performance so much you would be relieved someone else will be taking on a more active roll while he campaigns.  I can't say that I like the notion that someone paid by the People via taxes is getting paid for a job while he's out campaigning to get the job but it seems to be  an "accepted norm" 

I agree with 3ClayKids, great blog 3CK.

Adios FOP UNION Cohorts.

Adios to your tactics, vulgar references on this blog (brokeback mountain with your bud) and to the other unfounded accusations you have made on this and your other blogs.

Adios to your chances of any credibility here and in the future.

Adios to any thoughts you , Insider, and the FOP, may have had that you helped Candidate Taylor in his bid for sheriff by posting on this blog. We see you for what you are.

Adios

By the way, lay off OneMann. When he is elected, many of us would like to clone him, call him FiveMann, and see what someone that is his OwnMann can do to restore common sense in government to Clay County.

Adios -

In all fairness, you are trying to be involved in local politics and that is admirable. 

Please don't take anything on these blogs too serious, or too personal - and likewise it would be a good idea not to post anything on these blogs too serious or too personal (or combination thereof). 

You will see the occasional personal comment, I am guilty of making them regarding a certain former commissioner I refer to as the Queen.  But just like in life, if you want to be taken seriously, you have to act like an adult. 

I am curious though, and in trying to be as objective as possible - what really bothers you about the current Sheriff?  Enlighten us as objectively as possible, no personal attacks, no names needed (we all know his name). 

We all view and participate in these blogs to learn, you seem eager to teach.

Theese blogs are really getting bad. starting to sound like the Andy Johnson show

Well put response CCC and 3 kids

Months ago,  I blogged about this being a pretty "closed" group of regulars. If I recall, Marsha ecouraged me to come back and participate.  I did. I really want to stop being clueless about local issues (politics mostly)

So 'splain it regular bloggers.  It is okay when OneMann calls people idiots (excuse of quoting Twain) or morons. Lily and Angela have very sharp pens directed at certain politicians, As a not so regular blogger I took some hits--one pretty smarmy about about  the butt in the face thread.  And that's okay?

Then Adios (with undoubtedly a particular side in the Sheriff race) gets slammed. Did I think his comments were over the top and nasty--you bet.

I just want to point out that there seems to be favorites played when you are on on side of the fence and  latitude to the regulars.

Especially to One Mann who is a professional writer--use bigger words than idiot or moron please. And Pi--such a wonderful kind and heartful blog with your families WWII letter, how about less ire when your response is to another politcal side please.

We should all re-read the threads from CCC and 3kids, it is going to be a long way till elections.

I believe a collective "shame on you" at least for me has to do with first, am I interested in joining that particular thread.  There have been plenty of times someone has been nasty to Mike and I've not said anything because I'm not involved in the thread for various reasons.  It is however human nature to support the people you know and/or respect. 

I have stood up for just as many "new" bloggers as I have regulars.  I don't say anything to Lily anymore because I have learned she has a style that I don't grasp a good deal of the time and many of her comments are sarcastic or satire in their origin.

I say nothing to Angela because I don't get involved in alot of her threads or entries, she's over my head. For as much work as that woman does getting involved in current events and really reading all the nitty gritty stuff she does and all the writing she does that has nothing to do with name calling you're talking needles in haystacks.

For me it was the second entry for Adios that prompted me to jump in.  Accusing people of being drug users or gay is an attitude that I really would like to see discouraged.  The reaction based upon Mikes entry was unwarranted so I supported the sentiments responding negatively to that second entry.

There are alot of factors that go into which blogs you participate in, sometimes its as simple as you don't have time for it all, or interest in it all. 

I hope this helps you understand my motivation more clearly. 

If we go back and look what was said, the Sheriff said he would not make an Undersheriff during his first year or two, as he wanted to evaluate the personnel to see how they each handled different functions.  Naming an Undersheriff at this time looks to be consistent with what he actually said.  Having a go-to man seems to be prudent.  I may be proven wrong.

I do understand from talking to several people that employees are not happy with many decisions from within the Sheriffs Office.  Some of those fall under "strictly business" which he did to be cost effective.  That stays in line with one of his campaign promises.  It seems most grief comes from decisions made by several of the line officers.  Have the "insiders" taken their grievances through the grievance procedure?

Having $1 million cash to turn in at the end of the fiscal year does seem a bit reminiscent of a past sheriff and does have the aroma of grandstanding. So do some of the "media events" that drug busts are made into.  Is that consistent with sheriffs past as well as around the state?  Let each voter make their own call there.

Finally, I recall 1988 and that 20 some deputies put their careers on the line by openly endorsing and campaigning for a new sheriff.  Are the anonymous going to make themselves known this year, and do the same?

Clueless, you're correct in that I've made a buck or two stringing words together.  I'm usually pretty particular about my choice of words, because I consider words to be tools to convey specific thoughts or feelings.

And I guess I could have consulted my mental thesaurus to come up with a bigger word to appease the county's advanced readers in responding to Adios, but I decided to use the perfect tool for the job regardless of the number of letters it took.

Mark Twain is probably looking down, joining me in a smile at the thought of someone still trying to make something so serious out of his century-old humor.  I imagine he'd say something like, "The difference between a sense of humor and an opinion is that everybody's got an opinion."

Michael S. Mann

michaelsmann@comcast.net

Adios

You have so many things you can offer on the blogs that will support your position. I would like to offer you a direction that I think will get you more supporters and not be shunned on the blogs.

Like Thrasher our favorite lobbyist supports the current Sheriff. Now we have bloggers that will not support candidates for President because he supports that candidate. I will say it is a long way from Orange Park to Washington DC. But just a short drive from Fleming Island to GCS. Blog about Thrasher's support of Beseler. I know that contribution weighs on my mind.

Let's take Stephen Joost who is a Jax Council Member and we know the grand jury investigation with those members. Wait for the presentment to come out and check to see where he fits in that picture. Joost supported those 100.00 meals for the council members as gifts. He is one of the CEO of Firehouse and check out those contributions to the Sheriff. Joost's personal contribution and the many Firehouse Sub stores. We can all have heartburn together.

I have more information that would get the bloggers and readers attention concerning our Sheriff. If I can find it, so can you. You just have to dig alittle. But it is there. 

Just remember if he needs to take time off to campaign then his job of being Sheriff doesn't speak well of him. I guess he feels the heat and needs to defend his last almost 4 years. Otherwise he would just continue doing what he has been doing and let his record speak for him. See that move on his part as Sheriff as a plus in your column.

Here's you some more information and a link to a story. I think you will find many supporters of your position in Keystone Heights including the Mayor.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19211460

Maybe try public records for his budget in the 05/06 where it was 36 million.

His recent budget as described by Commissioner Bush in Ron Littlepage's article was 58 million for the 07/08 budget.

I think that would average out to be a little over 10 million each budget cycle. For a person who holds their money tight. He seems to be rather loose with ours.

As Commissioner Bush said it's almost consuming the entire county budget. You might want to figure out where that's going.

It offers some subjects for debate in my mind. Especially with the tax amendment that just passed and the reductions in revenue those will cause.

Dig a little it's out there in the public domain.

One Mann, I always like to read your stuff..the "professional" part shows.  I don't always agree with your position.  Big or little words "makes me no nevermind" but mean words get to me.  It's where you have been in life.  I have a mentally handicapped relative, I have spent all of my life protecting them from "moron, idiot, stupid, retard"  I should have said BETTER words, not bigger. Just because Twain said it doesn't make it right. I am not an advocate of PC--just kindness.  

Continue on your path, I don't have to shield my relative from your words on paper (they can't read).I thought you should know that  me (a woman who most folks think has both opinions and a sense of humor) in my little world wished you use better words. You certainly have the talent.

Just got back to the net and I now realize I may have overstepped my bounds by my comments. Did not mean to offend. I was attempting to call attention to how many days the Sheriff and his command staff are off doing things out of the county. These are the people who are supposed to be in charge should an emergency occur, SWAT etc. Anyway, some days ago (I think) someone mentioned the eletion of 1988. It was reported that 20 deputy's put their names on an endorsement letter for Dalton Bray. Actually, it was 40 and we were referred to as the top 40. No one above the rank of Sgt. signed it. I still have mine. There are still some of us around and I can tell you todays environment is worse than then. We now make more money, drive better cars, and have better equipment but this is due the the Sheriffs who have followed, including Rick to a degree. The difference is that we have no pride nor confidence in the Sheriff. He turns every event into a story for his glory. He avoids the truth when dealing with the press and has never been asked to prove any of his claims. We have the best job in the world. We have powers that the President does not have. The President can not deprive citizens of their liberty but we are trusted with that decision to include taking someones life. It is a shame that we do not work for someone who cherishes the job. 

The average citizens don't understand how the men and women who do the work out on the streets feel on a daily basis. You on the inside have a good picture of what's going on in there. That's what the citizens need to see and hear about.

There are so many things that will prove your case without getting frustrated at the bloggers who don't live inside the Sheriff's Office daily.

Let's take his talk with Keystone Heights residents where he says most of the people in the jail are in there for suspended licenses.

Wonder if that was a product of his ticket writing campaign that didn't produce the results he was looking for. I agree speeding and dangerous drivers on our streets cause serious problems but writing handfulls of tickets to each driver. Sitting up what looks like speed traps are not the answer. Now he has a bunch of people costing the citizens alot of money because they couldn't pay all those tickets everyone was instructed to write and they sit in jail.

Lots of things to tell the people that they don't know about. Just get the information together and you have the blogs. If you present it right many are willing to listen.

Regarding your blog earlier with the news story from Keystone Hieghts. The Sheriff metioned savings from the one jail employee aka:(Former Medical Director or Nursing Supervisor etc.)                  The county also saw a hiring freeze, and one jail employee worked with local medical providers to get the same rates for inmate medical care that insurance companies receive. That example alone, Beseler said, saved over $600,000.

 I believe that happened (the savings) over a year ago (2006 I believe) and it was supposedly a savings for switching from a local pharmacy to a mail order pharmacy. That one jail employee no longer works for the Sheriff's Office and the new medical director has went back to the local pharmacy and the savings the Sheriff tells everyone about has been short lived.

Would that now gone medical director's name start with a D. Because I hope so. That person should have left a long time ago. She was a danger to herself and others in my opinion.

Mail order pharmacy. If it is the same person who's name starts with a D. Made some right off the wall suggestions at the meeting where they discussed the FL Model Jail Standards too. Those were not so smart either.

With people coming in at all times of the night and day in the jail how could you mail order drugs anyway.

I remember when he first came into office and he said they rework the contracts with the doctors. Yet he requested the same amount of money in his next budget for medical for the inmates. He said indices were going up. What! I thought he just signed a contract with lower costs.

The purpose of those tickets were to generate revenue, which it did. Writing people three or four tickets at one stop is wrong. But those Deputies were under orders. There was a huge banner in the traffic office that read "Tickets, Tickets and more Tickets" There is a photo. Those people who received numorous tickets at one stop had their license suspended, Remember 12 points in 12 months gets a suspention. Would make an interesting data search. How many multi tickets stops were made and how many tickets were written during each stop. Then the next time they are stopped, their tag randomly ran through NCIC, or if they are seen and recognized, they are stopped and put in JAIL for suspended D/L. What a racket. Those misdemeanants cost just as much to house as the felons. Of course there are fewer felons because we aren't solving those felony cases, The claim to fame about saving the medical costs were from the Sheriffs first year in office. A medical professional had been auditing the inmate medical bills since 2000, four years (BR) before Rick. She received an award for her service and the savings to the county. Perhaps we could have reduced our budget given those savings but that contradicts the I want all i can get so i can give it back mentality.The medication deal is real. Mail order works and is cheaper. Stock piled meds are kept and are ready for issue upon doctors orders which can be by phone. Specific meds could be ordered and delivered quickly. The nursing supervisor who replaced D was the one who worked for Lancaster. She went back to Atkinsons pharmacy like we used to use. I am only reporting what my Correctional friends are telling me and they are trustworthy. The jail has problems in and of itself but that is for someone else to discuss in good time.