Sheriffs candidates agree to Dialog

Scott Leffler · Guru

Sheriffs candidates agree to Dialog

Date: Sat Oct 15 6:27 PM, 2005

Bout time this happened!

Date: Sat Oct 15 9:27 PM, 2005

Come now! One and ALL...Let's get these questions submitted here for the Sheriff's debate.

Why wasn't there an investigation into the fire dept. equipment that was found to be on eBay? Sheriff Beilein?

Deputy Grear? You have been criticized for having a political sign on a snow plow along Transit Road--our question is this: Do you think that James Sacco, Jr., a detractor of yours and has accused you of not being mindful of a certain town ordinance ,that are B.S. anyway, anyway is he a legitimate ringer/shill/operative for the opposition or just a mercinary dixhed?

Ed McDonald · Veteran Member

Scott,

I disagree with how you are handling the sheriff candidate debate. Part of the reason that people listen is to see if a guest is caught off guard, first response if you will and how they will recover, think on their feet.

Why all of a sudden are you worried about preventing an ambush? You said the same thing when Glen was on the air. If these people are worried about an ambush stay at home and call in like I do. Both sides have the same amount of time to call the show, why isn’t that fair.

Lastly, and boy will I take heat for this one, but who is to say you don’t have an agenda and (just for an example) ask Tom easy questions and Brian questions you know he doesn’t know the answer to, or visa-versa. You should be fair let the callers call witha time limit, and the guests answer with a time limit. Now thats fair.

Keep the show the same as it has always been. The callers always have good solid tough questions a key to how a candidate will think on their feet. Never mind this ambush stuff, it’s a TALK SHOW!

Thanks, ED

Scott Leffler · Guru

Ed,

I'm glad you don't trust me. I wouldn't trust me either ... and I don't trust anyone else for that matter - least of all these two candidates.

Tom has been on Dialog before and was raked over the coals. I'll post the podcast of it early this week. Brian called recently and was also beat up for it. Prior to that, Gary Hayes was flogged on my show. There's something in the Sheriff's department that makes honest debate difficult.

I'm not into "gotcha talk." I want substance. And the only way I can guarantee that is if I'm the filter. As I stated earlier, that doesn't proclude you - or anyone else - from asking their questions either through this forum (if you want the candidates to be forewarned and prepared) or through an email to me scott@scottleffler.com if you want them to have to "think on their feet."

If you honestly believe that I won't ask either candidate tough questions (and I doubt your sincerety on that), then, you don't know me very well.

A side note: My daughter asked me the other day who I was going to vote for for sheriff and I told her (honestly) that I didn't know. The department has had some problems under the Beilein era (as I've noted before) ... but I have no idea what Grear stands for. Soooooo ...

There's at least one vote on the line Oct. 26th and we'll see how the candidates do.

jspeer · Guru

Scott, I think you should have Ed on your show. I'm sure we can drum up some questions for him.

Ed McDonald · Veteran Member

Scott you know I think you are an honorable man; you also have a good show, so why would you put yourself into the position of one camp saying Scott took it easy on the sheriff and not on Brian, or just the opposite. Don’t change horses in the middle of the stream. There has to be an answer, and I don’t know what it is. Yet!

Your right, I don’t honestly believe that you won't ask both candidates tough questions, you know me better than that. Thanks Ed

Date: Mon Oct 17 7:13 AM, 2005

Scott,

Please ask Mr. Greer why he feels he is qualified to run a $30 million dollar department when he can't pass a sargents exam, and his only management experience is running a snowplow company which I believe went bankrupt at one time.

Ask the sheriff why so many ex-deputies and current deputies are against him.

Thanks

jspeer · Guru

I think all public officials should have to pass a test.

Date: Wed Oct 19 8:37 AM, 2005

Scott ask Belien how much tax dollars has been spent on lawsuits in his department ???

Date: Wed Oct 19 2:34 PM, 2005

Along with Supervisory experience, you should ask Brian about how he would handle the budget with no experience (except his failed snow plow business).

It is our money that the Sheriff manages so his personnel can enforce laws for our protection!!

Date: Wed Oct 19 9:49 PM, 2005

Ask the Sheriff what his appointed DWI Coordinator does, and when he does it and why nobody who is involved with the county DWI programs knows him. Also, how much money has his DWI coordinator brought back into the county program? Then ask Greer if he is elected, who he would put in that position. They all have hand-appointed patsies! Ofcourse, then you could follow that up with what charges did the DWI Coordinators son have to serve time for for counterfitting the $20 bills in Newfane.....or were the charges conveniently dropped because his father is the sheriffs friend?

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Question for both candidates (especially Brian Grear):

What supervisory, budgeting, and administrative experience do you have that will help you perform the duties as County Sheriff??

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Brian Grear missed another opportunity today. He could have appeared at Wendleville Firehall in Pendleton at an event sponsored by a non-politically biased group, Pendleton Concerned Citizens. It was there "Meet the Candidates Night."

But he chose to not come and speak before the public.

If Brian Grear wants to be the Chief Law Enforcement officer of Niagara County, why does he not take the time to go before a public forum and answer the questions that the people have for him??

Date: Thu Oct 20 11:17 AM, 2005

That would be a very good question to Grear as to why he doesn't take time off work to campaign. Ask him how many days off does he have left to take this year (the answer is 21) and why wouldn't he use them to campaign istead of saving them all for the holidays (normal year I would agree, not when (Villela (er- I mean Grear)) you are running for an office).

kspeer · Senior Member

The only people that would know such info as to how many days off someone has left would have to be an insider in the Sherriff's Dept., and therefore a tad bit biased. Then on top of that, the whole anonymous thing just looks fishy and sneaky. Once again, a Beilein supporter actually making the opponent look better.

Just as Scott has stated, I haven't decided who to vote for in this race yet. However, anonymous bashing doesn't help your cause.

clinger · Member

I re-read the posts you are talking about. Except for the shot about Villela really being the one who is running, what shot was given? The person posted how many days off Grear had to use, and asked why he wouldn't use them to campaign for such an important post. Who knows if the person was full of cr*p or not, hopefully Scott will find out.

Bielien has problems, it seems like there are a lot of deputies against him, it will be interesting to see what happens.

Date: Thu Oct 20 5:56 PM, 2005

QUESTION FOR Jim SACCO: You were at the Pendelton school board meeting the other night, were you not?

Why were you pitching your planning expertise at a SCHOOL BOARD MEETING?

Were you paid by the NYSDEC for your time doing "planning?"

Who told you it was OK to have your daughter as a part of the presentation? Was this cute factor?

Then this, just WHO do YOU think that YOU ARE standing right outside of the meeting room door (OPEN) with your daughter raising noise, you and the town supervisor speaking loudly enough to each other to be heard in the room AND for more than five minutes disturbing the meeting WHILE THE PUBLIC was inside trying to listen?

WHY Mr. Sacco, WHY?

I DEMAND an apology here for this terrible transgression of professional decorum! How dare you?

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

QUESTION FOR Jim SACCO: You were at the Pendelton school board meeting the other night, were you not? Why were you pitching your planning expertise at a SCHOOL BOARD MEETING? Were you paid by the NYSDEC for your time doing "planning?" Who told you it was OK to have your daughter as a part of the presentation? Was this cute factor? Then this, just WHO do YOU think that YOU ARE standing right outside of the meeting room door (OPEN) with your daughter raising noise, you and the town supervisor speaking loudly enough to each other to be heard in the room AND for more than five minutes disturbing the meeting WHILE THE PUBLIC was inside trying to listen? WHY Mr. Sacco, WHY? I DEMAND an apology here for this terrible transgression of professional decorum! How dare you?

Just like Grear is afraid to speak in public. This person does not reveal who he is.

Date: Fri Oct 21 4:15 AM, 2005

Scott,

Why doesn't Grear go to these public forums??? He wants to be our Chief Law Enforcement officer, and he does not want to speak in front of the public.

There are a lot of times that the Sheriff is hard pressed to make public statements about certian cases. Statements that are notibly carried by the press.

You would think that Brian Grear would feel at home speaking to a group of concerned citizens in Pendleton because he did go to Starpoint.

Why does he send Tony Villella in his place?? That line about not being able to get time off has worn out it's welcome. You do not have to be a fool to see through this one.

Ask Brian Grear if Tony Villella wants to run the Sheriff's office.

If that is the case, why doesn't Tony run again??

Date: Fri Oct 21 2:16 PM, 2005

I agree with the other anon poster. I found the exchanges between Mr. Sacco and his little daughter to be tedious and a waste of a lot of people's time and quite inappropriate for a public meeting, and I also was distracted by his loud conversation in the hallway. None of these things, however, are as outrageous as the (in)action of the Board and Dr. Whelan with regards to the matters at hand regarding the poisoned environment for the kids of Starpoint, but annoying enough to comment on.

Having said that, the real reason I'm checking in is to tell Forum readers a little story that took place a couple of years ago. In a tragic accident, a motorcyclist from Lockport took the curve down the road from where I live too fast, left the road, hit several objects including a road sign and a boulder and was pronounced dead at the scene. As is customary these days, a mini-shrine soon sprang up at the site of the accident, consisting of flowers, candles, notes, keepsakes, etc. It was obvious the individual was loved and already missed.

Approximately three days after the accident I was working outside in the yard, I think it was a Saturday, when I observed a Sheriff car pull up to the accident site. A very big Deputy got out of the car and three very attractive young females (the deceased had no family according to the obituary) also got out. They were all carrying flowers and one was noticeably weeping. The Deputy appeared to be pointing out the damaged bushes where the cycle had flown through to the women. They were there about ten minutes when they all piled back inside the red-and-white and left.

Now I'm thinking, since when are our Sheriff deputies doubling as grief counselors? Lockport is about 12 miles from here. Why were these people driven out here and driven back in a squad car? What the hell was that all about?

If anyone thinks I'm making this up, believe me, I'm a lot better at making up **** than this. It's just another thing that convinces me we need a change at the top.

shughes · Senior Member

Wow sorting this thread out tales a bit of time. This really supports Scott’s decision to not take live questions. So if I understand the thread correctly we have:

Anonymous 3, 5, and Mr. Sacco obsessed with snowplows.

Anonymous 4 wants to know how much the current sheriff has racked up in legal expenses.

Mr. Sacco, clinger, and Anonymous 7, 8 & 9 think time off of work for public appearances is a must. But let’s note that Anonymous 7 has probably revealed confidential personnel information.

Anonymous 8, 9 & 10 feel Mr. Sacco’s behavior at a public meeting was questionable.

Anonymous #10 is questioning a motorcycle accident in Wilson (I think that’s the one I’m thinking of) and the use of road patrols as shuttle/tourist vehicles.

I think that almost covers it. I am seeing a common theme here. I think, and this is just my opinion, Mr. Sacco may have had a traumatic experience with a snowplow as a small child and is just now showing the “signs” of a deeply buried hostility against snowplows. It would appear that this repressed memory is causing him to act out in inappropriate ways while in public.

The time off for public appearances is a no win know matter what Grear does. If he took time off for every one of them he would be accused of not doing his job. By picking the ones he feels are most important he is somehow neglecting the public by going to work as a public employee. Like I said he can’t win this one.

It would also appear that how some of the Sheriffs employees are spending their time might be a bit questionable. The big question that jumps to my mind is who is responsible for these employees’ actions?

Brutus24 · Novice

Scott, please ask Sheriff Beilein these questions....I saw him campaigning with George Maziarz a couple of times in recent weeks. Does this mean if the Sheriff wins re-election, Maziarz will own him too?? Also, I understand the County Attorney is a relation of the Sheriff. Is the DA going to pursue the case of the DWI Coordinators son or are they going to wait until the time runs out which is a familar tactic in Niagara County?

Date: Sat Oct 22 4:27 AM, 2005

shughes,

I really don't have any particular grief with snowplows, or failed snowplow business owners. In fact, I still believe my brother plows snow for some people. But I will confess that I still do shovel my own driveway.

I really do have a problem with Mr. Grear's choice to save his time off for later work on his campaign (with his friends and people who are working for him) when he could be out there now responding to questions in these public forums. Some questions may be pressing, and they definitely are not from his friends and supporters. Isn't that part of the job that the County Sheriff has to do??

[please note this one Scott - another question for you to consider]

Jim Sacco · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

shughes, I really don't have any particular grief with snowplows, or failed snowplow business owners. In fact, I still believe my brother plows snow for some people. But I will confess that I still do shovel my own driveway. I really do have a problem with Mr. Grear's choice to save his time off for later work on his campaign (with his friends and people who are working for him) when he could be out there now responding to questions in these public forums. Some questions may be pressing, and they definitely are not from his friends and supporters. Isn't that part of the job that the County Sheriff has to do?? [please note this one Scott - another question for you to consider]

Sorry Scott,

As I attempt to wake up before I run this morning, I forgot to sign in before I made the above comment.

Jim Sacco