Dear Editor,

I support Jim Smith for Kosciusko County Sheriff.

I know Jim Smith to be a servant leader. His active role in multiple service organizations and in leadership roles shows me he has a heart for this county where he was born, raised and continues to live and serve. His desire to take a salary more in line with the average Indiana sheriff’s salary also shows he is putting the taxpayers of this county above himself.

As I watched our current sheriff and Jim Smith answer questions during the candidate’s forum, I was impressed with Jim’s candidness, directness and ideas.

For me, there was an obvious contrast between the two candidates, especially surrounding two areas I see as huge issues for us as taxpayers due to what can become added costs for us through lawsuits and repair costs — drugs getting into the jail and damages to the jail caused by inmate vandalism.

Responding to the question regarding the top priority for addressing drug issues in the jail, the current sheriff blamed technology for failing them and said they would be taking a proactive approach but failed to mention what that approach would be. So, I question if he even has a plan.

However, Jim Smith responded with ideas for addressing the issue, implement a drug detection canine and have someone on staff that is trained to train others in the use of the body scanner.

When the two candidates were asked about the jail and its current condition, the current sheriff only praised his jailers, talked about the number of hours the jailers have trained and noted that the number of inmates has decreased under him, then talked about the ratio of jailers to inmates, which I might add is a better ratio than it was for previous sheriffs. Yet we have had unprecedented damage to the jail by inmates under this sheriff.

Jim Smith firmly addressed the damages, a 252% increase in repair costs due to vandalism by inmates during this sheriff’s term! He noted, “You are only as good as you are lead,” and “It’s (referring to the damages) unacceptable in my opinion, and we need to do a better job.” He then talked about his plan for better visibility by leadership through walk-throughs and documentation. I also know he has a detailed plan for the jail that he has put out via social media.

Jim Smith came with ideas for solutions for the problems. The current sheriff did not, nor have I seen any plan from the current sheriff that addresses these two issues.

Jim Smith is a man of integrity and a man with plans to address some issues we currently have at our jail.

I hope you will join me in voting for Republican Jim Smith for sheriff on May 3.

Ann Seward
Warsaw