Pledges From A Candidate
Dear Editor,
I am humbled by the support I have received during this campaign. Last May, when I announced that I would seek the Republican nomination for Sheriff, some people were skeptical. Some said I would not get any support, that I wouldn’t be able to raise the money to compete. They wondered why I would not wait until next time to run.
As you can see here tonight, I have already proven several of those assumptions were wrong. I have worked hard; my team has worked hard; and my many supporters have worked hard. I am running now because I know I can make some positive changes and can make a difference right now.
That will start with entering into a contract with the county that is more in line with the average Indiana sheriff’s salary. What if the county council came in next month and voted themselves a $35,000 raise? It would be legal, but it would not go over well!
I think it is important to note that all of my campaign donations are from Kosciusko County. The majority of those donations are from the working class, the hard-working taxpayers from our county, which humbles me greatly. As sheriff, I will be the sheriff of the hard-working people of Kosciusko County and promise to seek solutions to problems rather than placing blame elsewhere.
I pledge to be fiscally conservative with my approach to budgeting. I will work to minimize the damages to our jail; I will implement strategies to reduce illegal narcotics entering into our jail. My vision is to implement a drug detection K9 unit for use in the correctional environment, and I will be accessible to the citizens of Kosciusko County!
Jim Smith
Warsaw