Tallahassee Young Democrats Endorse Lisa Sprague

Tallahassee Young Democrats Endorse Lisa Sprague For Leon County Sheriff 

Former City Commission Candidate Daniel Parker Endorses Lisa Sprague for Sheriff

by Daniel Parker

October 5, 2012

Dear Friends,

Over the past year of walking neighborhoods, gathering signatures, meeting in your homes and in public places, I was privileged to get to know many of our local candidates well and I know who is working for your best interests. Though my candidacy failed to move past the primary, several good candidates did and I join you as a voter in wanting to see the best candidates win.

It is my believe that Lisa Sprague will make an excellent Sheriff for Leon County and our capital city of Florida.

I understand first hand the difficulties and reluctance to embrace change in our community. We like the familiar, no matter how dysfunctional or unsustainable. and we like to ease into things without being rushed. The current sheriff has been at the helm for some time now, has done what many would consider to be a good job, and has beaten a fine man in Mr. Tommy Mills in the primary.

But it is time for change.

Lisa reminds me a lot of Ann Richards, the former Governor of Texas. A tough woman in what many perceive to be a man's occupation. Both earned the respect of all of their peers by fighting for what they believed in. Ann Richards became only the second woman elected Governor in Texas. With Lisa, we have the opportunity to continue electing on lifetime merit and ability, and make her one of the first and few female sheriffs in the State of Florida.

But this is not about being first. In Lisa, we have a proven candidate with the opportunity to continue being tough on crime. As the most educated citizenry in the State of Florida, we have an opportunity to install a well educated, family woman with over 30 years of boots on the ground experience in law enforcement as our next sheriff. She combines the education and the experience with a fresh outlook, unfettered by stubbornness, misplaced pride, and old ways of doing things.

I sincerely believe that Lisa will not only be able to lead a department of our finest, but will engage the community like never before in prevention and "keeping the peace." She represents real democratic principles of respect, honesty, fairness, and toughness. She will be responsive, and responsible.

Please join me in supporting Lisa with your contributions, your time, and your vote. On November 6th, elect Candidate Sprague to be your Sheriff Sprague.

Endorsement By Mr. Delaitre Hollinger

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, FORMER CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATE ENDORSES LISA SPRAGUE FOR LEON COUNTY SHERIFF

10/23/2012

In today's changing times, it is ever prevalent that we continue our commitment to protecting the beautiful neighborhoods of Leon County, forging partnerships with local agencies, and decreasing the past year's steadily rising crime rate. This is why the choice for Leon County's next Sheriff on November 6 is clear. And that choice is Lisa Sprague.

Ms. Sprague is a well-educated, seasoned Law Enforcement veteran with a proven record of service. She is a small business owner, has served as President of many national Law Enforcement Associations, and has served in several leadership capacities, including Chief of Police, Interim Chief of Police, Co-Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police and Associate Chief of Police. Her driven ability and steadfast dedication to fighting crime, allowed her to ascend from the ranks of police officer in her 31-years plus in the field to serve as a Police Chief in two separate venues during her career. She has been personally responsible in many instances for managing and balancing large department budgets and is eminently qualified to serve as our next Sheriff.

Lisa is a registered Democrat and has been endorsed by many local and even national Democratic organizations who have been witnesses to her commitment to the citizens of the City of Tallahassee and Leon County. She is an outstanding person, a trusted friend, and would be an even better elected official.

I have been a personal witness, as have many others to the disrespect shown to Ms. Sprague by incumbent Sheriff Larry Campbell in political venues. Sheriff Campbell has served as Sheriff for 16 years and as Undersheriff for 16 years, and has spent 51 years in Law Enforcement. 21 years as Sheriff and sticking to the status quo would be detrimental to our county for the next four years.

It is time to elect a proven, visionary leader as our next Sheriff.
That person is Lisa Sprague.

Delaitre J. Hollinger
Former Candidate
Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 1

This is a repost of the Tallahassee Democrat Editorial Board article- Video is available at Tallahassee.com

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310180046
Page 1 of 2 21/10/2012 05:07 AM
Campbell, Sprague spar at Editorial Board meeting
Written by Arek Sarkissian II Florida Capital Bureau
Oct. 20 tallahassee.com
Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell said on Wednesday that if he is re-elected in November, he will stay his
course, finding efficiency and forging partnerships with other agencies.
His opponent, Lisa Sprague, said she, too, would pursue efficiency and implement policies that would make it
up-to-date.
“My vision for Leon County Sheriff is a new era of law enforcement in Leon County,” said Sprague, who is
running with no party affiliation. “One that is built on teamwork, one that is built on modernizing and moving the
sheriff’s office into the 21st Century.”
Democratic candidate Campbell, 69, and Sprague, 56, met before the Tallahassee Democrat’s editorial board to
share their ideas for the county’s top law enforcement seat. They agreed the county has seen a rise in crime and
that the department should consolidate some resources with other agencies. They differed in how they view
cooperative relationships between the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies as well as differences
about the proportion of racial groups represented in the county’s jail population.
The county saw an increased crime rate in the 2011 Annual Uniform Crime Report, released earlier this year by
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In 2011 there was a 5.7-percent increase in the crime rate from 2010,
and a 6.3-percent increase in the overall volume of crimes.
Campbell attributed the increase to a depressed economy and growing trend of metal theft.
“We have a crime problem, as does every jurisdiction,” Campbell said.
Both candidates referred to a report published more than a year ago by Forbes magazine labeling Tallahassee one
of the most crime-ridden communities in the nation. Sprague said that report used data from the federal Bureau of
Labor Statistics, which included communities across the Panhandle and in Georgia. Her solution was to bring in
experts to examine the county’s demographics, roadway systems, the economy and its two major universities.
Sprague said she would also bring in a team to examine the racial makeup of the jail population. Campbell said his
department only arrests a fraction of the inmates brought into custody and was not at fault for any disproportionate
racial makeup of the jail population.
“I have no say on whether they’re male, female or whatever,” Campbell said, adding he cannot release inmates to
balance the ratio. “I would be guilty of a felony if I did that.”
Sprague said there is room for improvement in the way the sheriff’s office works with other law enforcement. In
response, Campbell read a letter he said was from Tallahassee Police Chief Dennis Jones praising their current
relationship.
“I think we enjoy a very professional relationship with all of them and we work with all of them on a daily basis,”
Campbell said. “The days of us working in the county and them only working in the city are long gone.”
Sprague did not mention an Elections Commission complaint she filed last week, alleging Campbell has
misrepresented his education and military background.
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310180046
Page 2 of 2 21/10/2012 05:07 AM
Campbell used his closing statement to question Sprague’s experience.
“My opponent has said she has been in law enforcement for 31 years, I’ve never heard anything except that she
was at (Florida State University) Police Department,” Campbell said. “That’s not exactly the toughest job in
town.”

    Endorsement of Former Tallahassee Mayor

Dorothy Inman-Johnson

 

    This letter is to serve as confirmation of my endorsement of Lisa Sprague candidate for Leon County Sheriff, who is currently seeking the office of Sheriff with no party affiliation. It is always good to see a candidate who is not afraid of a debate, a town hall meeting or a pointed journalistic question. You have sho...

wn an exemplary standing in all these areas leading me to believe my support is best placed with you. Having had the honor of serving in elective office as a Tallahassee City Commissioner and Mayor for two terms, I take any endorsement very seriously. Therefore, my decision to endorse Lisa was made after much deliberation and consideration of her qualifications as a proven leader, and expert in the field of Law Enforcement. I have had the privilege of observing Ms. Sprague in many different situations over time, and have been most moved by her professionalism, honesty, and integrity. I offer my endorsement because I am confident that Lisa will do what is right and necessary to move Leon County into a brighter and safer future. It is with great pride that I offer Lisa Sprague my support and endorsement in her campaign for the office of Leon County Sheriff on November 6, 2012.

                                                             

 

                                                                Dorothy Inman -Johnson

 

Its Important That Voters Know My Position

Join Me In My Mission

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN MY MISSION

    Integrity, honesty and transparency are not only a central plank in my platform but also who I am as a professional.  I have encountered many issues in my law enforcement career that have required me to stand-up for what is right.

    For example, in my role as the Deputy Chief of Police at Florida State University, I was confronted with a variety of unethical behavior involving a person possessing higher authority than my position. I reported the behavior to Florida state University Auditors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In an effort to ensure transparency, and accuracy, external entities were involved to provide oversight, and to correct the situation.

    My position of Deputy Chief was an executive position and not protected by a labor agreement or contract. The individual who was the subject of the investigation was allowed to initially cancel my employment with Florida State University Police Department without cause or presentation of a reason. When he did that, I took immediate legal action against Florida State University.

The final resolution of my lawsuit included:

·         All statements made by this supervisory person  formally “rescinded” by the University  and  ordered sealed from dissemination by the University

 

·         The supervisory  person was given a “direct order (by the University)…not to make, and or not to encourage others to make any disparaging remarks regarding” me

 

·         I was restored full back pay and all of my attorneys fees were paid by Florida State University

    I then choose to resign from Florida State University with my honor and integrity  in tact. I am proud of the action I took to combat wrong doing and satisfied with the corrections provided.

    Each and every day of the past 30-plus years I have lived by my personal code of integrity, honesty and transparency.  I promise you that, as your next Sheriff, I will continue to do so.  And my personal codes of conduct will not end there.  As your Sheriff, I will demand the same of every man and woman employed by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, whether sworn officer or civilian, and irrespective of rank, grade or position. 

    I hope that you will join me in my mission to restore honor and integrity to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and to provide our community with trustworthy, dependable, ethical, and effective law enforcement. 

www.LisaForSheriff.com