THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510170057
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
The sheriff's race is the only contested race of a constitutional officer in Isle of Wight County. Many letters have been written recently about one candidate favoring one end of the county over the other. Isn't it time we finally treated both ends of the county equally?
This country was founded on ``equal representation,'' and I believe even the good citizens of Isle of Wight on the northern end want balanced representation countywide. All of our boards and commissions are required to be from all over the county.
Every constitutional officer in the county lives in the Smithfield area. Let's make our county one! Let's make our county united. Vote for a tradition of true equal representation. Vote for the most qualified candidate. Vote Shelton Spivey for sheriff.
Peggy G. Blythe
Roberts Avenue
Windsor Why not motorcycles?
I agree with the few people in Isle of Wight County who are upset with the sheriff over the $3,000 bicycles. If the government or welfare wasted that much, he'd be mad, too.
I recommend he sell the bicycles and give them to some needy persons and purchase three 500-horsepower Harley-Davidson motorcycles. There is plenty of room in front of the sheriff's department for a garage.
As for the sheriff's signs, I'm mad over them. Too much red paint. And if the deputies put them out, they needed the exercise.
As for the deputies campaigning for the sheriff on those bicycles, think of the people they could have seen on 500-horsepower motorcycles. Also, I intend to run against you in the next election. If I don't, it will be because I am running against Robert/Bobby Claude or Sen. Richard Holland.
As for the deputies patrolling Smithfield, keep them over there. We don't need them south of 460. I am swamped by law enforcement officers. There are more police cruisers in my district than personal vehicles.
Marvin Turner
Honeysuckle Lane
Windsor A Windsor clarification
In regard to Burrell D. Roberts' letter in the Oct. 4 Citizen, it is apparent he is reacting to rumor or, at best, misinformation concerning the funds paid by the Town of Windsor for police protection.
In 1989, I met with members of the Windsor Town Council, at their request, concerning the enforcement of town ordinances. According to the town attorney at the time, the town code could not be enforced by the Sheriff's Office without special legislation.
Through the efforts of the town attorney, members of the Town Council and myself, we resolved this problem by establishing a Windsor Police Department. I was appointed Chief of Police, at no cost to the town. This allowed the enforcement of town ordinances; however, someone was still needed to carry out these duties. When the Town Council discovered the cost of having their own police officer would be greater than they expected, another avenue was explored and, from these inquiries, the current system of using a deputy sheriff, part time, was implemented.
Since implementation of this program, each year the Windsor Town Council has voted, unanimously, to fund this position and the part-time deputy sheriff receives his instructions from the mayor. This part-time position does not alter or affect the scheduling of sheriff's deputies to patrol the town on a daily basis.
It was my opinion then, and still is today, that this is the most cost-effective way to enforce town ordinances.
C.W. Phelps
Sheriff
Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office Open letter to Mr. Spivey
This is an open letter to Mr. Shelton Spivey, candidate for sheriff of Isle of Wight County.
I would like to know when or why you are not leveling with the citizens of Isle of Wight County about your experience and qualifications to be sheriff of this county. You first said you were in the Criminal Justice System. In short, this was a jail guard job at the old Suffolk City Jail where you worked as a captain until the time of your dismissal. I believe the only job you had with the Suffolk Sheriff's Department was that of a jail guard and, in this position I know for sure you had no arrest powers or power to investigate anybody other than a citizen's arrest, so where did you get your 24 years of law enforcement experience that you are saying you have? Please tell us. We would like to know.
I also feel you should come forward and tell us why you did not qualify to work in the new regional jail when it opened, and why you fielded a lawsuit on the regional jail to keep your jail guard job.
When Charlie Phelps ran for sheriff, he had some great ideas on how the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office should be. I had my doubts he would be able to fulfill the promises he made during the economical times, but he has done everything he set out to do and more. Now he deserves the opportunity to move on with new and better things for our county. I commend Sheriff Phelps for the great job he has done.
I feel that Sheriff Charlie Phelps is the only candidate capable enough to lead Isle of Wight County into the 21st Century.
Please join me in giving Sheriff Phelps that opportunity. Please vote to re-elect Sheriff Charlie Phelps.
Robbie Robertson
Walters Highway
Carrsville A commone-sense choice
I've been intrigued to watch the 64th House of Delegates race and the distinct contrast between Democrat Barlow and Republican challenger Debra Quesinberry. Hearing Barlow's record discussed, I have heard the question, ``Why would the incumbent continually vote for the criminals and against us?''
I believe the answer lies in the words of Charleston, S.C., Police Chief Reuben Greenburg when he was interviewed on 60 Minutes. ``The country's crime problem will never be solved until the lawyers of this nation earn their living from helping to put guilty criminals behind bars instead of fighting to keep them out!''
I also believe that lawyer Bill Barlow and his most vocal supporters know exactly how Chief Greenburg, O.J. watchers and a majority of law-abiding citizens feel about this subject. Why else do they now conspire in desperation to cover up the delegates' failed record on crime issues? But the attempted cover-up will, of course, fail, too. The facts simply don't lie. Barlow has voted against us where Debra Quesinberry would have strongly fought for us!
Whether it was opposing tougher prison sentences for criminals who use guns to commit crimes, opposing tougher prison sentences for repeat violent criminals or opposing mandatory prison sentences for drug dealers who use guns, the incumbent has acted in self-interest and in the interest of his profession rather than in the interest of honest, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens. Quite frankly, that makes me mad.
But there is a common-sense choice in Debra Quesinberry. Debra, a pharmacist who worked her way through school without handouts, is also a captain in the Army Reserve. Her husband, Steve, is a career police officer. And their son, Jeff, is presently in the Academy, soon to join his father on the force. To Debra Quesinberry, getting seriously tough on crime isn't a political ploy. It's a war she and her family have pledged themselves and dedicated their life to winning.
There is a clear choice this year. We can give away our vote to the ACLU and the trial lawyers by returning the incumbent or we can help Debra Quesinberry fight the war on crime by electing her on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Victor Gramm
Washington Street
Boykins by CNB