The Sheriff’s Race: A “Response”

Update: Wait just one second… I have a few more questions about the document’s veracity, with all due respect.

1. It is time-stamped on Thursday, November 1, and sent to “Nora’s” anonymous e-mail address. If she has been in possession of this since Thursday, why wait until Sunday at midnight to forward it?

2. It includes a “request form” to verify someone’s graduation. Why does the verifying document include the form which was ostensibly already filled out by the requester?

3. In other words, what, exactly, is this? Is it verification of a transcript or the receipt of a request?

I sincerely appreciate “Nora’s” attention to the serious allegations concerning Sheriff candidate Mike Slocum’s education. Tonight, she responded to my request with a forwarded e-mail from the Louisiana Department of Education that claimed a “Michael Dean Slocum” “graduated” in May of 1979 from Buckeye High School. However, unfortunately, the documentation did not reveal the degree that was awarded to Mr. Slocum. This aspect is important, because the allegations suggest Mr. Slocum graduated from Buckeye with a G.E.D., not a diploma. In the 1970s, students could “graduate” from a specific high school with a G.E.D..

“Nora” claims more information is forthcoming, and although she seemed angry that I would even lend attention to these allegations, I still thank her for coming forward. And moreover, if this information is true (as I told “Nora”), I will publicly disavow my previous statements, publish this information, and clarify my position. But this is only one rumor in a race filled with hundreds of rumors. Although its clarification is important, there are far more serious issues we must address, such as the politicization of the department and the alleged intimidation of employees. I will not allow this issue to become a “strawman” whereby the claims and the credibility of anyone who merely mentioned a story that had been published in the paper and on their forum is somehow diminished, a tactic that could be employed to deflect the more serious allegations that are out there.

I am (impatiently) awaiting for the truth to be made clear.

Responses

Greg Aymond

November 5, 2007

This same issue has come up often as to what type of degree Rich Dupree, the executive assistant to the mayor of Pineville, and whether or not Pineville Councilman Joe Bishop has any at all. Obviously, many years of experience can exceed the qualifications brought with a high school diploma, but the question tunrs to credibility of any educational assertations made. In all fairness though, we will be voting on a sheriff, not a nuclear power plant designer. Experience in the trenches of law enforcement means a lot for my vote.

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Bird

November 5, 2007

I will have to agree with Greg on this one. How is Chuck Wagner the most qualified candidate for Sheriff? Is it because of his college degree? What specifically gives him this title he uses in his advertising? He walked away from the Sheriff’s Office, walked away from the State Police. How does working independently under a pharmaceutical company to sell new drugs to physician make him the most qualified candidate?

Law enforcement has changed since he left the State Police, both with technology and the actual laws they enforce. Crimes have changed. The make-up of Rapides Parish has changed.

Slocum has been on the force, moving up through the ranks, adapting with these changes, working with community and civic leaders.

Someone please explain Wagner’s overwhelming qualifications.

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Lamar White, Jr

November 5, 2007

Greg, I understand. I have primarily been perturbed by the ways in which a handful of his supporters have conducted themselves online– which I readily recognize is not necessarily reflective of his personal opinions– and by the repeated charges that the department has become overly politicized. I think we owe it to ourselves to take a serious look at those charges and avoid attempting to kill the messenger before the full facts are known. The questions about his education have been raised repeatedly both in the newspaper and on the newspaper’s forum. It’s not as if we’re breaking any new ground here by recapitulating those claims. However, I am still somewhat suspicious that this issue is being used as a “strawman” to avoid other more pressing questions, because frankly, it has always been a secondary concern. I asked for documentation to clear this up and put the charges to rest, and until Nora’s e-mail at midnight last night, I had not received anything but criticism built on the disingenuous notion that I somehow invented or created this story.

Bird, I am not a spokesperson for anyone’s campaign. I suggest if you want to know Wagner’s qualifications, you ask his campaign. I think it is good to have fresh leadership, and I think a college degree should be a requisite qualification for anyone who seeks to become the chief executive officer of a public department with a multi-million dollar budget.

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Drew Ward

November 5, 2007

The fact is, that there is a difference in experience here. The sheriff’s department has been and unfortunately continues to be a hold over of good ole boy politics. Many people who have jobs as deputies have them because of who they know and not what they can do. Wagner also worked for the State Police. It’s mostly non-political, but politics does creep in. Sometimes people in the LSP are promoted because of political connections, most of the time they are not.

I am sure these are both good men. They have both voluntarily chosen to serve this community and are asking the voters to give them the chance to serve once again. The question is, what are their motives and which one can and will most likely do the best job.

I personally see Maj Slocum as the next in line of a political machine that has been operating in the RPSO for almost a century from Grady Kelly to Grady Kelly,jr to William Earl Hilton, and now to his handpicked successor.

This would worry me no matter who the people were, when someone in a Public Service office comes to the table with political attachments and generation-long loyalties to the way things were, it tells me things are very unlikely to change under their leadership.

Should I necessarily assume that? No. And if Slocum is elected, I hope he forgets who he knows and starts fresh with what he knows.

But, my own instincts tell me Wagner, the outsider, the person who has experience in a variety of fields including local and state-level law enforcement is much more likely to focus on law enforcement and not legacy-preservation.

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Lamar White, Jr

November 5, 2007

Drew, I think you make a very sensible argument about the need for fresh leadership unconnected to the lineage of hand-picked successors. We already know there may be a problem with the politicization of the department, and this may be partly due to a misappropriated sense of entitlement.

I would like to see Slocum directly address this issue; the flat-out denials of the claims that have been made repeatedly by numerous individuals, some of whom were apparently so fearful of losing their jobs that they hid their identities, is not instructive. As they say, where there is smoke, there’s fire.

I am also sure that both of these men are good people, and as in any heated election, I have sincere concerns that this has become incredibly divisive and, often, mean-spirited.

But still, this is an important race. We deserve a thorough discussion.

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Lamar White, Jr

November 6, 2007

By the way, no, I am not protected by civil service laws, which seems to be the latest rumor being spread by Slocum supporters on the Town Talk. I am an unclassified assistant who works primarily in planning and economic development projects. Gracias.

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intheknow

November 7, 2007

Thanks Lamar. I left a post on the other thread to explain that question.

I have to say, whether I agree with the political views or not, I much prefer the atmosphere to this blog, over the Town Talk. It seems every forum there mutates into an ugly beast. I might even come back and play nice!

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Lamar White, Jr

November 7, 2007

Well, you are always welcome, as long as we can all agree to be courteous and rigorous.

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Bird

November 7, 2007

Lamar I wasn’t asking you personally to tell me how Wagner is the most qualified individual to be sheriff. There apparently are enough of his supporters here to answer that question and there are enough on all of the blogs to do so. No one has answered that questioned yet. Instead I hear, he has prepared his entire life to be sheriff? How so? By leaving the sheriff’s office? By leaving law enforcement all together? IF he is as dedicated to law enforcement and to protecting our lives as citizens of Rapides Parish why did he walk away from law enforcement? Those are the questions we as voters need answered. Those are the questions reporters and so called blogger journalist should be asking. No one from the Wagner camp is answering these questions.

That’s the point I was trying to make.

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