Although he probably does run a close second.

The biggest abuser, and least likely to have a sign removed is our buddy Scott Ballard. Not only does he win the sign wars in quantity, but he leads the league in illegally placed signs.

Don't get me wrong, both he and Simmons should know better and fix the problem, but Ballard does not have to fix it because no one will take up his signs.

And while we are at it, all these big signs that Lee Hearn is putting up shows how he is spending all that developer money he is getting funneled into his campaign.

Ballard is the bigger sign abuser. But, Simmons is the bigger sign whiner. LOL!

The funny thing though is that signs on the right-of-ways during campaigns are part of our political heritage and culture. They are inevitable. And in the scheme of things we need to just shrug our shoulders and say so what on that. There are more important issues than the signs. Although it is fun to throw darts in regards to right-of-way signs.

Right-of-way signs should be viewed as a calculated and expendable investment. You know they are going to be temporary at best. You might get 1 day or 2 weeks out of a sign. The DOT is only going to make a run once every week or two. So after they make their run.... simply slap up another one.

I'm more concerned with Ballard's soft on predator leanings and his inconsistencies in jailing those black gang wannabees while letting the Whitewater Columbine Kid off the hook. Plus you have to ask yourself why all the lawyers are sporting Ballard signs. Because he's the best DA candidate or because he'll play footsies with them under the table and he has a strong compassion for the evil doers in our society?

Simmons??? He scares me. Detroit leadership skills just don't resonate on this ole country boy. The pressure is on in this county regarding gang and crime pushing it's way in on us from the West, North and East... yet, I believe the guys who battle that now are our better choice. Which one... I'm not a 100% on at this point. What I do know is that we need a DA that will back our guys and make it pure hell for those who commit crimes in Fayette County. And I can't emphasize "complete hell" enough.

Personally, I'd like to see Rooster Cogburn running for sheriff.
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"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

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GR,

I could not agree more with your statements on Ballard. I wish people would look at his record during his first term in office rather than making a decision because he is "old man Ballard's kid all grow'd up".

Admittedly Hayes is a relative unknown, but anything is better than our "wuss" DA.

As far as the sheriff race goes, Hannah is obviously the anointed one.
I guess if a person is totally satisfied with the way things have been run, then he should win. If there is any hope of the Sheriff's department moving into the 21st century before it reaches the end of it's first decade, something has to change.

Hannah is a no change, same old, same old candidate. Unfortunately, the demands placed on law enforcement today, even in our county, require new approaches and vision to avoid us being swept up into the same problems that plague other metro counties.

BTW Rooster Cogburn could not meet the residency requirement.

You have eloquently stated an intelligent analysis; Status quo= Hannah, change & our future= Simmons. I am anxious to attend a debate or two and see what all the candidates have to say. Voting is a great privilege and this is an important race.

rather than making a decision because he is "old man Ballard's kid all grow'd up".

This applies to more than just old man Ballard's son. It bothers me more than the signs... chuckle.... chuckle... that people base their voting in local elections based on the fact that "Yeah...that's ole Charlie's boy, been knowin' him since back when" rather than as to whether the person is actually the best person for the job. I've got some dear friends and family who I would never support for office. In fact I've had friends at church that I've not been able to support because they were just flat out not the right person for the job. I've heard a lot of good things about Scotty, but not as DA. A change is needed there.

Wayne Hannah... Hmmm.... I know we differ on this one a bit. If I recall you supported those that tried to 'put' Randall in his place a couple of years ago. I had problems with that for various reasons. One being that we entrusted Sheriff Johnson to run that department and not our commissioners. You made the comment that: I guess if a person is totally satisfied with the way things have been run, then he should win. Honestly, and for the most part, I am satisfied with the sheriff and our guys in brown. Considering what has surrounded us crime wise, overall we're in decent shape. I fault more than anything the fact that as our deputies and Fayetteville's Finest bust the Pavilion Perps over the years, we had a bunch of soft on crime judges and prosecutors that allowed these guys to get off. Not to mention the cowardly business establishments that refused to back our law dawgs by pressing charges and seeing that the bad guys got what was coming to them. Instead we wound up with a reputation of being soft on crime. And that did not come from Sheriff Johnson and his guys.

Are they spotless? Well heck no. A lot of people took joy in seeing Bruce Jordan get nailed. Personally, it sickened me as much as seeing Muddle getting skewered. Bruce is gone for obvious and rightful reasons and yes, some of the guys in the department had alliances with him. Does that make them all bad? Nah.... hopefully that episode straighted up some attitudes. Is Wayne part of the old school in the FCSD? Yeah. Is that a bad thing. Perhaps not. Not if he's willing to do the job and make life as miserable and difficult as he can toward any and all predators that decide to use Fayette County as their happy hunting grounds. Is he the right candidate? He may be anointed, but I also think Babb is very worthy of consideration and I am heavily looking into him also.

Simmons is not an option for another reason in my books. In addition to some of the concerns being expressed around town here, I have a problem with him being the Whitewater / Harold Bost candidate. Harold and his cronies and political buddies are propping up Simmons in an attempt to seek retaliation for the victory Randall had over our previous commissioners. And BTW... I thought the reason Bost stuck us with that $60K special election bill was so he could move back to Florida? So what is he doing buying that 1.6 million dollar house in Whitewater and interfering with those of us who value this county far more than he does? I just wish Simmons would butt out. He has his right to run and I'd be the last to deny him of it. But, I just can't go there.

require new approaches and vision to avoid us being swept up into the same problems that plague other metro counties.

I'm not sure our guys are behind the eight ball. With many of the coordinated busts, technologies being implemented and all, I sense they are pretty much on top of things. Problem with the bad guys though is that you never know when or where they are going to pop up from next. It's just that when we nail them.... they need to regret and suffer for their crimes. I wanna hear 'em whining like our old friend Rahim and his enabling so-called mother.

BTW Rooster Cogburn could not meet the residency requirement.

Come on Natural... Isn't Fort Smith the Western part of our Eastern Boundary?

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"That man was Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard".

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He couldn't be law abiding to save his life.