04-17-2012, 02:12 PM
Forum gave a first look
Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Forum gave a first look
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com
Hometown! PAC saved the county sheriff's race for last, with Col. Rick Ramsay drawing the loudest cheers of the night from his entourage of colleagues and supporters.
Ramsay, the crew-cut-wearing second in command at the Sheriff's Office, has the blessing of his boss, retiring Sheriff Bob Peryam, and $91,000 in his campaign account -- which on Monday towered over all 40-plus candidates in comparison.
The closest in fundraising were County Judge Wayne Miller, with $52,000 in his unopposed race for re-election, and School Board candidate Mark Peterson, a retired attorney who loaned himself $50,000.
Ramsay is facing two candidates in the Republican primary: Sgt. Jake Brady of Marathon, a 23-year sheriff's veteran; and State Attorney's Office investigator Edwin "Bill" Grove.
Grove, without mentioning Ramsay by name, noted the $91,000 in campaign cash.
"Don't let the elite of the Sheriff's Office choose your next sheriff," said Grove, who criticized the office as being bloated with "21 employees who make $100,000 a year," and having added four administrative positions recently to the tune of $350,000.
Ramsay, in a post-forum interview, said Grove has his facts wrong.
"We didn't add four administrators," said Ramsay, who added that Grove's assertion that 21 employees make six figures is off, too, although he couldn't give the exact number off the top of his head Monday.
Ramsay said his opponents just aren't qualified to take over the sheriff's helm.
"It would be like going from a private to a general," he said. "I am a colonel."
On the Democratic primary ticket for sheriff, voters may consider Deputy Matt Koval, who has patrolled the Keys since 1987, and 24-year sheriff's employee Tom Peteck in the Aug. 14 Democratic primary.
gfilosa@keysnews.com
Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Forum gave a first look
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com
Hometown! PAC saved the county sheriff's race for last, with Col. Rick Ramsay drawing the loudest cheers of the night from his entourage of colleagues and supporters.
Ramsay, the crew-cut-wearing second in command at the Sheriff's Office, has the blessing of his boss, retiring Sheriff Bob Peryam, and $91,000 in his campaign account -- which on Monday towered over all 40-plus candidates in comparison.
The closest in fundraising were County Judge Wayne Miller, with $52,000 in his unopposed race for re-election, and School Board candidate Mark Peterson, a retired attorney who loaned himself $50,000.
Ramsay is facing two candidates in the Republican primary: Sgt. Jake Brady of Marathon, a 23-year sheriff's veteran; and State Attorney's Office investigator Edwin "Bill" Grove.
Grove, without mentioning Ramsay by name, noted the $91,000 in campaign cash.
"Don't let the elite of the Sheriff's Office choose your next sheriff," said Grove, who criticized the office as being bloated with "21 employees who make $100,000 a year," and having added four administrative positions recently to the tune of $350,000.
Ramsay, in a post-forum interview, said Grove has his facts wrong.
"We didn't add four administrators," said Ramsay, who added that Grove's assertion that 21 employees make six figures is off, too, although he couldn't give the exact number off the top of his head Monday.
Ramsay said his opponents just aren't qualified to take over the sheriff's helm.
"It would be like going from a private to a general," he said. "I am a colonel."
On the Democratic primary ticket for sheriff, voters may consider Deputy Matt Koval, who has patrolled the Keys since 1987, and 24-year sheriff's employee Tom Peteck in the Aug. 14 Democratic primary.
gfilosa@keysnews.com