Editor's note: The editorial board met with Scott Pedley and John Bredeson, candidates for Lafayette County Sheriff. A third candidate, Jim Kilkelly, declined to meet with The Monroe Times. The following is the majority view of the editorial board, which consists of General Manager Carl Hearing, Editor Mary Jane Grenzow and News Editor Gary Mays.
The race for sheriff in Lafayette County would be more competitive if someone in law enforcement stepped up to challenge GOP incumbent Steve Pedley for the job. Instead, two candidates - whose contact with the law includes being arrested for disorderly conduct - have arisen to oppose a sheriff who, by most accounts, has served honorably since his appointment by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1990.
The county has many legitimate law enforcement challenges, chief among them how to handle more and diverse crime, with fewer resources because of a flailing economy. Economic challenges also are tied to crime surges, and our region is no exception. Add to that the geographic diversity of Lafayette County - which includes both a growing Hispanic and Amish populations - and the table is set for a top cop to rise or fall.
In our view, Pedley has met the challenges head on, and in creative ways. The Monroe Times endorses Pedley's candidacy for sheriff.
Bredeson has taken aim at the sheriff for his budget and questions whether he needs so many squad cars. He also decries Pedley's alleged "acts of intimidation." Yet Bredeson offers little evidence of abuse of power in the sheriff's office. Not only that, while claiming that the county is awash in crime and drugs, he simultaneously wants the sheriff's department to do more with less.
Meanwhile, we know the sheriff is patrolling his rural, hilly jurisdiction with resources that rank among the lowest in the state for comparable counties, while also keeping the jail and court security operations running. Pedley only has one cold-case murder on the books, a solve rate to envy for any department. Having the county nursing home prepare meals for inmates instead of having two separate kitchens is also evidence of the sheriff's ability to be creative with the money he has.
Pedley faces not only Bredeson, but Jim Kilkelly, a lifelong resident and retired UAW worker who wouldn't talk to us about his campaign. He's also had scrapes with the law and has said in published remarks that he wants to return to the good old days when cops used "street smarts" and "to hell with the books."
Bredeson and Kilkelly may have legitimate beefs with how things are being done at the sheriff's department. But neither has served in law enforcement - we wonder if they could truly protect and serve the people of Lafayette County with no practical experience in this area.
The people of Lafayette County are fortunate to have a sheriff as professional and effective as Pedley at the helm. Pedley has the necessary mix of administrative experience and leadership abilities, combined with 30 years in law enforcement. We believe Pedley deserves the people's support.
The race for sheriff in Lafayette County would be more competitive if someone in law enforcement stepped up to challenge GOP incumbent Steve Pedley for the job. Instead, two candidates - whose contact with the law includes being arrested for disorderly conduct - have arisen to oppose a sheriff who, by most accounts, has served honorably since his appointment by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1990.
The county has many legitimate law enforcement challenges, chief among them how to handle more and diverse crime, with fewer resources because of a flailing economy. Economic challenges also are tied to crime surges, and our region is no exception. Add to that the geographic diversity of Lafayette County - which includes both a growing Hispanic and Amish populations - and the table is set for a top cop to rise or fall.
In our view, Pedley has met the challenges head on, and in creative ways. The Monroe Times endorses Pedley's candidacy for sheriff.
Bredeson has taken aim at the sheriff for his budget and questions whether he needs so many squad cars. He also decries Pedley's alleged "acts of intimidation." Yet Bredeson offers little evidence of abuse of power in the sheriff's office. Not only that, while claiming that the county is awash in crime and drugs, he simultaneously wants the sheriff's department to do more with less.
Meanwhile, we know the sheriff is patrolling his rural, hilly jurisdiction with resources that rank among the lowest in the state for comparable counties, while also keeping the jail and court security operations running. Pedley only has one cold-case murder on the books, a solve rate to envy for any department. Having the county nursing home prepare meals for inmates instead of having two separate kitchens is also evidence of the sheriff's ability to be creative with the money he has.
Pedley faces not only Bredeson, but Jim Kilkelly, a lifelong resident and retired UAW worker who wouldn't talk to us about his campaign. He's also had scrapes with the law and has said in published remarks that he wants to return to the good old days when cops used "street smarts" and "to hell with the books."
Bredeson and Kilkelly may have legitimate beefs with how things are being done at the sheriff's department. But neither has served in law enforcement - we wonder if they could truly protect and serve the people of Lafayette County with no practical experience in this area.
The people of Lafayette County are fortunate to have a sheriff as professional and effective as Pedley at the helm. Pedley has the necessary mix of administrative experience and leadership abilities, combined with 30 years in law enforcement. We believe Pedley deserves the people's support.
