We enthusiastically support Tim Lane for the Republican nomination for Scott County Sheriff in Tuesday’s (June 7th) primary election.
Some people try to maintain that the Sheriff position should not be a partisan political office, that the Sheriff’s job by its nature should be above partisanship. If the holders of such a position could maintain that either the Democrat or Republican candidates enforced the law only against other political parties, they would be right. But no one credibly even tries to make such a case.
So called partisanship is appropriate because it reflects (or we hope so among the Republicans) the party ideals of good management practices, calls for budgetary restraints and adherence, respect for tax payers and the rule of law and the Constitution. In those respects, Tim Lane is a partisan.
Regrettably those are virtues that Democrats are not known to be imbued with as part of their “party upbringing.” Rather, by platform and or practice, we see Democrat leadership as a matter of course and often purpose, constantly disregarding budgets, imposing and enforcing rules without warrant, championing policies, laws and regulations inimical to maximization of freedom, favoring social policies that chronically work to increase crime, and supporting limitations on Constitutional rights. Any candidate for sheriff running under that banner, however personally opposed to any or all, is suspect just on the issue of judgement. Call it guilt by association.
There can be no question Lane has the law enforcement credentials, experience, leadership qualities, the ability to articulate policy, the even-handed temperament, the dedication and engaging sincerity necessary to ably lead the Scott County Sheriff’s Department.
As to the ideals of the Republican Party (the Democrat Party does not even have the same ideals) Tim Lane also stacks up head and shoulders above the other Republicans seeking the nomination. We do not remember seeing them at Republican events, paying their dues in time and effort. Tim Lane and his wife Jennifer Lane, who is President of the Scott County Republican Women organization, have been members of the Scott County Central Committee and elected delegates to various Republican conventions. My observation is that Tim Lane (and Jennifer) is (are) sincere conservative(s) and Tim deserves conservative support in the primary and the general.
R Mall
