taylor

Voters, like juries, usually get it right.  Historically, they see through the smoke screens and make their decisions based on their common sense.  And, if there is one thing that tends to tick them off, it is being lied to.

Mike Taylor indicated that his wife can't even shop in Clay County because our crime is so out of control, and that of all places, she shops in Jacksonville.  The old timers I know, and the rest of the folks who shop routinely in Clay County, are rolling their eyes, and suggesting that Mike and his wife move to Jacksonville where they will feel safer.<

I just lost all faith in the SAO with a letter that just arrived in the mail.  The letter is from Harry Shorstein to Beseler, and the envelope was personally addressed as if only I received it.  I am sure all registered voters are receiving it.  It is obviously Shorstein's last ditch effort to blast Beseler out of office.  For this letter to have become public information it would have to be done by the SAO.  To send this letter out in mass quantities to registered voters just verifies what we have all be feeling - that the SAO is politically motivated.  Once again Folio hit the nail

Fleming Island Real Estate Agent Mike Taylor says he wants to be Sheriff of Clay County, Florida.  Taylor, 42, says he worked in law enforcement for about 18 years, although he left that field for a few years to work in the insurance industry.  He then worked primarily as a body guard for Florida governors, which comprises most of his of his law enforcement career.  Prior to working in law enforcement, Taylor was a Mormon Missionary, serving in Peru.  Taylor has not worked in law enforcement in the recent past, but his real estate license remains active.

Taylor picked up the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, which has been at impasse with the current Sheriff, Rick Beseler.  Beseler, 54, has trimmed Sheriff's Department spending, sending two million dollars of unused money back to county taxpayers, but angering union bosses who demand more benefits and protections for their members.  Some other union bosses sympathetically sided with the FOP, but reportedly, rank and file union members are increasingly siding with Beseler.  Also, a special magistrate has ruled in Beseler's favor.  According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement statistics, despite its fiscally conservative approach, the Clay County Sheriff's office has a lower rate of most serious crimes, per capita, than that of surrounding counties.

I am sickened at the lengths some will go to drag an apparently good family through the mud and I am equally sickened to see many bloggers anonymously jump on the bandwagon to destroy a family and an honorable man with hearsay, rumor and innuendo.

First of all, isn't Clay county the heart of Christian conservatism?  If so, why are so many stones being cast at Mr. Taylor and his son and his family?  Who was there?  Who witnessed anything that has been alledged?  Two investigations and PASSING a POLYGRAPH is enough for me.  I don't know how or why any accusations are being made but Clay county is still in America where you are innocent until proven guilty. 

I heard Mr. Taylor has a meeting with the Fleming Island Home Owner's Association because of his refusal to follow their policy regarding political signs (in his yard). 

From what I heard - Mr. Taylor has been asked many times to take down the political signs in his yard but refuses to.  The HOA has asked him to come in for a meeting about the situation.  I am wondering if anyone knows if this is true.  I do not live in FIP and don't know the policies.

Can anyone confirm the accusations and/or policy?

IF this is true, I think it is yet another blemish on Mr. Taylor's record.  I know this is a very small complaint but it shows that he doesn't follow the rules.  It is like he is exempt from the rules that everyone else must live by.  I have already pointed out in earlier blogs that his union endorsement add-on signs (attached to his large signs) are in violation of election laws, and he has had ample time to remove them yet has only changed a very small percentage of them.  I don't fault Mr. Taylor as much for not knowing a rules (even though he should know both of these rules) but I can fault him for not correcting the problem after it has been pointed out to him.

Well, I just read the live blog with Gary Newman.  I really respect that man, and I certainly wouldn't have a problem with him as sheriff.

I made it clear in my previous posts that I think we currently have a great sheriff, but if the voters choose not to re-elect Sheriff Beseler, then we must have Gary Newman.

I recently replied to "Proudmama" who wondered if Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler actually arrested his own step-son, or if somebody else did it for him. 

Sheriff Beseler enforces the law without playing favorites.  He would, and did, have his own family member arrested.  Please don't get hung up on who made the physical arrest.  The sheriff approved of it and didn't make any special provisions for his family member after the fact.

When I go about my daily activities, I'm careful not to break the law, whether it is driving over the speed limit or something more serious.  I know that I will not be able to go to Sheriff Beseler and get it thrown out as a favor, or any other special treatment for that matter.

There is the text of a letter circulating on these blogs, purportedly writtten by Clay County Sheriff Candidate Mike Taylor, personally blaming Sheriff Beseler for a recent article in a local newspaper.  The article concerns Mike Taylor's alleged involvement in silencing criminal complaints against Mr. Taylor's son.  According to the article, the parents of the alleged indicated that they went public to stop Mr. Taylor from winning the election, because they do not believe that he has the judgement to be Sheriff.

If Mike Taylor actually wrote that letter, now that is telling in and of itself.  Would he actually publicly proclaim to know for a fact that the article about his personal judgement was the product of the Sheriff himself, even though the parents of the alleged victims have already taken credit for it? 

The public needs to know that immediately following a recent incident, Sheriff Beseler arrested his own step-son.  Now that's law enforcement... putting public safety ahead of his personal interests.  Seriously, folks, Sheriff Beseler may be the most honest, capable Sheriff that this county has ever had.  He doesn't make excuses, he just does the job.  GO SHERIFF BESELER! 

 http://www.folioweekly.com/documents/coverstory.pdf 

Many people have asked what I was referring to in my previous entry when I talked about the judgement of Sheriff Candidate Mike Taylor at the expense of crime victims.  Just click on the link above to get the full story.

I hope this helps.