Keokuk resident admonishes Vandenberg

Dear Editor:

I would like to start by saying that I expressed to both Sheriff campaigns that I had no intention of publicly or on social media endorsing either candidate. At this time things have changed. I shook off the verbal attack at the GOP Banquet when Mr. Elliott Vandenberg referred to myself and other Republicans as Rhino’s and the lowest form of scum. I have largely ignored the conduct of many of the deputies who support Mr. Vandenberg with their online “ghost accounts” calling out myself and the entire board of supervisors as needing to be replaced.
I can no longer sit idly by as Mr. Vandenberg refuses to acknowledge his conduct following the Tuesday Sheriff/Auditor Forum. Full disclosure; Correctional Officer Hannah Baker is my daughter and I know she would never lie about this interaction. Additionally, they say a photo is worth a thousand words. I would encourage everyone to look at the photo, look at Elliot’s face, his raised hand and fingers pointing. Hannah stated that Elliot had “poked” her in the chest. Elliot in his online statement added the word “aggressively” poked and then denied it. I have no doubt that with emotions running high that Elliott did indeed emphasize his comments by “poking” or “touching” the vest Correctional Officer Baker was wearing. Is this appropriate, absolutely not. Is it criminal? After talking with Officer Baker, I do not believe it is and she has no intentions of filing a criminal complaint. This was never the point as Hannah did talk to me immediately after the incident. She had no intention of making it an issue and was planning to let it go knowing that supporters of Mr. Vandenberg would claim it was a “lie” or made up. Additionally, with her father serving on the board of supervisors she did not want to put me in a bad position. There are many who witnessed the touching (poking) but do not wish to come out to say it after seeing the online response of the supposed “90% of Law Enforcement” who support Mr. Vandenberg and are claiming fabrication, lies and worse.
The picture on the front page of the Daily Gate City on Thursday (October 17th) required an explanation as many people began asking her what was going on. Hannah was transparent in every way and I am proud of her for being very factual and measured in her comments. She had to work Tuesday evening until 6pm and then went directly to the forum to hear from both candidates that could be her future boss. Correctional Officer Baker is an educated woman who has a master’s degree in Public Administration; a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a minor in Political Science from Western Illinois University.  She is a young woman who values knowledge and the honest exchange of ideas.  
I am announcing at this time that I am fully endorsing and supporting Sheriff Stacy Weber in his run for Lee County Sheriff. Sheriff Weber has been a resident and served the citizens of Lee County for his entire adult life. He has continued to improve the department during his tenure, is reactive to budget concerns and has a focus on the needs/safety of the public. Full disclosure; I have known Stacy and his family for decades. He is good man; a friend and his only desire is to continue to serve the citizens of Lee County.
With that said. I believe Mr. Elliott Vandenberg is also an accomplished young man with a bright future. He has accomplished much at his age. What concerns do I have with him being Sheriff of Lee County? There are many:

• He currently lives in VanBuren County.
• His education is a Master’s in Business degree but experience is as a Highway Patrolman. No practical use of his Master’s in Business degree has been indicated to date.
• He has no experience at being a Department Head. I have followed Mr. Vandenberg closely I do not believe he has experience in hiring, firing, investigating employee misconduct or disciplining employees. The frustration displayed with Correctional Officer Baker has validated my concern.
• He has not indicated experience in dealing with Unions or Union Negotiations. Please see #7, #8 and #9 below as they would potentially have deep impacts to the budget and union negotiations if he actually intended to follow through with his campaign promises.

• He has not indicated any experience with jail operations or standards. He has been very clear that he has no respect for the current Jail Administrator. Stating at one point that he had no more authority than a librarian. This confirms a lack of understanding when it comes to jail operations.
• He has alienated all the command staff at the Jail including the Chief Deputy, CPT and current Jail Administrator. If elected I wonder who will fill these critical leadership roles within the department.
• He has indicated that he has a Masters Degree in Business but has not indicated experience with creating and maintaining a multi-million-dollar budget. Should he be elected, he would swear in as Sheriff on Jan 2, 2025. The budget would be due to the board of supervisors immediately.
• He has said on his political page in videos that he intends to “not deny any vacations” for his employees. The Sheriff operation is a 24/7 365 days a year requirement. He can not make good on this for the 40+ employees of the department. It is a campaign “promise” that can not be rationally kept. Holidays alone would require 2 deputies and 3 jail staff minimum.
• He has indicated in another video that he will allow for 1 hour a shift for staff to work out. Yet he has repeatedly said he was going to get the deputies out on the road more. Which is it? Are they on the road or in the gym? Does this hour apply to the Correctional Officers? Where will they work out?
• Finally, the way he has chosen to run his campaign with personal attacks of anyone who does not support him or has tough questions. I believe how a person chooses to run their campaign matters. He has run a negative campaign from the beginning and has successfully divided the county as deeply as our national campaign seems to be. I will not and can not support this style of campaigning.

I would ask the citizens of Lee County to put party politics aside and vote for Sheriff Stacy Weber. Stacy has a proven track record of care and commitment to our citizens. He possesses the calm, steady and guiding leadership that will be necessary to recover from the bitter/negative campaign year created by Mr. Elliott Vandenberg.

Signed,
Garry W. Seyb, Jr.
Keokuk, Iowa