Reader supports Weber for sheriff

Dear Editor:

VOTE SMART
Having lived in Lee County for 85 years now I have shook hands and visited with six Lee County Sheriffs and a time or two needed their services. Toots Delahoyde, Bud Arnold, Dave Ireland, Jim Sholl, Buck Jones and Stacy Weber. These men all seem to have the same mind set with the citizens. It’s “your my boss, what can I do for you.” Today we have a young man William E. Vandenberg who is a candidate for Sheriff who is a smooth talker, a promoter and a showman albeit with a pinch of attitude who is spending thousands of dollars to inform us he intends to take our County Law Enforcement apart piece by piece and rebuild it to his liking. His campaign was launched with smear messaging and finger pointing at the current administration and it has continued for the duration. Certainly that picture with the big friendly smile in the Wyoming patrol uniform isn’t photoshop, and we know now that isn’t the personality you would be voting for. Several months ago a coup evolved and unfortunately many fine innocent people have been caught up in it.  How would this young man walk in off the street and administer any needed tough love to seasoned personnel who have supported his campaign and virtually all of whom are a great number of years more experienced in County Law Enforcement? Make no mistake. The voters will be playing with fire on November 5th, 2024. This candidate has exhibited the mindset toward our County of “I’m the boss now, and here is what I want you to do for me”. 

     We have a mature, knowledgeable Sheriff with Stacy Weber who never studied in a college classroom for five years and never patrolled an interstate, but he did spend five years earning a street degree on the night shift patrolling the back roads of our Country. He  is ready, willing and able to give us another term of service. It would be unthinkable for us as voters to let that opportunity slip away because we get caught up in the hype and circumstance of the enticing unknown. Remember, a departmental restructuring approach is not something the voters can change if things spin out of control. It’s a four year term folks. We can stay with the time tested philosophy of the people coming first  or take a leap into the clutches of a personal agenda driven partially by fragile promises likely made to his campaign supporters regardless of what is best for Lee county and our residents. As a past two term County Supervisor having worked alongside the correctional facility and Sheriff’s department, I can say with first hand knowledge that your vote for Sheriff November 5th is almost certainly a choice between flaw and disorder vs. law and order.  Political party affiliated or not be wise and vote for the man. I pray that your choice for Sheriff will be guided by practicality rather than the fleeting emotions of the moment. 

Robert J Woodruff,
Keokuk