Election complaint filed against Sheriff

**jodiFL** · 05-15-2008, 10:38 AM

Cant believe no one here has jumped on this yet....

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS - The Walton County Sheriff's Office has strongly denied any wrongdoing after a complaint was filed with state officials alleging elections fraud.
The complaint states that Sheriff Ralph Johnson told Sheriff's Office employees to sign petitions to get his name on the November election ballot. The complaint also alleges that deputies in uniform and while driving patrol cars were soliciting signatures on behalf of Johnson.
Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Eddie Farris emphatically denied the allegations Wednesday.
"At no time has Ralph Johnson asked deputies or supervisors to sign petitions," he said.
Sheriff candidates need 343 petition signatures by noon Monday or pay $6,555 to get their name on the ballot, according to elections officials.
The complaint also states that several people in the Sheriff's Office were pressuring employees to sign petitions while on duty. Dispatch Supervisor Donna Smith is one of the four people named in the complaint who was handing out petitions to deputies./
The Daily News received the anonymous complaint by fax late last week. The complaint, which purportedly was filed with the Florida Division of Elections, states that the complainant is an employee of the Sheriff's Office and is worried that if identified he or she will lose their job.
Officials at the Florida Division of Elections said they can neither confirm nor deny that a complaint has been filed.
Farris said the complainant is just a disgruntled employee who has an "agenda." Farris added that he believes the complaint was filed to give the Sheriff's Office a "black eye."

**seagrovegirl** · 05-15-2008, 11:03 AM

There an awful lot of disgruntled emplyees out there......so there is obviously something wrong.

**sunspotbaby** · 05-15-2008, 11:30 AM

....To give the sherrif's office a "black eye!"

**The Watcher** · 05-15-2008, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

....To give the sherrif's office a "black eye!"

A black eye, ha ha ha. Right now our Sheriffs Office looks like it has two black eyes, a broken nose, a 4 inch gash on the back of its head and more to come. Who is going to deliver the KO punch?

be seeing u !

**The Watcher** · 05-15-2008, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by seagrovegirl

There an awful lot of disgruntled emplyees out there......so there is obviously something wrong.

Disgrunteld and scared. Many of these officers have direct knowledge of the goings on in the office. They fear for their jobs and their pay checks. The State needs to step in and offer protection to these officers that come forward.

(Is that not sick? Officers who are supposed to protect us, need protection from their boss... think about that, it is really tragic. If you read the complaint, the complaintant states they are in fear of loosing their job. It is time that the public support these officers and encourage them to come forward.)

If I've said it once, I'll say it again, this is not the last time the Sheriffs Office will see itself humiliated on the front page of our local papers. The best is yet to come...

**The Watcher** · 05-15-2008, 03:31 PM

"Sheriff candidates need 343 petition signatures by noon Monday or pay $6,555 to get their name on the ballot, according to elections officials."

Maybe Sheriff Ralph will once again use our tax dollar for his own personal agenda...

**jodiFL** · 05-15-2008, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by The Watcher

"Sheriff candidates need 343 petition signatures by noon Monday or pay $6,555 to get their name on the ballot, according to elections officials."

Maybe Sheriff Ralph will once again use our tax dollar for his own personal agenda...

Does anyone remember how much was missing out of that $$ he was supposed to give back to the county a few months back?
I dont....I was just curious

**DuneLaker** · 05-15-2008, 10:10 PM

Some of those candidates in the Republican list might want to consider filing under another party. Stops some of the vote splitting in the primary and they can carry on with their message until the General Election. Party dynamics are so blended these days, I doubt if it matters what party they file under for this position.

**sunspotbaby** · 05-16-2008, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by jodiFL

Does anyone remember how much was missing out of that $$ he was supposed to give back to the county a few months back?
I dont....I was just curious

It was at least $6,555.00.

Sorry.

**jodiFL** · 05-16-2008, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

It was at least $6,555.00.

Sorry.

at least someone "got" that remark.

**Life's a Beach** · 05-16-2008, 04:13 PM

I guess everyone can read through the BS from Captain Ferris at the WCSO.....of course Ralph is not going to personally ask his employees to sign one of his petitons on duty. He'll have a few under him that will do his dirty work so it doesn't directly link back to him. I just feel sorry for the employees that stuck their neck for him to get these petitions signed on duty or handed them out, on second thought....no I don't! They knew what they were doing and they deserve everything that's coming down the line. It's just a shame that when the investigation starts and employees are placed under oath to answer questions, oh Ralph is going to deny everything and leave the others dangling by their toe nails. What a shame! There's an old saying from Tennessee where I'm from "What doesn't come out in the wash....will come out in the rinse!" So get ready employees of WCSO Ralph is getting ready to hang you out to dry. I'll keep you all in my prayers.

**seagrovegirl** · 05-25-2008, 08:35 AM

The supervisor or elections said Ralph came on the office and asked to have two names removed from the petition and he wanted to pencil in two others. The SOE wouldn't let him do it, according to the report in the NorthWest Florida Daily News. I think Ralph may be worried those two names might get him in trouble. I wonder what names they are?

**30ABandMan** · 05-25-2008, 08:52 AM

Having worked for 8 years and gone thru 2 elections at a S.O. just to the west of us, I can tell you that there is a lot of butt kissing going on by employees during election time. All of the fat cats in the department do everything they can to feather their nest because they know that with a new sheriff usually comes a totally new administration. It is not uncommon for middle managers to do those kinds of things to insure their sheriff is re-elected.

**30ABandMan** · 05-25-2008, 08:55 AM

And on the same thought...
My mother was a supervisor for years under in Buddy Brackin's administration. Each election year all of the supervisors were encouraged to give a hefty donation to his re-election fund. It happened every year at a really nice Christmas party hosted at his house. One of the most uncomfortable events you'd ever want to go to.

**seagrovegirl** · 05-25-2008, 08:56 AM

WCSD employees have a hard time KEEPING their jobs with the current administration. IMO, they want to see Ralph go. The majority anyway.

**DuneLaker** · 05-25-2008, 08:59 AM

At least some information is in the news before the election, rather than after. Once they are elected, not much you can do about it. Election fraud, etc. is a long process. Ruling boards and committees meet infrequently and many charges are not made public beforehand, etc. Most convictions will not be concluded until after the election.

**SWGB** · 05-26-2008, 04:39 PM

This is so reminiscent of when I was growing up in Tallahassee. It was far worse though. The Sheriff that was up for re-election was so flagrant about not caring that he had one of his assistants put election bumper stickers on every single patrol car. They got carried away though and put them on the undercover and unmarked cars too. Needless to say the illegal element in Leon County loved it for weeks until they realized what had been done.

**scooterbug44** · 05-26-2008, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by sowalgayboi

......he had one of his assistants put election bumper stickers on every single patrol car. They got carried away though and put them on the undercover and unmarked cars too.

That made my day!!!