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| Walt Mackney |
I’d like to take a moment to address some of the statements
made by my opponent in the upcoming Sheriff’s race.
He says he’s been under budget for the past 7 years, but who
sets his budget? According to figures from the County website, Personnel costs
are up 49% over the past 8 years or an increase of 6% per year. I’m pretty sure
that the staff working at the jail has not received a 6% raise every year. In 7
years, his budget has increased over 2 million dollars. Sheriff WILLIAM
TOMPKINS also stated that the Sheriff’s Office was under budget in 2009 as part
of a March 21, 2010 Spectator article.
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| Rick Whitney |
He says the County Jail generates about 2 million dollars in
revenue housing prisoners from outside agencies - But let’s give credit where
credit is due - Sheriff RANDY BELMONT built the jail large enough to house
outside prisoners; Sheriff WILLIAM TOMPKINS got the Federal contracts to bring
in Federal Prisoners. Do you think all of that will stop if we have a different
Sheriff? He inherited the jail and the revenue. He didn’t create them.
In an August 25, 2010 article in the Olean Times Herald, as
a candidate, he said it made NO SENSE to pull Allegany County Deputies from the
Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and promised to get Allegany County back
in. It’s 2018 and they still aren’t part of the Task Force. So you have 2 guys
doing narcotics investigations with insufficient back-up or support. Does that
make sense?
He talks about how well the working inmate program is doing
raising pheasants and growing vegetables. Again, another program that was in
place before he took office.
In an April 10, 2018 article published in the Olean Times
Herald my opponent stated that the jail was recently accredited for the first
time by the New York State Sheriff’s Association. Interestingly, in an August 26, 2010 article Sheriff TOMPKINS announced in the
Wellsville Daily Reporter that the Sheriff’s Correction Unit (Jail) received
accreditation from the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
In an Olean Times Herald article dated March 20, 2010, as a
candidate, he said he would have Commission of Corrections do a manpower study
in an effort to relieve overtime spending. It’s 2018 and it still hasn’t been
done.
In the calendar year 2017, according to information obtained
from the Allegany County Treasurer’s Office, overtime for 74 full time
employees at the Sheriff’s Office totaled approx. 41,135 hours costing the
taxpayers over $1,300,000 with an additional $135,000 spent on overtime for 9
administrative employees
In 2010, before he took office;
The low morale among employees at the jail was an issue.
Overtime expenditures were an issue.
Lack of Inter-Agency (Law Enforcement) relationships was an
issue.
The drug problem was an issue.
It’s 2018 and nothing has changed. Well it’s time for a
change. I am asking all registered Republicans to come out and vote for me on
Primary Day, Thursday, September 13, 2018.
I welcome an open debate with my opponent on these and any
other issues.
Sincerely,
Walt Mackney
Candidate for Allegany County Sheriff.
