Sheriff’s Race–On-Line Debate Entry Submitted by Independent Sheriff’s Candidate Clyde Ledbetter

Editor’s Note:  So far NO Incumbent Candidate for any Cleveland County Elected Office has shown any interest in participating in the proposed On-Line Debate opportunity that we have offered.all candidates.  From our prospective this lack of participation by incumbents in office is bad for American Style Democracy and is a big negative attribute for their campaigns for election or re-election.  Also, we do not accept paid political advertisements for candidates.

 

However, The following advertisement for Independent Sheriff’s Candidate Clyde Ledbetter set for publication in the Shelby Shopper and perhaps other venues provides controversial issues of high public interest that would absolutely be fair game in a genuine pbulic debate.  Therefore, we have used the text and format of this advertisement, verified and clarified each point as related to an actual controversial event and have provided it below as a valid Debate question for our Sheriff’s Race-Online Debate.  Sheriff Alan Norman will be provided the opportunity to fully respond to this Debate Question as well as provide debate questions of his own.

 

How can we be more fair than that???

 

 

Debate Question from the Elect Clyde Ledbetter for Sheriff Campaign:

 

THE TEST OF TRUTH RELATING TO THE CURRENT SHERIFF’S ADMINISTRATION

2010          Alleged Campaign Reporting Violation

During the 2010 Norman for sheriff’s campaign, campaign money was embezeled by a co-chairman of the campaign.  This co-chairman had been in an elected state office prior to involving himself in this sheriff’s campaign.  What would you want your sheriff to do?

  1. Report it to the proper authorities for a full investigation?
  2. Hide it from the public to protect the candidate and the embezeler?

 

2011          Alleged Illegal Search and Seizure

What if Cleveland County sheriff’s officers came to your home at 6AM without a search warrant and seized your guns that belonged to your deceased husband. (violating amendment IV OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES which states that warrants must be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by oath of affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized). That did happen in Cleveland County in 2011.  After a 6 years and 9 months long court battle, and over $30,000 in legal and other fees, Judge Don Bridges ruled there are no statutory or legal grounds which the guns should be in the custody of the law enforcement entities in Cleveland County.  “The property is presently being held without just cause” was the ruling of the judge and ordered that the guns be released to the family.  What would you want your sheriff to do?

  1. Do a thorough investigation and find the truth before entering the premises?
  2. Do a sham investigation and rob a citizen of the II Ammedment right to keep and bear arms?

2013          An ICE Arrest Trial

In May 2013 a superior court judge Nathaniel J. Poovey described the behavior of a Cleveland County sheriff’s office deputy as “repugnant” and said the agency specifically and purposefully turned off audio recording equipment during a vehicle stop.  Judge Poovey said that “the admitted withholding of evidence, hiding of evidence, and additional attempts to cover up evidence by officers has cast a cloud of suspicion in the court and has been particularily helpful in determining the creditability of testimonies”.  Sheriff Norman contended the lack of audio was a result of an equipment malfunction stating the battery for the officer’s microphone depleted and needed to recharge.  Judge Poovey said the court found testimony about battery issues a “falsehood”.  What would you want your sheriff to do?

  1. Hold the sheriff’s office accountable for investigation and missuse of evidence?
  2. Should officers use falsehoods, withhold evidence, hide evidence, and attempt to cover up evidence to justify making an arrest and make their case?

 

2016          Incident Near Fallston (Sugar Hill Area)

June 21, 2016 a Cleveland County deputy killed a man whose family called 911 for help with their mentally ill son.  A mentally ill person was shot and killed because he threw a chair at an officer who responded to a call for assistance.  The officer knew before arriving at the scene that he would be dealing with an mentally ill person. “It’s hard” Carpenter said, “I lost my son in my front yard from a call that was meant to be helpful, not harmful.”  What would you want your sheriff to do?

  1. Would you use your taser gun or other means of restraint to capture the individual?
  2. Would you shoot to kill and take the man’s life?

 

In each of the above cases, the Alan Norman administration chose B.  The Cleveland County justice system (Good Ole Boy System) all agreed.  Do you want four more years of the same, or would like to see Truth, Justice, Faith and Mercy  to stand above the Good Ole Boy System in Cleveland County.  If you want to see a Sheriff’s Administration with nothing to hide just fill in the oval beside of CLYDE LEDBETTER when you early vote or on election day November 6.