The Closest Thing to a Debate in the Louisa Sheriff's Race

Note:  While the campaign is winding down, there are still some facts that the voters may not be aware of.  The comments and citations in this article by Dee Nicosia are Sheriff Fortune's own words.  There has been no editing or redaction, only 16 years of documentation.


October 30, 2015

I've always found it odd that we never really get a debate of local candidates in Louisa County.  Over the years, we've had candidate forums, but no one has hosted a real debate between local candidates in Louisa for at least 12 years.  However, in the very seldom circumstance that Sheriff Ashland Fortune appears publicly, we do get a chance to question him.  This is what happened at the regular meeting of the Louisa Democratic Committee on June 9, 2015.  Here are some key points I'd like to put forth from his answers at that meeting:

First is a question from me about his promise to achieve state law enforcement accreditation. Listen to the question and Mr. Fortune's answer:

As you may have read in Stephanie Lacey's article on this blog (linked here: http://mikeforlouisasheriff.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-real-history-of-law-enforcement.html ), the Louisa Co. Sheriff's Office promised in 2007 to get accredited and at the same time they were promising this would be done "by the fall" and they were on the "last leg" of accreditation process, all the while they had not even submitted an application to The Department of Criminal Justice Services. Simply put, they deceived to the paper, the voters and the County Board of Supervisors.

Further, as you can hear, Mr. Fortune states they cannot achieve accreditation because they need a new building.  There is NO STATE MANDATE for a separate facility for law enforcement to achieve state accreditation.  So who is saying they need a new building?  Mr. Fortune?  Major Lowe? Where is this requirement coming from?

Finally on this point, you also hear it is Sheriff Fortune who states that the deputies would need to receive a 9% pay raise (NOT Mike Silberman, as stated by the Fortune campaign repeatedly).  As an interesting side-note, Sheriff Fortune went ahead and gave himself a $12,500 pay raise* (or nearly 15%) recently, bypassing the State Compensation Board and the County Board of Supervisors.  He just did it because he can.  Even more telling is the fact that none of his front-line deputies got a pay raise last year equal (or even close) to 15%.  I ask, can YOU give yourself a pay raise?  That is not leadership.

What I've found quite interesting is the Sheriff's new-found emphasis on fiscal conservatism, while growing his department (and his own salary) far beyond the rate of growth for the County.  This brings me to another statement made during this meeting... Listen here:

Well, in fairness, the question posed does exaggerate the numbers a little... but only a little!  If you do the math, the rate of growth of the LCSO is actually about 225%, while the rate of growth for the County population in the same time frame is about 35%.  

Again, very odd for a department who claims to be so fiscally conservative.  What's even more "shocking" is in the election year 2003, Fortune himself stated:

Source: The Central Virginian, 2003

Now, I'm all for increased public safety, but when you expand a single department at nearly 7 TIMES the rate of growth for the County, something isn't right.  More to the point, Ashland Fortune stated earlier this year that this rate of growth of 225% ISN'T ENOUGH!  

Source: The Central Virginian, 2015

Doesn't sound too "fiscally conservative" to me!  Even better, in another article from earlier this year, Mr. Fortune stated he wants 100 employees by the time he leaves office!  

Source: The Central Virginian, Feb., 2015

Meanwhile our taxes in the County are increasing more and more to pay for this excessive growth.  Either your math isn't right or your motives aren't sincere. Especially when considering Mr. Fortune's 2nd in command has managed to hire no fewer than 4 family members since he's been in office, despite Mr. Fortune's assertion in 1999 that he would not hire family members:  

Source: The Central Virginian, 1999

Speaking of nepotism, our Sheriff had a very interesting and unique definition of the term at the Democratic Committee Meeting when I asked him about it.  Take a listen:

Dictionary.com defines the practice of nepotism as: patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics.

Does Mr. Fortune hire any of his family members?  No.  However, his Chief Deputy and heir-apparent more than makes up for this by employing his wife, son, brother and (ex) brother-in-law.  I guess we had to find some extra bodies to fill in for all that growth! Especially given the Sheriff stated in a questionnaire it is difficult to hire minorities and woman in the county because they could not pass the drug test or they have gotten themselves into trouble and do not qualify due to backgrounds.

The numbers don't lie.  I think it's time to hold this Sheriff's administration accountable.  They've had 16 years to break promises to us, the voters and the citizens of Louisa County.  Perhaps it's time to put someone else in charge who has shown through a lifetime of service and leadership in the military and law enforcement that he doesn't think of his own self-interest before our public safety, nor will he let his command staff.  That candidate is Mike Silberman. 

Please remember to vote on November 3rd. Please join me and my family in voting for MIKE SILBERMAN for Louisa Co. Sheriff!

Dee Nicosia

Bumpass

*Sources: Salary figures provided by Louisa Co. Freedom of Information Act response(s) & The Central Virginian, October 29, 2015.

The Real History of Law Enforcement Accreditation in the Louisa Co. Sheriff's Office

October 21, 2015

Note: While this blog's primary aim is to publish concise information for the voters of Louisa County, we have also been struck by the numbers of supporters who have submitted their letters for publication in the local paper, only to be ignored.  
This letter is from a supporter of Mike's campaign for Sheriff of Louisa County, and a concerned citizen and resident of Louisa County.  She conducted her own independent research about the history of Accreditation in the Sheriff's Office.  Here's what she found:

To the Voters of Louisa County:

This election season the message to the public has been “we have gone as far as we can with accreditation”.  Documents I received through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) would suggest otherwise.  In the election year of 2007, Ashland Fortune is quoted in the Meet the Candidate edition of The Central Virginian dated March 1, 2007 as being on the “last leg” of the accreditation process, when in fact, the Agency had not even submitted their application or agency profile.

Documents I obtained from The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) show the Agency didn’t submit their application and agency profile until August 3, 2007 (see below).  The agency never submitted a request for an Initial Assessment from DCJS.  The agency also never requested an extension at the end of the 36 month period required to obtain accreditation.  They submitted two documents then did nothing further, I wonder why? How could they have been on the “last leg” of the process when they had not even submitted an application?  How could they achieve accreditation by Fall of 2007 when they never requested the initial assessment? Sounds like election rhetoric to me.

Source: Virginia DCJS FOIA Response

At the March 19, 2007 Board of Supervisors meeting, Ashland Fortune introduced Mr. Gary Dillon, Program Manager for the Virginia Accreditation Center to speak about the benefits of an agency being accredited.  In Mr. Dillon’s presentation he states several times the Accreditation program is “very cost effective” and “designed to be affordable and achievable by all agencies in Virginia”.  Mr. Dillon stated “the accreditation could be completed within a year, if the necessary time is dedicated”. In an article titled Accreditation a Goal of the Sheriff’s Office in The Central Virginian, April 19, 2007 issue, Chief Deputy Donnie Lowe is quoted saying “it is the primary goal of the department” and “The LCSO has been focused on achieving accreditation since 2000”. That is seven years!  Lowe also explained “the sheriff’s office still has work to accomplish but their goal is to achieve accreditation by the Fall [of 2007]”.  At the end of the presentation, our Supervisors voted 4-0 to support the Sheriff’s Department to pursue involvement with the Accreditation program.

An excerpt from the cited article:

Fast forward eight years to this election year, Ashland Fortune and Donnie Lowe contend the LCSO can’t obtain accreditation without a “multi-million dollar” building, so they are no longer pursuing it.  Yet, the Colonial Beach Police Department is located in a “strip mall” (shopping center type building) and they are accredited.  The Hopewell Police Department is located in the basement of the city office building (just like ours) and they are accredited.  Lowe also contends they can’t hire an Accreditation Officer because of budgetary restrictions, yet D.L. Bateman signed the paperwork submitted to DCJS in 2007 as the Program Manager and contact person. Mr. Bateman is still employed at LCSO. (See below document)

They submitted an application, that’s it!  The seven years prior they were so focused on the process, five months prior they stated they were on the “last leg” and “real excited about this”.  They submitted an application, the election took place, and they never looked at it again.  That is what the paperwork tells me!  Surprising, the current administration have chosen to focus so much on integrity and honesty in light of these actions.   Actions speak louder than words, hold them accountable this election.    The voters believed what was said in 2007, believe the actions Now!

The following section from the Program Manual for Accreditation describes a small part of the program and its goal:

              The ultimate goal of all accreditation programs is enhanced service delivery. The goal of the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission is to make available a framework whereby the Virginia law enforcement community is provided a voluntary, relatively cost-free accreditation program that is comprehensive, obtainable, and based on standards that reflect professional service delivery. In developing the program, the Board recognized the limited financial and manpower resources of a great many departments, and developed standards that would not place overwhelming demands on those resources.

The standards developed are the basis of an accreditation program that affects every component of the agencies involved. Through the dedication to service and professionalism evidenced by obtainment of accredited status, law enforcement agencies can greatly enhance the services they deliver to the communities they serve.

Again, the words spoken by the current administration do not match the documentation.  

Please VOTE Mike Silberman on November 3rd to get our Sheriff’s Office accredited.  Our County, our Department and our Deputies deserve it!

Stephanie Lacey

Bumpass, VA

Additional document(s) supplied by DCJS in Mrs. Lacey's FOIA request:

Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff Channel 19 Interview - Part 3 of 3

Please click the link below to view part 3 of 3 of Mike's interview with Val Thompson of Channel 19 in Charlottesville.  Mike wraps up his platform talking points and talks with Val about his plans for not just meeting, but exceeding excellence in service for the Louisa Co. Sheriff's Office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YBO4tK4TqA

Thank you for viewing this video series and thank you for your support!
Please keep an eye on this blog page for future news regarding the Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff campaign and...

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE NOVEMBER 3rd!!

Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff Channel 19 Interview - Part 2 of 3

Please click the link below to view part 2 (of 3) of Mike's interview with Val Thompson of Channel 19 in Charlottesville.  Mike talks about the importance of Law Enforcement Accreditation and further lays out his plan for substantive improvement of law enforcement in Louisa County.

https://youtu.be/1YBO4tK4TqA

Please check back at this blog page for part 3 of 3 to be posted soon!

Thank you and PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2015!

Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff - Channel 19 interview, Part 1 of 3

October 18, 2015

Please click the link below to view Part 1 (of 3) of Mike's interview with Val Thompson of Channel 19 in Charlottesville, VA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGslXw1_rsE

Please check back for parts 2 and 3 and thank you so much for your support!

REMEMBER TO VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2015!!

Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff - Citizen's Advisory Committee

October 2, 2015

With the culture of policing in society ever-evolving, we need real, substantive solutions to bridge the gap between the public and law enforcement.

Mike Silberman has a plan in place to bridge that gap - Not only for when critical incidents occur, but for every day.

Check out Mike's plan for a Citizen's Advisory Committee for the Louisa Co. Sheriff's Office and hear what his plan will entail. (Video approx 4 minutes long)

Mike Silberman for Louisa Co. Sheriff - Citizen's Advisory Committee

Thank you for your concern for our community and please remember to VOTE NOVEMBER 3rd!

Paid for & Authorized by Friends of Mike Silberman

Video Blog: Law Enforcement Accreditation

September 19, 2015

Please check out my first video blog speaking about Accreditation of your Sheriff's Office.

Because of it's size, the video is posted on my YouTube page, linked here (don't worry, it's only 4 minutes long):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXiRwEh3sOs

For your reference, here are the articles cited in the video (Source: The Central Virginian, Election Season 2007):

In March, 2007, Ashland Fortune states accreditation will be achieved by the end of the year.  The department has never achieved accreditation.

In April, 2007, Ashland Fortune and Donnie Lowe (Chief Deputy) Stated repeatedly that accreditation was the "primary goal" of the Office for at least 7 years and re-iterated that it would be completed by the fall of that election year. 

  

Elect Mike Silberman for Sheriff of Louisa County.  The community deserves real, measureable LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY.

Please remember to VOTE NOVEMBER 3rd!

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Mike Silberman