As a citizen and taxpayer of Houston County who along with thousands of other workers fund the sheriff’s department through taxation, I resent the wasteful spending of hard earned money on luxury, gas guzzling vehicles for the sheriff’s department.  The recent announcement of the expenditure of more than $182,000 for three Tahoes is, in my opinion, a complete disregard for the citizens of Houston County.  A local dealership has recently advertised brand new Chevrolet pickups for less than $18,000 each.  Ten of these new Chevrolet pickups could have been  purchased for about the same amount of money spent on the luxury Tahoes.  Camper tops to protect the equipment could have been purchased for not much more.  Even van type vehicles could likely have been purchased for $25,000 each, allowing for seven vehicles to be purchased.  In the past, law enforcement vehicles were basic vehicles and more in line with what the average person might drive.  More and more, it seems law enforcement has to have the finest vehicles on the road!  Why should the taxpayers support this waste of money when the economy is so tight and when most people cannot afford luxuries for themselves or for their family?

Now, the sheriff wants us to believe no tax money was used to buy these luxury vehicles.  Either I am super stupid or he could benefit from a basic class in government.  He says these SUV’s were purchased with grant money from Homeland Security.  Since government itself has no money except that which it takes from the working people of America, it seems to me even grant money is someone’s tax money.  And, it seems Mr. Hughes wants us to think we need Tahoes because the Farley Nuclear Plant is located in our county.  Now, I guess Andy Hughes thinks these less expensive new pickups and van type vehicles wouldn’t be able to get to the Nuclear Plant on paved roads without four wheel drive capability.

Apparently, these new Tahoes come with jump boxes, a tow cable and a chainsaw!  I would imagine anyone whose battery won’t start their car or truck could get a free jump start and a smile at least through November 2 of this year.  Those who become stuck in the mud on the back forty while feeding hogs have nothing to worry about.  The four wheel drive Tahoes equipped with tow cables may be able to get you home in time for supper if you get stuck before November 2.  Now, if there is a tree across the road, the Road and Bridge Department might not be able to get there until after the election!  The Tahoes are already equipped with chainsaws!  I wonder if OSHA requires hard hats in the Tahoes.  The smell of oil and gasoline leaking from those chainsaws inside those new Tahoes may soon overcome the nice new smell of leather seats!  I wonder if Homeland Security also provides a three day training class in Orange Beach during the summer for the safe operation of Homelites for sheriff’s department personnel.  Winter classes for Poulans  might be held in Biloxi.  Of course, travel pay and lodging would be necessary to get the sheriff and his Tahoe operators certified in chainsaw safety!  But it isn’t taxpayers money!  It is a grant!!!!  Even if the free jump starts and mud tows stop after the election, the chainsaw certification would likely  need to be kept in effect, re-certifying twice yearly!  Mr. Hughes would need an extra allowance for cleaning services after certifying in chainsaw safety while wearing his coat and tie.

The sheriff does seem to be more protective of his own money though.  As I understand, a politician must pay for television campaign time.  But, if one can just happen to be at an event where the television station would be and then be lucky enough to be “interviewed” by the television station, I would guess they would not be charged for an on camera interview.  Mr. Hughes recently has been “interviewed” several times even at tragic events such as a traffic fatality on a rural road in the far reaches of the county.  A local TV station was there at the same time!  Mr. Hughes didn’t seem to be in work clothes.  He looked to me to be dressed more as he would dress for a campaign interview.  It didn’t seem he was dressed to perform CPR.  I’m sure the ladies thought he looked impressive in that coat and tie even in 98 degree weather while he warned everyone to wear their seat belts!  I hope the family of that traffic fatality did not think of his appearance on television as a campaign opportunity.  Again, he was “dressed to the tee” in his television address to announce the acquisition of the new Tahoes!  Seems like the closer it gets to November, the more often he is “interviewed” on television in what looks to me like campaign clothes!  Maybe he is just leaving a wedding or is on his way to mid day church services when these “interviews“ occur.

In one “interview” he told us the general fund only gets 8 dollars from a traffic ticket costing 160 dollars or more.  Mr. Hughes apparently doesn’t care that he will take more than 160 dollars from you and me in order to get just 8 dollars for the general fund!  What he didn’t tell us is that ten dollars goes for the jail and that a portion goes for other entities in the county as well, including about two dollars for a retirement fund if I am correct.   Burglars will steal valuables to sell for pennies on the dollar to get just a little money for themselves too.  But, they are called “thieves!”  Andy Hughes must think Houston County voters are crazy!

I wish someone would invent what I would call a “polygraph television”  and sell them at a reasonable price.  This imaginary “polygraph television” would detect lies in real time and change the channel immediately!  I wouldn’t get a Tahoe, but I’d try to rent a polygraph television through Nov 2!

If there is so much money available to buy expensive Tahoes for the sheriff’s department at a time when so  many people are looking for work, why is there no money to fund a pay raise for the deputies who do the work?  Is Andy Hughes worth more than 75,000 dollars annually to ride around in Tahoe comfort in a coat and tie to appear on television ?  Why do the deputies who do the real work not get a pay increase and more recognition for the great job they do?  When they are sometimes by chance on television in the background, they are in work clothes and working.  Hughes is in front of the camera claiming the credit in his coat and tie.

There are constant reports of burglaries, robberies, and other more devastating crime and Andy Hughes wants us to re-elect him to keep the county safe!  I think what safety there is in the county can be attributed to the deputies who do the work, not to coat and tie Tahoe Andy!

We have a chance on November 2 to vote out wasteful spending politicians who misuse the tax money of our citizens.  I would like to say “Thank You!” to the County Commission for, at least,  putting some limits on Andy Hughes in denying his outrageous demands for still more money for other vehicles!  He probably wanted more luxury gas guzzlers too.  Thank You, County Commission!!!  You did a splendid job on that part!