Editor, Smithfield Times

I attended the forum for the sheriff’s race and was disappointed in what Russell Stephenson said and didn’t say. He wants to put more SROs in our schools. Are the schools so full of bad kids and crime that we need a staff of deputies? The reality is that, for the most part, SROs are babysitters when teachers need to leave the classroom.

Stephenson said he would put more officers on the street, but the Board of Supervisors controls those purse strings and no sheriff can simply go in and make everything they want happen.

Under Mark Marshall, I have seen a more saturated presence in my part of the county and I couldn’t be happier. We have always had a great fire department and now we finally have the police presence that we’ve been paying for.

In the Commonwealth’s attorney’s race, I appreciate the working, professional relationship that Georgette Phillips shares with other branches of law enforcement. A strong, reliable, respectable,, teamwork-style atmosphere takes years to cultivate and earn, and you don’t earn it by showing a “bully” attitude. I appreciate that she is doing what she has always had a passion to do, work with the victims, the good side that had to endure the bad.

I do not agree with Ms. Stanton that a defense attorney brings a better, diversified level of experience. In my opinion, with Ms. Stanton you would be more likely to give a “wink and a smile” to the defense instead of prosecuting to the fullest.

In both the sheriff’s and Commonwealth’s attorney races, my view is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I will be voting for Sheriff Mark Marshall and Commonwealth’s Attorney Georgette Phillips.

Jennifer Boykin
Carrsville