A candidate stands out for the wrong reasons in the sheriff's debate

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

1 5 minutes read

The other night, one candidate stood out at perhaps the most attended and organized political debate I've seen in Indian River County, a standing-room-only crowd of more than 500 at the Indian River Charter High School.

Unfortunately, they had to listen to Deborah Cooney, a Brown University graduate, former bank vice president, teacher, self-described teetotaler and civil rights activist, registered candidate for Indian River County Sheriff.

Her name will not appear on any ballot, but those who see her for the first time will never forget her repeated, ridiculous and unproven claims that local police officers are drug dealers, murderers and members of the mafia.

Key takeaways from the sheriff's debate

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In an effort to be fair, the Indian River County Taxpayers Association let him speak, taking time from a group of experienced candidates: outgoing President Eric Flowers, Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry and Milo Thornton, former chief deputy of the sheriff's office.

What I remember most was how nervous or unprepared Thornton seemed compared to Flowers or Touchberry. Although none of the candidates saw the questions in advance, Thornton often referred to his notes when answering, sometimes stumbling in his answers.

I expected more from someone who, in the few conversations I've had with him, seems sharp, quick, and knowledgeable, and who has been in law enforcement longer than Flowers. With $321,000, Thornton has raised more than twice as many campaign contributions as his opponents combined.

Thornton racing for the first time

Then again, Thornton is the only one of the three who did not run an agency and did not run for sheriff in 2020. That year, Flowers won with 62% over Touchberry (24%), Rich Rosell , then Indian River Shores public safety chief (7%), and former sheriff's Capt. Chuck Kirby (6%).

Flowers was confident and competent. He detailed how his agency has used various technologies, such as license plate readers and a real-time crime center, to reduce crime rates. He foresees continued innovation, such as the use of drones in schools.

Touchberry, who said he received the world's best leadership training in the U.S. Marines, also sounded confident, touting his ability to create programs that make schools safer. He cited the Future Educators Response to Emergency Situations program, which provides skills and tools needed in active shooter situations, launched at Indian River State College.

Touchberry questions sheriff's case

Touchberry and Thornton talked about leadership most of the night, with the Fellsmere leader picking on Flowers the most.

“Leadership is compromised, morale is low and the budget is skyrocketing,” Touchberry said in his opening statement, citing what county budget documents show as a $54.5 million spending increase in in fiscal 2020 to $73.1 million, or 34 percent, in fiscal 2024.

Flowers, mentioning the inflation that hits us all, defended his budget, citing not only technological improvements, such as the addition of body cameras that he said have helped reduce citizen complaints and lawsuits by 70 %, but also better employee compensation with the aim of reducing staff turnover.

Touchberry doubled down on its leadership message after the contestants were asked one of two questions submitted by the audience – this one eliciting oohs and aahs from the crowd.

“What qualities and skills, both personal and professional, do you think members of the Sheriff’s Department look for in their Sheriff?

“I've been waiting for this question for two years,” Touchberry said, alluding to a topic no one mentioned directly Monday: Flowers' 2022 announcement that he had “violated a trust” with his wife after highlighted the importance of wedding vows in 2020. comments to staff during their swearing-in ceremony. Flowers and his wife later divorced; he remarried.

“We want a sheriff who is honest, who leads by example, who does what he says and says what he does,” Touchberry said. “We need a sheriff with integrity, ethics and morals. We need a leader who sets high, but achievable goals, so that men and women not only feel challenged, but also have someone to turn to.

Flowers highlights the importance of a leader who has the backs of MPs

Flowers answered the question before Touchberry, emphasizing the importance of “a leader who has their back.”

“Every day when you strap on your belt and put on your vest and you go out and you think maybe I should kill myself today, the most important thing to you is that the guy is at the top of the The channel will support me if I have to do the thing that I signed up to do and that none of us would ever want to have to do, Flowers said.

“For three and a half years, every time if they do the right thing, I will support them,” he said, citing the importance of body cameras. “If they don’t, we will hold them accountable.”

Touchberry subtly addressed Flowers' leadership earlier.

Cooney had spent 90 seconds wandering around the sheriff's office, so moderator Lance Lunceford let Flowers respond. The sheriff's only words: “mental health”, which made some in the audience laugh.

I found the spontaneous comment more immature than funny. When it was Touchberry's turn to speak 90 seconds later, he began his comments with one word, “compassion,” then answered a question about Flowers' budget.

Flowers cited the lack of objections to his budgets, noting that each was passed unanimously by the county commissioners, with no public objections during budget hearings.

“My friends, this is a campaign product that all of a sudden is showing up,” Flowers said, passionately emphasizing that 75 cents of every dollar goes to salaries. “These men and women who risk their lives every day deserve to be paid. And I fought to make it happen.

Flowers spoke of his many successes, but faced many doubts from Thornton and Touchberry, a former Vero Beach police captain.

Thornton suggested there weren't enough staff to stop what he called “786 opioid-related overdoses resulting in 64 deaths” on Flowers' watch. Touchberry pointed out how Flowers and his team have an “unethical air of superiority” over the city's police department, which could put officers' lives in danger.

The blockades will continue until the Republican primaries on August 20, when a sheriff will be elected. No registered candidate in Florida has ever been elected, TCPalm previously reported. Cooney doesn't deserve to be the first.

It's time to learn more about Flowers, Touchberry and Thornton. Because there is an entry on the ballot, only Republicans can vote. It's absurd, but it's the rule – established by political parties – to disengage foreigners.

However, you can get around the rule legally by registering as a Republican before July 22. You can always come back later.

Otherwise, only a small group of Republicans, who represent 50.4 percent of the Indian River County electorate, will choose our next sheriff. The rest of you will be left out of this county commission race.

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him by email at [email protected], by phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman.

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Key takeaways from the sheriff's debate

Thornton racing for the first time

Touchberry questions sheriff's case

Flowers highlights the importance of a leader who has the backs of MPs

Lina Portman

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