I can certainly understand the wish of some to just throw everone out and elect new people to public office. But let's don't trade some folk's bad for everybody's worse! Tyree has no law enforcement experience and was only a fair mayor at best. The Sherrif's department is just now getting settled down from all the turmoil the last year. JJ Jones is a fine man and an excellent leader. Let's elect someone qualified to be Sherrif and take your anger out on politicians some place else.

Tyree was a cop & the city police & fire commissioner.That's law enforcement experience.Tyree knows how to keep you & your family safe.

I agree Sheriff Jones is a fine person.

But we need a new direction & a clean sweep of the Black Wednesday appointees.

No experience at all? I must be confused about another Randy Tyree that worked as a beat cop for the KPD several years before getting promoted to city Safety Inspector and working for the FBI.

All of JJ's vast experience couldn't help him follow the KCSO merit policy. Tyree pulls off a squeaker.

And how long ago was Tyree a cop? Oh 30+ years ago. Why does this man's name appear on every ballot at election time? Can he not hold a job in the private sector?

We need a real law enforcement officer leading our Sherriff department not a wanna be elected official!

'Bidness as usual' as to law enforcement in the Sheriff's Office couldn't be much better. I'd much rather have JJ Jones who has spent all his working life wearing kevlar and a badge and knows the Sheriff's Department inside and out.

If a candidate is disqualified because they worked for former Sheriff Hutchison, every chief, deputy and administrative person who has worked in the Sheriff's Office over the past 20 years would be ineligible. The position of Sheriff is too important to base a voting decision on politics rather than qualifications. On qualifications, Jones is the winner hands down. The News Sentinel got this one right.

30 years ago have any relevance to this day and age. Yesterday in an interview he touted his experience in the FBI. However, when asked how old he was when he did his work with the FBI he stated that he was 18 years old when he started working for/with them and only for a few years. What year was that? I just don't see it. I have met both men and both are very nice people. But, since "black weds" has the sheriff's office declined in service?

If Randy Tyree is such a great candidate, then why would a Democrat like Jim Andrews, who ran for Sheriff in 2002, back a Republican in J.J.?

"But that doesn't explain why his mailer went out to strictly democrats."

Uhh, well let's see. Just how many Republicans would be swayed by the Andrews endorsement? I dare say the number would be few. On the other hand, a word of support from a 'fellow' Democrat might cause some to vote for Jones.

"His stance would have made more sense..."

His stance made plenty of sense given the relative qualifications of the candidates.

(No sarcasm).

I hear JJ's a nice guy. Some people tell me Hutchison's a nice guy. But there must be more to it, because their "niceness" has plunged county gov't into infighting, chaos, and a complete nervous breakdown. As JJ said in 2004, "enough is enough."

As a lifelong Republican, I'm not happy about voting for Tyree. But it's time to purge county gov't of Prince Machiavelli's political machinations and petty grudges. Tyree is certainly not an ideal alternative, but this isn't a choice between ideals; it's a choice between vindictive and politically homicidal politics versus taking a first step toward transitioning to a government that functions well enough to stay out of the headlines, and out of the courtroom.

"because their "niceness" has plunged county gov't into infighting, chaos, and a complete nervous breakdown"

Explain what JJ Jones had to to with these ills you cite?

An election should be about who can best do the job. In this race, that's Jones.

Factions in 'my' party...

Any factions on Commission didn't cut along Party lines. There were (and are) Democrats on Commission, some of which regularly sided with one faction or another and all of which were part of the appointments made in January. Diane Jordan and Mark Cawood come to mind. Despite my Republican bias, I'm not sure Republican and Democrat mean much with Commission business, now or in the past. Though, in some Commission districts it takes an 'R' or a 'D' to get elected.

You can pick nits all you want (I have no opinion on any Merit System issues), but the bottom line is Jones has spent his entire working life in law enforcement, has 20+ years in the Sheriff's office and is simply far better qualified to do the job. He's also showed a willingness to go against his former boss. I like the other attorney feller running against Jones. I just think Jones is better qualified to do the job.

Seems to me we've been 'round and 'round this one...and it's time to see what the voters decide.