as far as people sitting in jail for years awaiting trial. that may be on MAJOR drug or murder cases or maybe even small percentage of other charges. but its not just bad DA's thats the cause. I think local courts are being WAY too defense lawyer friendly meaning most defense lawyers are the reason for trials getting put off. not to mention,there are more criminals than we have means to deal with. lawyers put pressure on Raleigh who pressures our judicial system into allowing BS in our courts at taxpayers cost. just sit in court and see how many court appt. lawyers keep asking for continuances. or paid attorneys doing the same just to buy time to finish getting paid.so its not all just the da or the sheriff. until our lawmakers stop passing idiot bills that tie the hands of the law enforcement and prosecutors and give criminals a get out of jail free card out of jail early card,then there is only so much anyone else can do.i think we,our officers,da's and judges are falling victim to bad lawmaking.i say lets start at the top. but i think tom is right on the morals issue as well.

Hi Tom,

I see the light bulb is finally going off in your head. Of course they both should restrain themselves in what they say publicly too. I've heard both sides not speak of each other well and where has that gotten our county? No or slow cooperation between each other, people sitting in the jail for years, witnesses forgetting accounts after years of waiting to testify, criminals being let out with time served, murder cases not being brought to trial in a speedy manner, victims getting no closure, and the lists goes on and on. It becomes about the individuals feelings and pride and not what's best for the citizens of RC.

7 raleigh just out of curiosity, would District Attorneys fall into the same category. Becuase it was not too long ago I remember something in the newspaper from a local Sheriff saying something negative about the DA? They are both part of the Legal system, they both work together? Or, is the Sheriff above the scrutiny? Does he not have the same unwritten rules you speak of?

Hi Tom,

Well, at least we can have a civil conversation about our differences. Yes, Tom I do agree that once Major Clemmons or anyone else entered the race they were fair game. Again, I am not trying to stifle voices, but you as a professional and all other law enforcement have a professional duty not to talk publicly against one another. Once things come out your mouth there is no taking back. Everyone has worked jobs were you wanted to say things publicly to or about people but you didn't. Whether is was the truth, gossip,or just being rude. You thought about your family, your bills, keeping that job, or just maintaining harmony in the work place. Thanks Tom and I guess we can move on to other blogs.

7RALEIGH, I read your post and I agree with you. Sometimes people get caught up in the flurry of the race and forget that these are people running and not objects. You are right in the fact that my opinions are based on he said she said and for me to pass them along is indeed a part of the problem. But I do still stand by my earlier post and say that being in a certain field does not take away the fact that everyone has the constituional right to speak there mind and if that gets them in trouble with their employer then something is wrong. With that being said, once Clemmons signed up to run for Sheriff, he became a politician and politicians choose to have there actions and credentials picked a part, thats the nature of the beast, But you are right, I will refrain from the public opinions by me here on out. Thank you for spelling that out to me! Oh and if Clemmons would have taken the time to talk to me, maybe he could have swayed me to support him.

Hi Hater,

You are sounding angrier and angrier. I feel like we know each other well enough to have a civil conversation:) Mr Martin said that this (Hatch Act) is his last chance because he will be too old in 4 years. Hater, my question still is... How is the Hatch Act going to help him fulfill his life long dream of becoming sheriff? It's not. So why is he doing this? To punish the citizens of RC for not voting for HIM? To punish the RCSD who he has had a running feud with for years(make the county pay $) To throw up a smoke screen to make the Hatch act the suject, not him getting his butt beat on May 4. So if the Hatch Act was broken and if proven, it will not help EDDIE POO one bit. Remember he's not mad, at least that is what he says. HE IS MAD AS ----. Anytime someone leads off with 'I'M NOT MAD, THEY ARE MAD. And so are YOU, HATER. You say "IF EDDIE MARTIN WINS", that is too funny. Three people came ahead of him, GIVE IT UP HATER. This a prime example that when people are given everything that they have ever had, when they have to work for something, and don't get it, they CAN NOT ACCEPT FAILURE. Seriously, stop Eddie before he becomes a bitter person. Ran Fair? Who didn't run a fair campaign.

I know you think some conspiracy had to have transpired if EDDIE DIDN'T WIN. Well, hate to tell you hater, only a bit of old fashioned a-- whopping happened to EDDIE on MAY4. Plain and simple. What ethics? Explain them? Only Eddie's nutty buddies like you are glad HE'S CALLING OUT candidates. Please, face it Hater, you lost and your HATE VIBRATIONS are coming through the computer. Yeah, your former supporters are EMBARRASSED. So I know if you are talking about "if Eddie wins", you are having some serious issues of facing reality. Also, please try not to use all caps when you type. Some people have a difficult time reading all caps and I do want everyone to be able to read your OPINION.

Hi Tom, I thank the journal for finally letting my questions to you to finally be posted. And just as I thought, you don't get it. You are a trained professional that was taught, that you do not go out and degrade and talk about a fellow officer in public. You take pride in saying that "everybody knows me" and I'm not hiding,etc. That's not the point, you shouldn't be slamming Clemmons or any other officers publicly (e mail, street talking, bars,etc). I'm sure other officers may have some things to say that aren't flattering about you too but I hope they have the tact to not trash you publicly. You said more than you have admitted to, but you have said so much about this subject that you have forgotten some of the opinions you have written. Also, you said that you have only met Clemmons twice and never directly worked with him, so does this mean that you are saying all these things about his experience,etc. based on what you heard and not first hand experience. You said in a post that you HEARD Clemmons bused people in to vote but didn't know that to be a fact but you HEARD THAT. You say that Clemmons is tainted by Dale Furr but your candidate (Bo) counts Dale Furr as one of his best friends who gave him a job when he needed one. So is Bo tainted too by his best friend. Since you like gossip so well did you ask officers inside of the CMSD to give you any info on Bo's work record or history (since you haven't worked with him either). It seems that you listen to a lot of gossip and innuendos and when you write your opinion, you state them like facts as if you worked with these officers. No it's not your profession but your professionalism. You are working in a public field as a professional and you shouldn't get in a name calling tic for tac battle with the public about fellow officers. Keep on with your personal opinions and see where they get you. Yes personal opinions are your right but all officers have a professional obligation to your fellow officers to watch how you speak about each other publicly. What if teachers, doctors, nurses, accountants and other professionals got on line and used their name, said everyone knows them, and proceed to trash or bash fellow professionals by name? It would be said that they were being unprofessional. And to top it off, you have only met Clemmons twice so you are going by not first hand knowledge but what you HEARD! I know you say that you weren't impressed the 2nd time and Major Clemmons may not have been impressed with you either, but I hope he had enough professionalism to not to publicly talk about you and what he thought of you. You say that you don't want to work in RCSD, and I agree that you shouldn't. I hope you aren't in Anson Co publicly giving your personal opinion about other officers. You are part of the back stabbing problem and thus far, I haven't seen on this opinion page where another officer has back stabbed you. You are young in your chosen profession and you will not have a long career, publicly as you say "back stabbing" fellow officers. We will see where you are in 22 years from now in your career. If you want to remain in any professional job, you will learn that it is a time and place for everything. The unemployment ranks are full of people like you who are too misunderstood and just expressing their opinions and I don't care what people think or feel, "I'm going to say it". The funny thing is that people who dish it out have a hard time taking the same treatment. I've read some of your writings after someone challenged what you were saying and you really WILL say anything then. I'm not trying to stifle what you say, but as a professional, you should watch how you talk publicly about your fellow officers. The www. is a big place with people all over reading the RCDJ and you should remember that people lose their jobs everyday on things that they write on the computer. Sadly, the things you write aren't from experience with these officers but biased talk from others who have an agenda themselves. And you talk abut he say - she say! And I am sure Major Clemmons will look forward to working with you too, if he wins.

ONCE MORE TO YOU MORON RALEIGH7 YOU HAVE GOT TO BE ONE OF THE DUMMBEST WRITERS ON HERE YET, I NEVER SAID SUCH THINGS AS MR. MARTIN WAS GOING TO WIN THIS ELECTION, I SAID THAT I HOPE HE GETS JUSTICE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE FACTS BEFORE YOU REPLY AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT TIME I GET ON HERE AND WRITE, ONE I JUST SO HAPPEN TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT DUMB MORON HAS BEEN WRITING ON HERE AND LORDY IT WAS YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. NOW FOR THE ELECTION YOU NEED TO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT, IF EDDIE MARTIN WINS HE WILL SURLY DESERVE IT, HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT RAN FAIR BUT I SEE THAT DID NOT GET HIM FAR, BUT THAT IS THE TYPE OF MAN HE IS MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE ON SOME OF MR. MARTINS ETHICS MAYBE THEN YOU WOULD BE LIKED. SECOND, PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED MR.MARTIN ARE GLAD THAT HE IS CALLING THIS OTHER CANIDATES OUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THIS. SO FOR THE FUTURE DON'T BE HATEN SO MUCH...LOL

7Raleigh, why would someones profession matter in whether they have an opinion? Does someone lose their constitutional rights in this country once they become certain professions? I have been reading a lot of post on here over the past few months and although I think Mr tompdapopo gets a little long winded soemtimes, I think he has made some valid points! I don't agree with all of them but valid. It seems to me by your post that your attempt to embarrass him by making him look like a cop basher failed. It shows me that you just might have a hidden agenda, to quiet him down by making him feel that his supervisors will dissaprove of his comments.If they do then shame on then, because he goes out everyday and protects the right of the citizens, how can a supervisor take those rights from the same man who spends his day protected them for others? If that is the case then maybe we should find out who you are and see if you are secretly trying to squash all of our rights. Last time I checked, it said opinions at the top of the screen!

7Raleigh. Point taken. How ever, I may be a Police officer, but that does'nt mean I lose my right to voice my opinion! I work with people all the time that I don't agree with their views and their policies. That does'nt mean that they won't get 100% of my efforts. Work is work and personal opinions don't play in that. I have said many times that I have only met Clemmons maybe 2 times. The first time I met him he made a good impression, the second time I met him he did not! The only negative thing I have said about Clemmons during this election is I don't think he is ready to be Sheriff. His experiences in Law Enforcement are not enough! Sitting in the office all the time has stopped him from gaineing valuable experience. I would have felt differently about his experience level, had he been a Captain working the road for the past 10 years. If that is what you consider to be bad then you live a shelter life. As far as the fraternal brotherhood you speak of in Law Enforcement, It does'nt exist! I have seen more back stabbing from police officers then any other place I have worked. I look forward to working with Clemmons if he wins!

Hi Tom the Policeman, I've been trying to ask you questions since you started to blog about the election. The RCDJ would not post my blogs to you before but I am hoping that this time they will. First, you have been blogging since before the election and still today, @ 5 in the morning and you are still blogging. As long as you are blogging, you are part of the problem too. I didn't know who you were or that you were a current law enforcement officer until, you made a comment about being currently in law enforcement. My question then, as it is now, why would you talk about a fellow law enforcement officer the way that you talked about Clemmons? You never worked directly with him, but once you said who you were supporting, it was clear, where your information was coming from. What happens if your dept does a joint exercise with the RCSD and you may have to work side by side with him? What happened to the fraternal brotherhood that law officers have for one another? I hope your supervisor never sees any of these things you are saying about another officer. In the field that you are working in, you should learn that some things are better kept to yourself, especially when you are talking about a fellow law enforcement officer. On May 4th, at 33 percent, we had one of the largest voter turnouts in the state of North Carolina. And Tom, I will agree not to blog you, if you don't blog me and also, please don't encourage the Lincoln letter as the new important topic to blog about.

Well hello to you too, HATERSCLUB. You've made my day again. I'm so glad that you can not shut me. You are the pitiful one, blogging about your losing candidate at 1 o'clock in the am. You need to get your rest if you are to make any type of intelligent conversation. And you do make it very clear that you don't have anything intelligent to say. Again, I am sorry that your candidate lost!!!! Geez! You say that you know that law so much but you still can not tell everyone how the hatch law is going to help Eddie boy overturn an election and be the LEGITIMATE democratic nominee. Mr Martin says,"this is my last shot to become sheriff because of my age so I have to do all that I can because this is my last chance" So, Mr. Hater, tell everyone again, how is the Hatch act, going to overturn the election, or get him a do over,etc? He came in DEAD LAST behind all those evil, crime breaking officers in the sheriff's dept. He once again wants something given to him but TOO BAD. Someone high up in the sheriff's office was responsible for him getting that chief of police job many years ago. He should be eternally grateful to the RCSD because he would have never got elected, even back then. You see he waited until he was 66 to run! He could have run at anytime but he thought he had SOFT OPPOSITION and would be a sure thing. He found out how much people really thought of him and his abilities. Don't be mad, be GLAD. Now you to can have plenty of time to rant and rave about conspiracies, cheaters and other excuses for getting his butt torn UP on May 4. Tell him that it wasn't a nightmare, it was REALITY. And of being so smart, if you all know so much, why didn't you all know that Eddie Poo couldn't run as an unaffiliated candidate? Hater, you can hardly put a decent sentence together so we know about your SMARTS or lack of. Keep calling names if it makes you feel better. But you and 666 are still sore losers and I am being very nice in the manner in which I speak of and to you. DUNCES!!! And oh, you talk about people will hate that they voted for Clem, have you heard the talk that many of Eddie Poo supporters are already hating that they supported him. With friends advising him, like you, he will continue to embarrass himself and his (FORMER SUPPORTERS). In your next post, again, please explain to all of the MORONS, (SUCH AS ME) how will the hatch act help him win the election in NOVEMBER. Eddie said the Hatch Act is his last chance, SO EDUCATE all of the moronic people.

that is the smartest comment on here so far. There are more important issues to discuss than this election. Yeah it is over but never will be forgotten bet on that. Raliegh7 you need to shut your mouth and close your computer because all you have to do is type on here and it proves that you are a complete moron..and I do mean MORON!!!!!YOU do not know the law and if you know the law so well why don't you go to the sheriffs office and work as a clerk, that is all you know how to do is make comments..lol well it seems that all of the ones on here are all CLEM fans and what fans. I would hate to know that I had fans like this.

I can not believe that all this bickering is still going on over this situation! Look, Clemmons won the democratic primary by getting the most votes. How he got them or who helped him is irrelevant. Martin has filed an appeal. Whether he new about it or did'nt know about is irrelevant. Whether the appeal is founded or unfounded is irrelevant. None of these things will change the out come that Clemmons WILL be on the ballot for the democratic side in November. If it is founded, then theres a good chance that the county will have to pay some big fines from tax payer money. It will not disqualify clemmons from the race. So Eddie Martin and his heroic efforts to save face just might be the theft of a lot of tax payer money going to the federal govt for fines. The candidates won't have to pay because it's the Sheriffs department that allowed them to run while working there. So the Sheriffs department will have to pay the fines. If you don't want to vote for him, then don't. But don't make the mistake of not voting at all! During the primaries I see a lot of people just did'nt want to get out and vote. So stop all the he did it she did it and find another topic to argue about. I see the licoln letter is getting a lot of bickering chime in on that one.

Hatersclub!!! How FUNNY IS IT that you sound so upset over the truth. Mr Martin is still a sore loser. The citizens voted whether you and your boy like it or not. What a poor excuse for a potential sheriff to let 3 candidates possibly break a law? Why didn't he do a Barney Fife and do a CITIZEN'S ARREST? I say possibly because it hasn't been proven yet that any laws were broken by anyone. Are you suggesting that someone at the Board of Elections or at the different polls did something illegal? Or are you suggesting that the SUPREME COURT selected Clemmons? A few months ago in your circles, there was talk going around that Sheriff Furr was a washed up... no more clout or respect and that none of the people he supported was going to win. Now, fast forward to May 4th and all of the sudden, Sheriff FURR has ALL MIGHTY POWERS AGAIN. I don't know Sheriff Furr or about his ALL MIGHTY POWERS but I do know that Major Clemmons campaigned and worked very hard to win the nomination. If I would have known that Major Clemmons had that type of clout with the sheriff, who has THE ALL MIGHTY POWER, I could have told him to just sit back and not campaign. He could have done like Eddie and sat back and waited for the win to bounce in his lap on May 4th. But then again, HOW DID THAT WORK FOR EDDIE? Face it, Major Clemmons' hard work over the years and during the campaign paid off and citizens from all around the county, rich, poor, middle class, white, black, asian, hispanic,native american, educated, non educated,etc voted overwhelming for Major Clemmons for the democratic nominee. Get the stats from the board of elections. That is, if you don't think another conspiracy happened. I know you are in the haters club, but this is TOO HILARIOUS. All the candidates promised current officers they would have the opportunity to keep their jobs if they still wanted their jobs. So, did Eddie lie when he told people that too, or was it just the others? Would he have brought in his people or kept everyone? Yeah! OK. Who ever win the sheriff's race, should make sure the citizens have qualified officers who are willing to do an outstanding job serving the citizens of Richmond Co. So if an officers is willing to do these things it should be no problem. But on the other hand, if an officer can not or is not willing to perform their duties, no they shouldn't be there. How many people can keep their job in other fields, if they are not performing? I couldn't keep that job and I'm sure you couldn't either.(Well, you might know somebody who would let you) So I am sure Major Clemmons or Mr Brown will be tested in many ways and they will have to perform their duties too. I'm sure both have people in the department that aren't thrilled about whatever changes are coming but life is full of changes. Either you can adjust or move on. They have a duty to protect in serve us!!! So, haterclub, get over the fact that Clemmons and Brown were elected. Or is your ISSUE just with Clemmons? Eddie Martin is the only one that has been selected for jobs in his career. What happened the first time he had to face to voters? HE CAME IN DEAD LAST. At this point, no one would even SELECT him to be on the dodgeball team. You tell me to take a seat in the back! That was funny and I will, but please remember that you can join Eddie Boy in the back of the room too. We have a STOOL AND TRIANGULAR "DUNCE" HAT WAITING ON YOU TOO. MISERY ENJOYS COMPANY. It's evident that you are on the FAR FAR Right and you will be just like the people on the FAR FAR Left, HEADED FOR A CLIFF. SORE LOSERS GO HOME. HE KNEW ALRIGHT!

Pattie you and Raleigh7 need to take a seat in the back. Yall sure don't know what ya talking about. first of all Mr. Martin knew all along about the HATCH ACT LAW along time, nobody had to tell him about this so sorry for your information, you are so dumb seems you and Pattie need to read up on the HATCH ACT before you write in. Sorry your candidate did not win he was not in the click. FYI all candidates were used by Furr and this whole county don't even know how much power Furr has on people in R.C. And for Clemmons he was selected not ELECTED.. please before you speak you better think. If clem does win in the end all the ones that supported him in office will be sorry, because he want be needing the ones that are in there now, he has plans to put who he wants in there don't mistake this I know what I am talking about. He is just saying that they are able to keep their jobs to get elected, give me a break. I would hate to know I voted for him, oh the HOLY MAN YEAH RIGHT.

You lost the farm teddybearboy just like Brown and/or your write in will lose in November. Clemmons will be the sheriff of this county and I can bet my farm on that!

GEEZ!!! A runoff? Please, November is the General Election, not a runoff. This goes to show that a lot of people don't know what they think they know. No one could quote the Hatch Act before it came up but now we have experts from postal workers to law men that "knew all along. "Everyone should have known" because "I" knew. Just like everyone should have known that May 4 didn't decide the election, just like everyone should know that there isn't a runoff in Nov, everyone should know that Nov is the General Election, everyone should know all the words to the Pledge of Allegiance and the list can go on and on. Eddie Martin or no one else said anything in their interviews about the Hatch Act prior to him losing. But then after he lost, "everyone should have known". He didn't know himself. It has yet to be proven that any of the candidates involved did anything wrong concerning the Hatch Act but we all know for a fact that Eddie is a sore loser and any outcome from the Hatch Act will not change the facts of May 4. Maybe it will make him feel better to go down FIGHTING. I hope so, because Eddie surly didn't know what he thought he knew either until May 4, when he found out that so few people voted for him.

The funny thing is how Martin and his supporters say he resigned as a magistrate, do you draw a retirement check when you resign from a job?

I do recall his little thing in the daily journal back when he so called "resigned" saying he was retiring!!

It's a big difference from resigning and retiring...I'm sure he would have something up his sleeve as always.

The county can thank the good Lord E.R. Martin is not and will not be our sheriff, thats a fact.

When you see him out in town ask him a few things that happen when he was chief and how he covered them up, sure he will have a dumbfound answer, like when one officer took another's, signed and cashed it(thats a felony), covered up and later promoted. There is alot more, ask how many officer's came and went while he was chief, he probaly can't count that many, some 350-400, atleast.

agreed