The Howard County sheriff?s union declined to endorse the three men who most represent police this election: Sheriff Charles Cave, who is running for reelection, and former police chiefs James Robey and Wayne Livesay, who are running for state senate and County Council, respectively.
“Robey hasn?t done anything for the sheriff?s office,” said Cpl. Andrew Mackert, president of Howard County Sheriff?s FOP Lodge No. 131. “Livesay ignored us. He never asked for our endorsement. ChuckCave never put in a bill to enhance our benefits, but he put in a bill to give himself a pay raise.”
Deputies instead endorsed police union president James Fitzgerald, a Democrat, for sheriff; current Republican State Sen. Sandra Schrader for a second term; and Republican Greg Fox for County Council District 5.
Mackert said sheriff?s deputies are marginalized by current county leaders and are not given the benefits and workers? compensation they deserve. They also want more staff and better promotion of the office.
Fitzgerald called his endorsement over fellow Democrat Cave “key.”
“The sheriff?s deputies are looking for a change,” he said. “I came in with a plan.”
Fitzgerald offered sheriff?s deputies “everything in the world,” Cave said.
Fox said the union?s endorsement shows people are tired of the status quo.
“They see new ideas and some enthusiasm,” Fox said.
“… It?s not just talking about law and order, it?s talking about style, about the ability to communicate with the deputies. They want somebody who?s going to listen to their issues and try to solve them.”
Livesay, a Republican, called the endorsement “strange,” saying he received the police and teachers unions? endorsements.
Victoria Goodman, a spokeswoman for County Executive James Robey, a Democrat, said Cave, not Robey, controlled financial initiatives for the sheriff?s deputies.
“There is a bottom line and Jim respects the heads of agencies to prioritize within that bottom line,” she said.
Schrader said she was “thrilled” when she learned of the endorsement. Robey earned the earlier endorsement of the police union.
