An injudicious use of ‘coward’

An injudicious use of ‘coward’

As a candidate for Mahon- ing County sheriff, and an individual who chose not to seek an endorsement from the Democrat Party, I am both saddened and offended with the comments that appeared in the Jan. 8 Vindicator, made by the chairman of the party, regarding the Democrat endorsement meeting.

Those people seeking office who chose not to seek the endorsement of the Democratic Party were referred to as cowards. I am not a coward, I have put my life on the line for 28 years. As a police officer, past member of the FBI violent crimes task force, crisis response team and working police chief, I have faced, and face, the real possibility of a life-threatening situation every day I go to work. I hardly think that is cowardice; in fact, it requires great courage. I don’t imagine many people face that reality much in their lifetime, let alone every work day.

If someone wants to refer to a policeman as a coward, they should first ride along with the men and women of our police departments for a period of time, because what they would find is a lot of courage and certainly not cowardice. Additionally, a person can have many very good reasons for not participating in a party event. My reason happened to be my belief that a county sheriff is not, and should not be, beholden to a political party, but to the people of the county he or she serves.

I am a lifelong Democrat because I philosophically agree with the principles of the Democrat Party. I remain that way, but I will never put the needs of the party above the needs of the people of this county. I would hope the people of my party would be supportive of that position and not so quick to name calling.

Brian Goodin, New Middletown