Bill of rights is a document that describes the fundamental liberties of the people. It also forbids the government to violate these rights. The constitutions of many democratic countries have bills of rights that guarantee everyone the freedoms of speech, of religion, and of the press, and the right of assembly. 

Why ? Parental Alienation Syndrome....

How ?

4-Child Abuse and Neglect , Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death, Child Welfare and Safety, Alcohol and Drug Additions...
( Building Safer Tomorrows )

Cash-strapped Cape Coral finds room for six-figure salaries

Former California Gubernatorial Candidate Makes a Bid for Sheriff of Lee County Citing Illegal Activities of His Opponent.

From:

PR Newswire

Date:

May 30, 2008

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christian meister pr-newswire

COPYRIGHT 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.

FORT MYERS, Fla., May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Vowing to reveal why his opponent is unfit to represent the residents of Florida, a former California gubernatorial candidate will announce his candidacy for sheriff of Lee County on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. at the Matlacha Oyster House on 3930 Pine Island Road, in Matlacha, FL 33993. Christian Meister, 39, who ran for governor in the California 2003 Special Election against Arnold Schwarzenegger, stated that incumbent Sheriff Mike Scott is not fit to be the people's sheriff because Scott has violated the very principles of what a law enforcement agency ought to stand for.

All candidates for sheriff face off for first time at debate; Issues take center stage

By CONNOR HOLMES

There are three candidates vying for Lee County sheriff: A former sheriff, the current sheriff and a newcomer who hopes to rise above them both.

Rod Shoap, a former sheriff running as a Republican, and current Sheriff Mike Scott, also running as a Republican, have been butting heads since Scott ran for election in 2004.

Now Christian Meister, an Austrian-native with former U.S. military experience, has put his running shoes to the asphalt in the ’08 race for sheriff as an independent candidate.

The three faced off against one another for the first time Wednesday night during a forum in Cape Coral.

Held by the Southwest Cape Coral Homeowners Association at Oasis Elementary Charter School, the debate offered the candidates a chance to answer questions from members and address their stance on law enforcement issues.

“I’m a no-nonsense sheriff and I’m here for your support,” said Scott during opening statements.

Scott cited the high volume of marijuana grow house busts during his administration, as well as a new policy of assigning investigators to shadow abuse investigations covered by the Department of Children and Families.

Scott said his administration has shut down 153 marijuana grow houses since 2004.

Meister said his background in constitutional law is something the other candidates lack. He added that the current sheriff’s office employs “good ol’ boys” favoritism amongst its employees and falsified performance records.

Meister said he was asked to resign from the Lee County Sheriff’s Academy due to “language abilities,” despite doing well on tests and being considered a qualified candidate by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He said that due to the agency funding the training process, it is able to change excellent performance records to be represented as average, and added that he feels discriminated against.

“What else is the sheriff doing that we do not know about?” Meister asked.

Meister served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a petty officer in Desert Storm, where he served on a Coast Guard Cutter ship assigned to intercepting illegal drug smuggling operations.

Shoap said he has been in law enforcement for 27 years, and has lived in Lee County for 48 years. He said he lives in Cape Coral and considers it his own backyard.

Shoap said that while he was sheriff crimes were up 137 per year, but under Scott’s watch crimes are up nearly 3,000 per year. He said Scott’s budget is up $51 million, and he disagrees with some of the fiscal choices of Scott’s administration.

“Crime is up, and it’s not up a little, it’s up a lot,” Shoap said.

Arrests under Scott’s administration have been mostly traffic arrests, Shoap said.

“We’re not arresting burglars and thieves,” he said.

Shoap said he does not approve of certain purchases during Scott’s time in office, including a million dollar used helicopter.

During this time of economic turmoil, when the sheriff’s office has placed a freeze on wages for its employees, the candidates were asked their views on the state-mandated raises given to sheriffs.

Shoap and Scott said they would accept the raises due to the mandate, but whereas Shoap called the raise “inappropriate” when other employees could not benefit from raises, Scott said he would accept and keep the raise, and would not apologize due to the demands of the position.

Meister said it was unfair that law enforcement officers are not paid more highly to meet cost of living adjustments.

Scott and Shoap said vehicles and monies confiscated from grow house operations would be used in part to fund training and equipment for the sheriff’s office, and in part would fund not-for-profit organizations. Shoap added that which not-for-profits would benefit should be decided by county commissioners.

Meister said destroying marijuana grow houses is great, but more emphasis should be placed on drug education for children. He said a background with the Department of Children and Families gives him an insight into the needs of children.

“We should teach them not to smoke the stuff in the first place,” Meister said.

The candidates all agreed that despite a shrinking budget, programs such as DARE and having resource officers assigned to public schools are things there should always be money for.

“When I say I care about Lee County, it’s not just political rhetoric,” Scott said.

Shoap asked citizens if they felt they were better off with Scott or himself as sheriff. He said he approached the position with employed risk management techniques.

“I acted like it wasn’t just my money, it was our money,” Shoap said.

“As sheriff, you have to understand the constitutional protectors that are in place, or our tax dollars are wasted,” said Meister.

Joan Rose, a Cape Coral real estate agent, attended the forum. Rose moved to Cape Coral in 1987 from New Hampshire, and lived in the area during Shoap’s and Scott’s administrations.

Rose said she likes both candidates, but feels Scott faces a harder job than Shoap did due to population increases and economic decline, which she said is a combination that causes crime to increase.

“While Rod Shoap seems to have a better track record, I don’t really think he’s comparing apples to apples,” she said.

Regarding Meister, Rose said she would hear him out despite being a registered Republican, though his late entry concerns her.

“I don’t quite understand why this third gentlemen is throwing his hat in the ring,” she said. “I think it’s going to be an uphill battle.”

Rose added that her mind is not made up yet.

Despite allegations Meister may be an underdog in the race for sheriff, he feels confident in his candidacy.

“If I was an underdog, I wouldn’t be here,” Meister said.

Though he lacks the campaign funding like Scott, Meister said his personality, standards and abilities make him a viable competitor against the veteran sheriffs.

Meister cited a high turnover rate at the sheriff’s office as a waste of taxpayers’ dollars, and said Scott’s administration treats people unequally before the law.

According to Meister’s Web site, he has “drafted legal and binding memoranda in the court of law in the United States Middle District of Florida in Fort Myers, Florida, in order to address the conduct of the current administration.”

Scott said he faced Meister in a debate Tuesday, but Shoap did not attend.

As for having all three candidates in one place, Scott said, “I think it went well.”

Scott added that Shoap has not yet qualified to run for sheriff, but could still qualify before noon Friday.

The primary election for sheriff is Aug. 26. Scott and Shoap face off against one another for the Republican slot.

The winner of the primary election will go on to face Meister in the general election, set for Nov. 4.

LEE COUNTY:

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW LEE COUNTY HAS A 99% FORCED PLEA CONVICTION, YOUR CALLS AND LETTERS ARE VERY WELCOMED....

Title IV-D has caused much corruption in the family, and juvenile court system.

                            http://www.fightcps.com