With Benton County Sheriff Keith Ferguson unwilling to comment, and a number of witnesses reluctant to go on the record about what they saw or heard, it's hard to get a handle on the significance of remarks the sheriff is alleged to have made during a speaking engagement last month. Complicating matters even further: The one person who seems willing, even eager, to speak on the subject is someone who is after Ferguson's job - former Sheriff Andy Lee, who's announced his candidacy to unseat Ferguson in next year's election.
The controversy stems from a Nov. 20 Republican Party function held at a local restaurant during which Ferguson gave a speech on the 287 (g ) program, a federal program that gives local authorities the ability to enforce federal immigration law. Lee, who was in attendance, claims that Ferguson made a racist remark at the event.
Specifically, as reported in The Daily Record on Thursday, Lee alleges that Ferguson, in reference to a Hispanic waiter, said "I know he's here illegally," then tempered the words by adding," I'm just kidding."
Lee has called the alleged remarks hypocritical in light of concerns Ferguson himself has raised about racial profiling in relation to 287 (g ). Lee has also called the sheriff's leadership abilities into question.
We're not going to try and divine Ferguson's intentions in regard to remarks we didn't hear - remarks that only a political opponent has so far commented on. As things stand, that would be like trying to throw a net over a shadow. But a few things are abundantly clear in light of this flap over (allegedly ) flapping lips.
One of them is that campaign season in Benton County is in full swing, and along with Christmas carols and Yuletide greetings, we can all expect the air to fill with the somewhat less soothing strains of local political theater. In recognition of their ferocity, we'll call them "Jungle Bells."
Another thing that's become clear is that in this campaign, as in all campaigns, words are going to matter. People are listening, and things that candidates say are going to be repeated and analyzed.
That's something public officials would do well to remember at all times. People who are elected to office have thoughts and feelings just like the rest of us, not all of them good, but when it comes to public pronouncements or even offhand remarks, they're held to a higher standard.
Public officials should try and move dialog in positive, or at least productive, directions. They should avoid speech that guides their community down the wrong path - keeping in mind that political opponents aren't the only ones who are listening.
We think the sheriff, as much as it might pain him, should respond more directly to Lee's claims. Ferguson is certainly within his rights to remain mum if he so chooses, but it seems the "Jungle Bells"are going to ring, one way or another.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online