Billboards,
videos hit for disclosure
“We
need to have a Sheriff who knows the difference between enforcing
stupid laws and upholding and defending the Constitution.” -
Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona
Waco
– Parnell keeps an old, framed snapshot on his desk. It is a
picture of himself, photographed as a young kid astride a pony,
wearing a cowboy hat and a leather vest, a badge pinned to his chest
and two holstered snap cap pistols swinging from his belt.
For
a fifth-generation Texan and a fourth-generation lawman, it's a fond
memory, his youthful dreams of riding out to oppose bad men and
dealing them justice. Those dreams were realized in a career that
spanned 32 years as a Deputy U.S. Marshal who brought dozens of
criminals to justice in the U.S. Court system and saw a number of
serial murderers and rapists locked away for life – some like Ken
McDuff, executed.
All
that fond view down his back trail exploded in horror when an attack
ad aired recently, a vignette that mocks him for his oldest and most
cherished goals.
Former
Waco Mayor B.H. Davis, Sr., a member of the Plemons election
committee, complained to the Texas Ethics Commission May 3 that
billboards and videos produced by the Parnell McNamara for Sheriff
committee don't comply with election laws.
As
of today, Marshal McNamara has prepared videos to counter the charges
and corrected the discrepancies by adding information to videos that
states the presentations were produced by his election committee,
under his approval.
Yeah,
it's really that big a deal. Welcome to the NFL, as they say in the
haze of August.
The
videos, which were produced by RedC Television, are aimed at setting
the record straight in response to a negative attack ad run on area
television outlets by the Randy Plemons for Sheriff Campaign
Committee.
In
the video, a child wearing a cowboy hat much too large for him wears
an oversized leather vest with a phony badge pinned to it, twirling a
set of handcuffs around his finger.
He
then rides a stick horse off screen and the segment fades to Chief
Deputy Plemons standing in front of a patrol car with its lights
flashing. A voice over accuses his opponent, Marshal McNamara, of
being dragged into court to pay delinquent taxes, and of not being a
certified Texas lawman.
“Any
time someone says something false about you, it bothers you,” said
Marshal McNamara.
The
truth is, he explained, that the constabulary never served him with court papers
seeking payment of delinquent taxes. He has a letter in hand from
Constable Larry Eschenberg asserting that, by the time he received
the summons for service, the tax records indicated that the brothers
Parnell and Mike McNamra had paid the back taxes on their mother's
residence. The constable marked his return of service that way, and
dropped the matter.
As
to certification as a Texas Peace Officer, the law allows him a
couple of years to comply with the requirement. He hopes to take a
written test and pass it before he is sworn in as Sheriff.
“Did
I overlook the taxes? You bet I did. I take full responsibility,”
said Marshal McNamara. “Did I pay them? The answer is yes.”
As
to the complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission, a staffer in
Austin named Mary Young said the commission is “absolutely not”
investigating a complaint against the McNamara campaign committee.
They are in the midst of processing Mr. Davis' ethics complaint. The
alleged violation carries the penalty of a Class C Misdemeanor
offense, upon conviction.
As
of now, no one has been charged.
Any
regrets?
“It's
a sad day when you exploit a young child for your own benefit,” he
said of the star of the video spot attacking his status as a lawman.
“I think it really is a low down situation.” The kid is
reportedly the grandson of a lawman from the opposing camp.
How
did the tax delinquency occur?
His
wife took sick with cancer and died, he was forced to retire as the
Deputy U.S. Marshal in Charge of the Waco office at the age of 57,
and his mother, Mrs. T.P. McNamara, suffered a stroke – all in the
same year.
“It
took me three years to even function properly.”
What I took from Plemons' ad is that a boy had hopes & dreams of being a lawman and grew up to fulfill those hopes & dreams....not only fulfilling them, but reaching beyond those hopes & dreams to the HIGHEST level. But I guess that is what positive thinking gets you. I'm sure glad that Dan Quayle invented the internet so that I can read & see this stuff. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat says a lot about the character of Plemons and his boss, the grandfather of the child in the video, Larry Lynch. How does a man who is supposed to be standing and protecting the people sleep at night, when they take advantage of a fellow law officer of Parnell McNamara's reputation and standing in the communittee during a time of great suffering. I thought even in the world of dirty politics that family was off limits. I guess when you have men absent of moral character, disparate to maintain their positions of power, they will say and do anything. I am beside myself at the furious anger I feel toward our Sheriff and his crony running for office. I thought lawmen were supposed to be upstanding men of character. Was Parnell McNamara wrong for his tax issue, absolutely, and he took full ownership of his mistake, despite the circumstances. That's the character I want in a Sheriff, not one who hides from his mistakes as Plemons has done. I heard as the taxpayers are again asked to forkover more money for their budget mistake, they were once again absent from Commissioners Court.
ReplyDeleteI saw the ad with the little boy and I didn't understand why the child was used in the video. It was explained to me today. Someone knew about the picture of Parnell as a child and thought it a good idea to use it for campaign probaganda. What a low, mean thing to do.
DeleteThat's a nice truck in the video. I was under the impression that the McLennan County Personal Manual and Commissioners prohibited McLennan County employees from using McLennan County property for political activities. That would include Randy Plemons using a county owned vehicle in his classless attack. I guess while wearing a county uniform and a county badge makes him think he's immune from the rules.
ReplyDeleteThe people of Mclennan county must be afraid,not of criminals but the top of the Sheriffs dept Lynch,Plemons,Wash,and others ,they will violate the law and intimidate you and your family,beware of what is happening in the sheriffs dept. they are watching you the honest citizen.
ReplyDeleteIsn't using the truck considered Abuse of Official Capacity? Isn't that the same thing Buddy Skeen is doing, using a county vehicle for personal benefit or gain? That's a felony. And Lynch has the nerve to raise holy hell about ethics violations, that according to the Ethics Committee, that were denied by the Ethics Committee. Meanwhile Lynch's Chief Deputy is committing a felony, most likely with Lynch's approval. So that would not only negate Plemons being a lawman, but classify him as a felon.
ReplyDeleteSomeone said it first, Plemons should be in jail not trying to run it.
I know both candidates and both are great guys and whoever is elected will make a fine sheriff. I regret however Randy let someone tell him it was a good idea to run this certain commercial. Clearly it is making fun of Parnell. The child's name tag says it all. If it was just a young boy with aspirations to grow up and be a law man, then his name tag would have said Jeff, or Billy or even Larry. It did not though. As we all read, it said Parnell.
ReplyDeleteIf you watched it and do not believe it was made to take a stab at Parnell, then you are as ignorant as the person who told Randy that this idea for a commercial was a good idea.
Don't know who I am voting for, but let's not dig on each other. Y'all are both above it and each of you deserve respect from the other.
I know both candidates too, and both are not great guys. One is an upstanding lawman with a storied career, the other is a childish bully. Looking at Plemons' ad, it's not hard to tell which is which.
DeleteThis campaign has been run in two very different ways. You don't have both candidates digging on each other. You have one candidate who has lied, misled, and taken digs at the other candidate. Then you have one candidate who took the dig and did what any good seasoned police investigator would do, he found the facts and let them speak for themselves. That candidate is also proud to stand on his record as a lawman of 32 years of experience dealing with some of the worst criminals to our country has seen. , and his experience as a local business man along with his 15 years administrating a 13 county division. There other candidate was standing on his record as an administrator until that record went in the dumpster due to a number of budget blunders, so without that he has tried to reinvent himself touting himself as a lawman, but it's already been proven he doesn't have any record of being a lawman, not even in his own department. Parnell's story has been verified by multiple people and public sources. Randy's story has been contradicted sometimes by his own supporters and by public sources.
If between Plemons' commercial and the many many contradicts to Plemons' story and allegations against McNamara, you still think someone like Plemons deserves to be Sheriff or for that matter is a "great guy", then you really haven't paid attention. Great men stand on their word and record. Pity men try to make liars out of great men. The facts have shown the truth, and the facts have all supported Parnell McNamara, just as I am doing.
Plemons committed a felony with his commercial? Why hasn't the media picked up on this? I guess what everyone is saying about him is true, he'll do anything to win even if it means breaking the law.
ReplyDeleteHilarious how quickly a group of people that hide behind attack sites claiming to be "legit news" are to get their undies in a wad just because "mean old randy put out an ad"......
ReplyDeleteNow that's the pot calling the kettle black. All Plemon's and Lynch have done is try to hide in their glass houses and throw stones at others.
DeleteThey have constantly tried to use the media To their advantage. Lynch has Numerous campaign ethic violations, not complaints, but actual violations, and was fined numerous times.
Plemons is an expert whiner, and cry baby. He had a torn sign, and he wastes Waco PD time and used it to garnish more media attention. McNamara signs have been seen torn down, and stolen numerous times by suck up deputies, and CEC employees. He was so jealous over Parnells CLEAT endorsement, he called channel 25 and the paper demanding to make a tacky statement regarding the endorsement. I could write on and on about Plemons hilarious, pathetic, childish antics
The hell is a'holdin' ya' back, laddy buck. Why in the th' world don't ya' tell us all what ye really think a' all a' this here, my man? - The Legendary
DeleteI was told by a sergeant at the jail that Plemons threatened Tommy Witherspoon with not hiring his son who has applied with the department. It sure fits the long standing pattern from Lynch and Plemons. I heard that's really why the Drug Task Force was dissolved, there was a difference of option between Plemons and the Commander of the Drug Task Force. It wasn't budget reasons, since it's been proven and verified by multiple sources the money is still in the Sheriff's budget.
DeleteCan anyone confirm if Witherspoon's son has applied for a job with the Sheriff's Office.
A stand up guy. Boy it would be a nice change to see your Sheriff actually own up to a mistake for a change. I hope McNamara kicks Lynch and his fluky out of office. I will be voting for Parnell McNamara today!!!
ReplyDeleteThe truck is personally owned by a constable in McLennan County it is not a county truck! so good job on that one! Randy Plemons for Sheriff!
ReplyDeleteIt's the truck driven by Capt. Vanek while he's on duty in an official capacity. Since it is a vehicle used for official purposes, it is subject to the same standards as a county owned vehicle. Of course the uniform and badge are also property of McLennan County too. So regardless, it is a felony for him to use official resources for personal gain or benefit.
DeleteIt certainly is coincidental that Capt.Vanek, the guy who is responsible for the major auto accident recently, is driving that exact truck as his county issued truck. Plemon's camp is lying again.....surprise,surprise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence that the truck used in the commercial is the same one Capt. Vanek drives for the county. That would be the Capt. Vanek that was ignorant of protocal and caused a serious auto accident.
ReplyDeletePlemon's camp lying again....surprise surprise
I have 42 years in law enforcement and now we need Parnell McNamara as sheriff,Mclennan county has not had one since C C MAXEY.
ReplyDeleteC.C. Maxey, now that's going old school. Just more evidence of real front line officers backing Parnell McNamara, because they know first hand what we have now.
DeleteAmazing all the comments wanting Randy Plemons elected. I work in Law Enforcement. I am a taxpayer, Parent, and concerned citizen. The first role of the Sheriff's office is to protect and serve. Now think about what that means. It does not mean to be a paper shuffler, budget manager, or office jockey. It means you are out there enforcing the law. Waco PD, Robinson, Hewitt, Woodway, Mart, Bellmead,and all the other agencies are the ones bringing people to jail and removing criminals off the streets. The Sheriffs office Deputies rarely bring people to jail. If you think this is a false statement then prove it wrong. Ask any of the staff at the County Jail about how often SO Deputies bring people in. It just might shock you. That is why all these people downtown and on patrol are so hell-bent to support Plemons and run down Mcnamara. They have for years been privilaged and comfortable in the fact that that no one messes with them. That they can sit on the road day and night and collect a check. With the possible election of Parnell Mcnamara they might actually have to do their job,...protect and serve. Being a lawman does not mean how much time or experience you have in a classroom. It means you are, or have enforced the law. When you have people that have run the various departments for years that have never even made a real arrest, is a real shame. My vote is already cast, I can only hope that people look beyond rumors, finger-pointing, accusations, and personal ambitions, and make the choice that is better for not only the various departments, but for the community as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought this was going to be a clean race. Looks like Randy is accusing and Parnell is defending.
ReplyDeleteAny time you have to speak bad of your opponent, there must be a problem. You must feel in your heart that these things need to be said so that you will get a persons vote.
Knowing Randy, I would not expect this of him. He is a good person and I know it for sure, but he must feel he is losing out on votes or otherwise he would not make these flimsy accusations.
Keep this in mind. If Randy was not in the race, rest assured he would not be making any accusations against Parnell. He would not, because he would want Parnell to keep him on after the election. The negativity is sure to force him into early retirement.
Just remember when Parnell wins, and he will. I am sure Randy will regret his negative attacks.
A good candidate stands on his record. Of course to stand on a record, you have to have one. The facts of the record show a 32 year, highly successful law enforcement career of a Deputy U.S. Marshal versus a 24 year career of someone holding a peace officer certification without bringing in the bad guy. Parnell McNamara has become something of a living legend in the law enforcement community with his participation on multiple task forces leading to the arrests and convictions of murders and drug lords. Randy Plemons has taught numerous kids DARE without the hint of an arrest. When some drugged out junkie is trying to break into your home, which man would you want to be taking your call?
DeleteLooks like the good guys might actually win this time! If Plemons loses, he has nobody to blame but himself; although he has never taken responsibility for anything! Maybe losing will teach him a valuable lesson, and perhaps he will finally grow up and become a man.....it's never too late Randy.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Lynch goes. He's already a has-been. Most people in law enforcement have always known what a joke he is. He missed his true calling of being a used car salesman years ago. Lynch will have only been Sheriff 12 years. Compared to most Sheriff's, that's not very long. Yet, in that short period of time, his administration has managed to completely ruin the Sheriff's office.
I, for one, can't wait to never have to hear of Lynch and Plemons again.
You're only saying that he completely ruined the Sheriff's Office because he dissolved the Drug Task Force in the wake of the largest increase in drug crimes in history, tried to privatize the jail and its workers, built a $49 million private jail that can't stay compliant, increased the Sheriff's Office budget yet get less bang for our buck, promoted unqualified people to high offices who can't do their jobs, went over budget by $1.8 million so far, moved into a nice new office to turn it into a clubhouse where the deputies don't leave, built a Crisis Response Team and poured hundred of thousand into it and they never get called, inmates have died at the jail and been covered up, a nurse whistle blower was terrorized by deputies, lost federal contracts of ICE prisoners, wasted $1.1 million remodeling a jail that didn't require it, and lastly made the Sheriff's Office so few agencies want to work with them. But he did switch them to away from the brown jeans to black pants, so it wasn't a completely ruined, just almost completely.
DeleteSo McNamara has provided factual evidence to prove every one of Plemons allegations as misleading half-truth or outright lies, and Plemons who claimed that he stood by his ads, was unreachable for comment. Sounds like when he tried to stand on his record as an administrator and then all the budget overruns kept appearing and he was unavailable to come to Commissioners Court. Seems like every time the chips are down, Plemons goes into hiding. McNamara does what any elected official should and comes back with hard evidence of the facts and faces the outcome head on, good or bad. He's taken responsibility for his mistakes and made them right. He's never hid from them.
ReplyDeleteWhen his opponent made fun of the picture sitting on McNamara's desk, McNamara took the high road. Instead of tearing Plemons down with the lack of documentation to back up his Plemons' claims, McNamara and his supporters have flooded the public with articles, reports, eyewitness accounts, and just plain hard facts of McNamara's storied career of a Deputy U.S. Marshal enforcing the law, and bringing the bad guy as every kid dreams. Plemons characterized McNamara as a little boy wanting to dress up as Sheriff, but McNamara has shown that he dedicated his life to becoming the living embodiment of what children of his day dreamed of as a hero. This stands in great contrast to Plemons career as a lawman where even his own department lacks any records of Plemons ever being a part of any arrest, investigation, and raid.
Those that know or have met Parnell McNamara know when they see Parnell McNamara's ads that the man in the picture is the same man they have met and known. They all know he isn't dressed up like a lawman image from some movie, they know he is one of the few people who brings that image off the movie screen and into real life, having made a career as that type of lawman for generations.
I'm someone who's seen that picture on Parnell McNamara's desk on countless occasions. I know that little boy as a determined individual who didn't dream of being some cowboy marshal on the screen, he patterned his life to follow in the footsteps of his dad, granddad, and uncle. All were very real lawmen here in McLennan County. So I would have to say, Parnell McNamara didn't have to dream of a being a lawman as a small boy on that pony, he was born into a lawman legacy that destiny had planned for him, and only practicing for the lifetime career of a lawman that awaited him.
For Plemmons to use a child in a commercial to mock Parnell McNamara is totally outrageous. Mr. McNamara honestly has Texas and Law Enforcement in his blood. And he would never use a child to try and win an election. Whoever dreamed up this commercial must wear their head backwards.
ReplyDelete