Headline Surfer videos produced by Serafina Frederick / Wendell Bradford is called to the podium by executive board members of the Volusia Deputies Association (first video) earlier this summer to make his case for the office of Volusia County sheriff in the Nov. 6 elections. Sheriff Ben Johnson of DeLand then makes his case for re-election. (second video).
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLA. -- Sheriff Ben Johnson has provided strong leadership as Volusia County's top cop for the last 12 years and we see no compelling argument from his challenger, longtime Seminole County deputy and Deltona resident Wendell Bradford, or anyone else for that matter, as to why he should not be re-elected Nov. 6. Headline Surfer fully endorses Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.
Bradford, 47, has been a deputy sheriff in Seminole County since 1991, and has a master's degree in strategic leadership. But he has no proven leadership or experience to support his candidacy. This is Bradford's second run trying to unseat the longtime incumbent, soundly losing in Johnson's maiden run in 2000.
Had Bradford not run, Johnson likely would have had no opposition.
Twenty years before Bradford started in Seminole as a deputy, Johnson was hired as a deputy, steadily moving up the ranks before winning elective office on his first try a dozen years ago when then-Sheriff Bob Vogel opted not to seek re-election.
Bradford has been the aggressor throughout the campaign, telling the Volusia Deputies Association in June, "I will stand beside you to fight for you -- to fight for raises. It is the sheriff's responsibility to stand up for you."
What Bradford failed to demonstrate not only in that forum, but throughout the campaign is how he would pay for it, especially with Volusia County ranking among the highest taxed in the Sunshine State, with near-record foreclosures, high unemployment and families struggling just to pay the light bill.
Johnson reminded the deputies during his turn at the podium how he's been able to save their jobs and with unfilled positions being taken off the table, at least getting the deputies overtime to make up for some of the shortfalls in pay.
Bradford's other major rallying cry for sending the 62-year-old Johnson into retirement is "cronyism."
"We need that new leadership -- we need that new direction for our deputy sheriffs, for our families," Bradford insisted. "We need to do it now."
What Bradford has failed to do throughout the campaign is make his case for the "cronyism," but he offers no definition to back up the generalization.
The challenger has no answer for the incumbent's longetity and experience. Johnson's served in virtually every capacity with the VCSO, even as a SWAT sharpshooter. As he pointed out to the deputy association, he made sergeant 30 months after his hiring and climbed the ladder from there.
When Bradford was asked by the deputy association why he hasn't moved up in nearly two decades with Seminole County, he responded, "You'll have to ask them," adding his personnel file is a public record.
Bradford has had a distinguished career as a deputy, winning several commendations from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, including one he received last year while off duty for performing CPR on a Deltona toddler who had fallen into a pool. The toddler died at the hospital.
Despite his good deeds, Bradford, has not convinced us that it's time for Johnson to go into early retirement. Johnson's experience and leadership are great strengths that his challenger cannot overcome. Headline Surfer asks voters to re-elect Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.