Pubdate: Mon, 30 Oct 2006
Source: Daily Journal, The (IL)
Copyright: 2006 The Daily Journal Publishing Co., L.L.C.
Contact:  http://www.daily-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2805
Author: Hank Williams Jr., Democratic Sheriff's Candidate

LETTER FROM HANK WILLIAMS

The Current Sheriff Spoke at a Press Conference on Thursday, Oct. 12 
and He Stated, "Kankakee County Is a Safer Place Today Than It Was 10 
Years Ago."

If this is a true statement, why is he placing such an enormous 
burden upon the county taxpayer's with the Jerome Combs prison? When 
completed, this edifice will have an inmate bed capacity to rival 
Will County's; not to mention that Will County is 6 1/2 times the 
size of Kankakee, and has out-distanced, out-paced and out-planned us 
in the field of economic development.

He further proceeded to elaborate by expounding upon a self-generated 
question, "Do we say that all crime is gone in Kankakee County? 
Certainly not, but we've made some significant inroads in trying to reduce it."

At the recent Kankakee YMCA's Living and Learning Committee Forum 
conducted at Kankakee Community College on Sunday, Oct. 15 the 
current sheriff when questioned in reference to the drug traffic in 
the county stated to the effect that it was the federal government's 
responsibility to target the high profile suppliers.

It is the sheriff's sole responsibility to create a comprehensive 
strategic plan to target the high-profile sophisticated narcotic 
king-pins and cartels that have a predaceous and cataclysmic history 
of supplying drugs into our country.

Crack cocaine has spread across Kankakee County like a prairie fire 
and the sad downside effect is this; the current sheriff doesn't want 
to roll up his sleeves and address this situation. Communities are 
dealing with, and attempting to wrestle with solutions.

For a tiny drug, crack cocaine is having an insidious impact upon our 
constituency. In its most popular size, 0.2 grams, the white or tan 
$20 crystals are one-eighth to one-fourth the size of an M&M candy. 
We must aggressively and tactically cut off the supply. Once we 
diligently cut off the supply, the demand for the drugs will force 
the dealers and users to obtain and ply their trade outside of Kankakee County.

Hank Williams Jr.

Democratic Sheriff's Candidate
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MAP posted-by: Elaine