Gobble disputes local ad

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble defended his department's drug fund Thursday after it was mentioned in a critical political ad in the sheriff's race.

"I am defending the effectiveness of the drug fund, but I am not endorsing either candidate," said Mr. Gobble, himself a candidate for the Republican nomination for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Two sheriff's department captains - Democrat Steve Lawson, who heads the criminal investigation division, and Republican Jim Ruth, who heads the court security division - are seeking to succeed Mr. Gobble in the Aug. 4 county general election.

In a campaign ad Wednesday, Capt. Ruth said Capt. Lawson has been an "ineffective and inept leader" who "replaced an effective and productive Drug Enforcement Unit at the Sheriff's Office with one that has so far been ineffective and not very productive."

As proof, Capt. Ruth cited a declining drug fund balance in the department's budget.

Mr. Gobble said in a media release that he has stayed out of the race so far but felt obliged to comment this time. He said he, not Capt. Lawson, replaced the drug unit leadership in 2006. And he said the fund balance depends on many variables beyond the drug unit's control.

"Steve Lawson and John Stone have done an excellent job managing the BCSO Drug Unit," Mr. Gobble said in the statement. "The real record proves it. ... To question their effectiveness using one statistic in a political ad is unjustified."

Capt. Ruth agreed during a political forum Thursday that Capt. Lawson, as leader of the criminal investigation division, does not make drug fund decisions. But he stood by his charge that the unit has been ineffective at bringing in more drug-seizure revenue.

Capt. Lawson and Capt. Ruth answered questions Thursday during the Cleveland Kiwanis Club's weekly meeting.

Capt. Lawson said he has no control over the drug fund "and Jim knows this to be a fact." He said he always advises during command staff meetings to "quit spending that (drug fund) money."

Capt. Ruth said the campaign should be focused on qualifications.

"I have tried my best to run this campaign on a positive note," he said. "Unfortunately it has not always kept down that road. It wasn't done by me. I've tried to keep it clean.

"Unfortunately attacks start. When somebody can't answer their qualifications and preparations ... that's what happens. Somebody starts attacking. Attacking, attacking, attacking. It's not right and I wish it hadn't happened," Capt. Ruth said.

Capt. Lawson said he was more than willing to stay positive.

" If you want to leave here today and say 'No more negative ads and we will run positive the rest of the way,' I am glad to do that," he said.

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