"Sheriff’s candidate files petition over election"

[Shocked]

Unbelievable! Go to the Inter Mountain's story (above title) or search on WBOY-TV's site, which also has a link to read the entire complaint.

Apparently, our County Commission will now decide whether Mike Kelley's name is replaced by David Taylor as winner of the May 8th primary, and ultimately become Sheriff since no Democrats are running in the fall. Taylor also wants Kelley removed from his current position immediately according to the article.

If 2/3 of the voters chose Kelley (63%) over Taylor (31%), it will be interesting to hear people's reactions. I can't imagine Kelley and others not checking into this before he filed for office, so is this a legitimate complaint or the result of a sore loser??? I don't know.

[Sandee]

Can we say Sore loser? Obviously the "people" of the county made it clear in the election they do not want him! it's my understanding that grants are extra funds to provide additional payroll that may not other wise be there so a officer can help with different crime prevention programs, thus making the community safer for everyone to me Mr. Taylor is nitpicking because he lost, i as a citizen am thankful, Mr. Kelley worked to help better the county, and if this is the case is Taylor going after every other officer in the State of WV who ran for office? Does he not think the citizens can not see his real motive and that we would really want him as Sheriff after this? Mr. Taylor you lost, grow up, accept it and move on, do something constuctive with your time instead of crying like a baby you did not win!

[My Thoughts]

Hopefully the county commission sides with the voters of Upshur County....we are the ones that matter and we will have our way in the end!!!!

[okk]

I hope he hasn't paid off the county commission because its obvious Upshur County does not want his, half time Florida living, sore loser behind as our sheriff. Ugh! Commissioners: listen to the same people who voted you in office and leave who we, the voters, with who we voted in!!! To Mr. Taylor, grow up. Noone wants you or your opponent would have gotten twice as many votes! You wouldn't want your choice in elected officials decided for you, even after you voted someone in by a large margain, nonetheless. Don't be childish and force your way on people. Be a man, and accept your loss with dignity.

[friend]

I personally take Mr. Taylor filing this petetion as a slap in the face to Upshur County. He is saying the same things he said in is campaign and the people still voted Mr. Kelly in. Its like he is saying ok Upshur County you do not know whats good for you so I am going to go to the commission and try to become your sheriff whether you want me or not. One thing for sure this does show he does not care about the people of Upshur County. One of the few freedoms we have left is voting and now he is trying thru a loophole to take that away. Write a letter to the editor or if you donn't want to use your name then call in. I intend to do this. At least we need to tell him again we do not want him for sheriff. But he has shown he doesn't care.

[Shocked]

But wait - he's not done yet! I understand Taylor also filed a 30 page complaint with the County Commission against Buddy Brady and the Sheriff's Dept. because Brady cited him for failure to register his vehicle in WV after living here for nearly 2 years & working full-time at the college.

I thought you had maybe 30 days to register your vehicle here once you moved to WV, so it sounds like Brady was justified in his actions. I know someone who has FL license, but they spend the req'd amt. of time there each year, and maintain a permanent residence in FL - none of which Mr. Taylor does to my knowledge.

If he was justified in keeping his FL resident status, what the heck is he doing running for Sheriff of Upshur County - isn't there a residency requirement for that - ya can't have it both ways!

If I was Mr. Taylor, I might have grumbled, but paid my ticket, obtained the proper WV license, and kept my mouth shut - esp. after 2 yrs. running out of state tags.

Is he out to smear the reputation of another long-time, and obviously well-respected Upshur County resident, to keep him from running in the fall election for County Commission after his landslide victory in the primary???

Really - who bothers writing a 30 page complaint over a minor traffic ticket?

Maybe he needs a hobby to keep his mind occupied.

[heisaloser]

Taylor is being urged by the "Create Buckhannon" group to do this.They were able to buy the city election but their money did not work in the county election. So sad that our little town has come to this. Taylor, face it the majority of the residents of Upshur County didn't want you and we don't want the county commission saying you are the Upshur Co. Sheriff. Stay at WVWC or go back to Florida.

[hewillbethewinne r]

for law enforcement to claim they did not know the law is weak at best, anyone recieving pay from the federal government is prohibited from seeking political office, by wv state and federal law. the sword of justice cuts both ways.

[What is the Law]

hewillbethewinner wrote:

for law enforcement to claim they did not know the law is weak at best, anyone recieving pay from the federal government is prohibited from seeking political office, by wv state and federal law. the sword of justice cuts both ways.

It does not matter if the people vote someone in who does not qualify. What does the law state?

To be President, you must be born in the United States to qualify. If you were born in Kenya or somewhere else, you do not qualify to be President therefore it does not matter if the people vote you in.

[not so sure]

WV residents over overwhelmingly voted for a man in prison over Obama. Not so sure we should listen to what the people said in this situation. So if election laws were broken, who knows? Personally, I support Mike Kelley, I am just afraid this could be the opening of the proverbial pandoras box. Law enforcement officers from across the state could be affected.

[Why bother with laws]

If the majority rules over laws, then why bother having any laws?

Mob rule --- if there are 10 people in a room 9 men and 1 woman and the 9 men vote to rape the 1 woman and do it, then majority rules and the law against rape does not matter right?

Mike Kelley is a good man, would make a great Sheriff and everyone wants him to be Sheriff. However, if he does not qualify, then he does not qualify. What does the law say?

[friend]

One thing I know for sure is that I do not want a sheriff who will be the bookeeper of the county money to be someone who gets the job by sliding thru a loophole. Three people should not be the ones to decide who the sheriff should be. It is especially true since Kelley won by such a big margin. Taylor is not wanted for the job.

[Why bother with laws]

I say if were going just ignore the law and put in who we want in, lets just keep Virgil.

why bother with term limits?

let's just do away with all laws.

[2 what I know]

There has been no law broken. Just one sore loser claiming such. Mike is not civil service nor is any othe chief deputy in the state that is running for office, probably 20 or so this election cycle. The attorney general has already ruled as such many elections ago, this is brought up all the time around the state. Here we have a florida resident who wants to uphold our laws and doesn't even now what they are. Even if county comm. rules against mike he will appeal and win. Many have tried and all have failed so will taylor.

[Why bother with laws]

2 what I know wrote:

There has been no law broken. Just one sore loser claiming such. Mike is not civil service nor is any othe chief deputy in the state that is running for office, probably 20 or so this election cycle. The attorney general has already ruled as such many elections ago, this is brought up all the time around the state. Here we have a florida resident who wants to uphold our laws and doesn't even now what they are. Even if county comm. rules against mike he will appeal and win. Many have tried and all have failed so will taylor.

Ok, well thanks for posting this. If that is the case, then yes Mike Kelley all the way!

[paralegal]

Mr Taylor is doing nothing more than showing what a complete a** he is & you can bet that CJ Rylands is the barker of the carnival show. Taylor, with CJ calling the shots, will do nothing more than blow this into one of the stinkiest turds that has ever stunk up the county & when it's over & done, my money is on Mike Kelley still be sworn in as Sheriff.

[Voters deserve FACTS]

2 what I know - I truly hope you are right in this!

Funny how everytime someone questions Taylor's WV residency issues, the question is avoided with smokescreens. If he can file mega complaints against Kelley (and Brady), why won't he answer these simple questions?
1) When did he move to WV (rent or buy a place)?
2) When did he accept a job (Wesleyan or otherwise)?
3) Did he spend the req'd 6 mos. & a day in FL each year while also living in WV?
4) Did he maintain a home in FL (not a place he rents to someone else)?
#3 & 4 are requirements to maintain FL residency while living in another state.
5) When did he finally claim WV residency and obtain WV license/tags?

These are important and fair questions - ones the voters deserve honest answers to.

If the law regarding grant funds applies and Taylor wins BY DEFAULT against the voters wishes, some other questions come to mind:
a) does this mean no other deputy can hold office as they also rec'd some of the grant funds?
b) will he seek grants for community safety programs in the future?
c) if so, will he accept grant funds as part of his salary or refuse them so he can run in the next election?
d) will he allow other deputies to refuse those funds as well in case they want to run for office?

Sure does open Pandora's box.

The voters deserve the truth without more BS and distractions. Answer the questions Mr. Taylor and show us some proof once and for all! That simple

[Voters deserve FACTS]

One other question - is there a WV residency requirement before filing for public office? I don't know the answer to this, but would think a person must be a WV resident for a certain period of time before holding office. If so, did he meet that requirement as I heard he just changed his residency to WV a few months ago after beging stopped for running Fl tags for 2 yrs. while living here?

Does anyone know if there is a WV residency requirement for those seeking public office?

[Frank]

Voters deserve FACTS wrote:

One other question - is there a WV residency requirement before filing for public office? I don't know the answer to this, but would think a person must be a WV resident for a certain period of time before holding office. If so, did he meet that requirement as I heard he just changed his residency to WV a few months ago after beging stopped for running Fl tags for 2 yrs. while living here?
Does anyone know if there is a WV residency requirement for those seeking public office?

My understanding is that he only filed for residency a couple weeks before he filed to run for sheriff. He was also let go from his position with WVWC a couple of weeks before the election. Mike Kelley is not a civil service employee as chief deputy (nor is the sheriff) and is therefore not bound by the Hatch Act that Dave Taylor is contending is the basis of his suit. He is just a sore loser and cannot live with the reality that the majority of the voters do not want him as their sheriff. He would be better off to go back to Florida but they do not want him either.

[reality]

Just curious, but where was CJ busted for selling drugs? What are the details of that?