In a recent twitter, Thomas Hodgson posted comments made by an employee that the Sheriff  “keeps taxpayers’ interests and the rehabilitation of inmates in the forefront“ while keeping the community safe. These are the most often repeated boasts made by Hodgson.

In the face of mounting documentation, judicial opinions, legislators’ comments and a stream of petitions and letters from the incarcerated, it becomes obvious that Hodgson’s continuous reliance on these three themes indicate that he is aware of what his major responsibilities should have been, but he realizes have been demonstrably lacking on all counts.

The enormous and continuing expense that he has caused are in the millions for pension padded jobs for his cronies, legal fees for attorneys, judicially ordered awards and penalties, case settlement payments, non job related travel and certification fees to organizations that provide Hodgson with his self-described “world class designation” for his facilities.

“Keeping the community safe“ is the most constant phrase and justification offered by Hodgson to ward off all negative newspaper articles, letters and public condemnations. But of all his claims  this one is grossly and statistically inaccurate as the recidivism rate is always high and the marauding hordes of immigrants have never appeared, nor threatened the people in Bristol County.

And the most provably exaggerated statement of all is that rehabilitation is a major concern for Hodgson. The complete absence of vocational, re-entry, drug and mental health programs has been the major reason that he is now facing a significant challenge from Mayor Paul Heroux and two other candidates.

Voters are tired of hypocritical, self-serving, dishonest and myth spewing politicians, and will have their opportunity to elect an effective, honest, knowledgeable and truly civic minded sheriff on November 8th.

Betty Ussach

Dartmouth