Editor, The Herald:

I recently read a letter to the editor in The Farmville Herald in support of all incumbents in November's General Elections. What particularly interested me was the part about the race for Sheriff. The writer of the editorial wrote, speaking of Captain Reed, “we have a candidate with 27 continuous years of experience in all facets of our Sheriff's Department- which holds the responsibility of not only protecting us, but protecting our courts, transportation of prisoners, and many other things we don't see, or know about.” Well, just because Mr. Reed has 27 years of experience does not make him more qualified than Greg “Juice” Giuriceo. Mr. Giuriceo has 20 years of law enforcement experience, but instead of bragging about how many years he has under his belt, he would rather focus on what he can do for the county. Experience does count for something, but we must not forget that it takes more than experience to be a Sheriff. Just because you may have worked for many years in an occupation, does not automatically say that you have what it takes to be a good leader. He must be able to lead the department in a positive direction, while exemplifying respect and honesty. He should also be a person of good character with a great reputation. In my opinion, Mr. Reed does not deserve the credit for the protection of our courts, the transportation of prisoners and protecting the citizens-that credit belongs to Sheriff Harris and every officer in the county.

I am writing in support of Mr. Giuriceo because he is the same person all the time. He wears the uniform, it doesn't wear him. Unlike his opponent, in my opinion, the citizens know where he stands on various issues and they know that he has no need to deceive the citizens. Mr. Giuriceo treats everyone with respect, compassion and courtesy, not because he is running for office, but because he was reared that way. I have known the Giuriceo family for several years and can say that Mr. Giuriceo has good morals and values. He is a man of great faith and he is a family man who believes that right is right and wrong is wrong.

Mr. Giuriceo always says, 'if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything,' which is a true statement. Mr. Giuriceo stands for integrity, accountability, honor, transparency, and pride, which he will bring to the Sheriff's Office. I encourage all citizens to view Mr. Giuriceo's vision and plan for the county at www.pesheriff.com. Unlike his opponent, Mr. Giuriceo has a vision and plan. I do not understand how people can support a candidate with no vision. Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Mr. Giuriceo is a man of integrity, a Christian, a patriot, an honest fellow, a hard worker, and a leader who believes that the status quo is not an option. While we thank Sheriff Harris for his service and dedication to the community, it is still apparent that the Sheriff's Office is still not accredited, which both Mr. Reed and Sheriff Harris deemed a priority during the last election and the election before that.

With the retirement of Sheriff Harris, we have an opportunity to vote to move the county forward and the best candidate to do that is Greg “Juice” Giuriceo. He is the candidate, the friend, the leader, with the right tools and being that he does not have direct ties with the Sheriff's Office he will provide a fresh perspective needed to get this department accredited and to assure the citizens of Prince Edward County their safety.

Dismiss any rumors you may have heard about Mr. Giuriceo because they have no base and are nothing but a lame attempt to distract voters. With Mr. Giuriceo, what you see is what you get. He hates disorder and confusion and promises to improve the Sheriff's Office for the best. I have never seen Mr. Giuriceo not do anything that he has said he would do. I can trust his word because he says what he means and he means what he says. I don't know how anyone could expect anything more. If anyone has any concerns, Mr. Giuriceo is very approachable and would love to address your concerns. All you have to do is ask. He has listed his phone number and email address on his website and is also listed in the phone book. So, he has made it as easy as possible for anyone to contact him.

I implore all citizens to get out and vote for Greg “Juice” Giuriceo for Sheriff of Prince Edward County on November 8th because he “will bring a new, energized leadership to our Sheriff's Office for the benefit of all Prince Edward County residents.” When I look at the facts and learn about both candidates, it is very clear that Greg 'Juice' Giuriceo is the best person to lead our department.

Hosea Jones

Farmville