A case of mistaken identity

After 35 years of being involved in law enforcement, an old problem still exists. It started in 1973 as two young patrolmen on the St. Joseph Police Department who both shared the last name of Fisher were quite often confused.

Both of these officers had assignments in the Patrol Division and also worked together in the Detective Division. It seemed people could remember the last name but not the first. One of these officers was Ron Fisher and the other was me, Bill Fisher. We are not related to each other in any way, other than following a career in law enforcement.

Both of us have since retired from the Police Department but have continued our careers in law enforcement. Ron works as a court marshal for the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, assigned to Division 4. I work as an investigator for the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office. I also have two sons, Jeff and BJ, who also have followed a career in law enforcement. Jeff is an investigator with the Drug Strike Force, and BJ is an officer with the Police Department.

Working in law enforcement all these years, Ron and I have met and talked to a lot of people who still can’t remember our first names or didn’t know there were two of us running around in the first place. This normally wouldn’t present a problem that we haven’t dealt with in the past, except this is an election year and Ron has filed for and is running for sheriff.

To be fair to all the candidates running for that position and the community, it is only right to resolve the mistaken identity issue once and for all. I work in the prosecutor’s office and AM NOT running for sheriff. Though I truly appreciate the support I have received from numerous people who thought I was a candidate, I just want it made clear it is not me who is running.

Because of where I am employed, I will not formally endorse any of the candidates with whom I have to work with now or in the future. I would strongly encourage everyone to exercise your right to vote, and make sure you know your candidate before casting your vote.

Bill Fisher, St. Joseph

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Fiscal responsibility

Sam Graves has been involved in a spending frenzy during the past eight years — without covering the costs of that spending. This is known as deficit spending.

The budget has ballooned from $1.8 trillion in 2000 to a projected $3 trillion for 2008. In 2000, there was a budget surplus of $230 billion, compared to a projected budget deficit in 2008 of $410 billion. The national debt has now risen to an incredible $10 trillion.

Congressman Sam Graves supports deficit spending.

Add to this dismal lack of fiscal responsibility the dramatic rise in oil and gasoline prices, the crash in subprime mortgages, the bank credit debacle and the deflation in home values. We cannot afford another two years of “Gravenomics.”

Kay Barnes has a record of economic growth as mayor of Kansas City. Kay Barnes has an ability to work with a diversity of viewpoints to achieve economic success.

David Raffel, Parkville, Mo.