GEOFF PENDER
THE SUN HERALD

When the workday ends at Harrison County government offices, at least a couple hundred employees, from top elected officials to lowly wage earners, hop in their cars, trucks or sports utility vehicles and take a free ride home.

All Harrison County government vehicles should be parked at quitting time.
The elected officials which state, "I am on call 24 hours a day," should drive there personal vehicles and be paid the rate established by Mississippi for all 
other government employees which are paid to use there personal vehicles.
A work day is normally eight (8) hours, and this should become the standard 
for all elected officials and state workers driving government owned vehicles.

It's all on the taxpayer - car note, gasoline, insurance and repairs.

It is no wonder why people want to work for the state of Mississippi.  We the 
voters and taxpayers pay unnecessary benefits.

For the bulk of these employees - police, fire and other emergency workers - round-the-clock access to a county vehicle carries the burden of being on call around the clock. But for many, the vehicles are more of a perk; the likelihood they'll be called out after hours is slim.

Definition of the word perk; gratuity, freebie, bonus, benefit, extra, & advantage.  
The teachers of Mississippi have been promised pay raises year after year, including next year,  along with thousands of other Mississippi workers.  
What the state is paying in luxury vehicles, car note, gasoline, insurance and maintenance/repairs. 
This alone would be enough saved money to give the deserving Mississippi workers there hard earned raises.

In Harrison County, at least 75 non-police and non-fire workers, more than any other Coast government, get to take their government vehicles home. And while county policy and state law say that the vehicles are for county business only, use is not closely monitored. Even top elected officials admit they fudge a little.

Have a designated location for these, Coast government vehicles, to be parked when not being used for official use.
The reason this practice is happening is because our top elected officials admit they fudge a little. These are your elected officials which the voters and taxpayers of Mississippi voted to allow this practice to go on. 
Their are laws to change this practice, Initiative, special elections, town meetings, and others.  Contact your corrupt Secretary of State, Eric Clark, 

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
SECRETARY OF STATE

ERIC CLARK
401 MISSISSIPPI STREET
POST OFFICE BOX 136
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39205-0136
TELEPHONE (601) 359-1350
FACSIMILE (601) 359-1499
EMAIL: administrator@ sos.state.ms.us
GMcWhorter@sos.state.ms.us

I say corrupt because he allowed taxpayers money of Mississippi to provide illegal grants totaling $70,000.00 to the Wildlife Rehabilitation & Nature Preservation Society, Inc., Pass Christian, Mississippi, director, Katy Pope. The money came out of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources/Tidelands trust fund.
So you see, corruption is at at the top level of Mississippi Government, when running and getting elected became a lucrative business. By providing money, power, & perks, naturally corruption became second nature for political non-serving elected officials.

www.mississippiwebsite.com

VOTE THEM OUT, VOTE THEM OUT, VOTE THEM OUT, VOTE THEM OUT, VOTE THEM OUT

County leaders, in fact, had a tough time tracking down who drives vehicles home and what vehicles they drive when The Sun Herald requested the information.

Why would our County leader not want to provide information on who drives government vehicles home. Could it be they are in violation of Mississippi law. Could it be they (County leaders) believe they can do whatever they want to do, like not serving the public, or working to save taxpayer dollars.
It once was a privilege to run for elected office and be respected as an honest person. A person which you knew would work for you the voter. A person you could go too their office and sit down a speak about your concerns.
But now, it's not that way, running for elected office is to obtain the money, power, and perks. They will tell you what you want to hear but once elected it becomes what the elected official want to do. 

One elected county supervisor said he was shocked to learn another supervisor's secretary was taking a county car home.

If the truth was known, I doubt if this elected county supervisor was really shocked when he learned of the secretary taking a county car home.

County leaders also had problems explaining what the policy is on what type vehicles are purchased. Apparently, there is no policy.

I wonder why their is not a policy, could it have been overlooked on purpose. Did your elected officials, knowing if a policy was placed in writing stating the only cars purchased for Harrison County would all be the same brand.  Small, compact non-luxury vehicles which must get great gas mileage and low maintenance.
We the taxpayers and voters can ensure this policy is written into Mississippi Law, and perhaps now is the time to make this policy become law.  

For instance, a worker at one Harrison County community center drives a new Ford Explorer home. Another drives a seven-year-old van; another, a Crown Victoria. One elected county supervisor drives a well-worn '94 Crown Vic; another has a new car. Three of the ffive board members drive large new SUVs.

Small non-luxury vehicles, all the same brand, which gets great gas mileage and low maintenance. 

"I don't know - they ask for a car, you give them a car," said Bobby Eleuterius, president of the Board of Supervisors, who drives a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe. "We just get the requests for approval. I don't get into the decision-making on what type."

Some how I am having a very hard time believing this elected Board of Supervisor.  We do not have the money to finish the East/West road, but this Supervisor, an elected official can drive a luxury vehicle.
He stated, "I don't get into the decision-making on what type," so who and how was it decided to provide this Supervisor a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe? 

The county's $3 million fleet of non-police-and-fire vehicles is a hodgepodge of makes, models and colors, and there is no countywide plan or policy on when they should be retired and replaced. Often, when one county official gets a new car, his or her old one is handed off to someone else. Some old clunkers from the 1970s and 1980s are still around, only seldom used as "pool vehicles." Occasionally, the county will auction off some old vehicles.

Three million dollar fleet (plus), is paid by the taxpayers of Mississippi.  Do you, the voter and taxpayers of Mississippi really believe elected officials are serving the public? Do you honestly think they care about saving your hard earned tax money? Do you see how once elected all they want is money, power, & perks.
All of these vehicles should be parked, counted, separated by brand, color, year, mileage, actual cost when purchased new, where the vehicle was purchased, all maintenance records, and the persons name the vehicle is checked out too.
All of this information should be published so the taxpayers and voters in Harrison County can see the fraud, waste, & abuse being conducted by the elected and non-elected government and state agency people.
And sale all of these vehicles, purchase small, compact vehicles of the same brand, non-luxury, good gas mileage, and low maintenance, And a shelf-life of 5 years.
This would take the burden of having your elected and non-elected, state taxed paid, Harrison County worker from showing corruption.

Other Coast governments claim to do a better job of managing vehicle use. But Gulfport also had a difficult time tracking down who drives what vehicle home. Only Biloxi and Jackson County could quickly access lists of take-home vehicles.

When elected officials show they do not want to work with the voters and taxpayers, you can bet they are trying to hide the truth. But this is not uncommon with politicians. 

Jackson County, however, refused to supply a detailed list of its take-home vehicles and the employees who drive them.

I wonder if Jackson County elected officials know they can be replaced. "Think about what I have just stated" and check the laws on special elections.

In Gulfport, 39 people drive vehicles home. In Biloxi, 21; in Jackson County, 24.

Park the vehicles, it is not the responsibility of the taxpayers of Mississippi to provide transportation to elected officials and state agency personal with a personal vehicles. 

At the state level, millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted each year on vehicles, the state Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review commission has concluded after several studies.

I have dealt with the PEER Committee, Max.Arinder@peer.state.ms.us (Max Arinder), www.mississippiwebsite.com/peercommittee.htm. Please visit and read how this Committee is just another waste of your tax money.
If the, "Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Commission." was needed, changes would be made when corruption is known. But I have not found one case where the PEER Committee had made a difference in any known corruption.
The PEER Committee is made up of your legislatures (check my website links) the same elected officials which have there own agenda.  They know longer serve the public, for example: Remember when the people in Mississippi wanted to have there own Lottery.  What happened, did you the taxpayers & voters get to vote on this issue, no.  Your elected officials decided on there own too just say no. And this is but only one case, think back and you will understand what I am saying you.

Government leaders tend to put little thought into fuel efficiency, whether reimbursing some employees for mileage makes more sense than providing a car, or monitoring systems to prevent abuse of vehicle privileges, the PEER commission says.

Why is it when the taxpayers and voters in Harrison County want and needs something done. The first thing your elected officials will say, " We don't have the money." Can you understand now why the money is not their, there driving around in a luxury, tax paid vehicle, to the tune of $3 million dollars (plus).
But these elected officials will run for re-election and get re-elected, "why is that?"

Although PEER hasn't investigated local governments, the watchdog agency suspects many county and city governments don't plan or manage vehicle use very well.

So why is there a PEER Committee anyway, because legislatures on this committee get extra money to have  meeting, they talk about what ever they talk about, and then do nothing.
I wonder how many committees their are which pays our legislatures extra money and does nothing for the taxpayers of Mississippi?
Perhaps the PEER Committee needs to have a meeting on the subject!! 

"I would be very surprised if local vehicle management is any better than the state's," said Max Arinder, PEER director. "And one really big finding we've had is that there is no state vehicle management system."

Which means their could be a lot of new vehicle parts being purchased by the taxpayers and never getting to the government vehicle. This is just another way of wasting taxpayers money.

What is personal use?

Their is know personal use! When taxpayers money is used to purchase anything, the item purchased is owned by the public. Its like when you invoke the, "Mississippi Public Records Act, of 1983." Here is when you are asking for information, files, or documents which you as a taxpayer have paid for once. Which means you can request copies of file/document you want. But when you make your request you will find your elected official will want you to pay for this service again. 
The Secretary of State, Eric Clark has set the criteria for which you will have to request the information, the agency will send you a form so you can write out specifically which file/documents you want. Then this agency will give you a list of how you will repay for the luxury of having these people working at this agency to research your request, (www.mississippiwebsite.com,) and check links. 
So you not only must know the exact piece file/document you want, but you will pay twice to obtain the information. I call this a SCAM but these state agencies know that making your request expensive and hard to obtain, you will not even make the request. 

State law prohibits the personal use of government property, period. But with government vehicles, elected officials and workers are usually on the honor system.

I believe I have shown there is also no such thing as the "Honor System" among elected officials. But I have also established that your elected officials only want money, power, & perks.

In Gulfport in recent years, several employees have been caught abusing their vehicle privileges. One was fired after Councilman Richard Rose spotted him one weekend using a city truck to move his furniture to a new house. Another was fired for fueling his friends' and family's cars at a city pump. Another was fired after he was discovered taking a city dump truck home. He was using the dump truck to steal city limestone for his driveway.

On the other hand, not to many years ago, The Fire Chief was installing a new in ground swimming pool at the back of his home located on Pineville Road, Long Beach.  He had taken the taxpayers Well-Point machine, this is a unit which sucks out the underground water in order to dig a hole to place the pool.
He was caught, it was in the newspapers and television, their were meetings at Long Beach City Hall. But when all was said and done it was decided that even though he had committed fraud, waste & abuse buy stealing and using city property for personal use. No action would be taken against the Fire Chief.
Did the taxpayers get slapped in the face or what, do you get the feeling that if you are salaried by the city you can break the law and it's OK. Well, that is what happened - and our elected officials wonder why we the voters & taxpayers believe all elected officials and state employees are corrupt. 

Harrison County Supervisor Larry Benefield said he has witnessed some abuse of county vehicles over the years.

This is a good statement, here is a County Supervisor that is part of the problem. And he states that he has witnessed abuse of county vehicles. If that is not calling the kittle black, I don't know what is.
All I can say is Initiative or Special Election.

"I saw a county elected official shopping at a grocery store in their county vehicle," Benefield said. He would not name the official, but said that person has since left office.

Knowing the code of silence between elected officials, would you call this an honorable and correct statement?

The county doesn't have a system to ensure that employees aren't taking taxpayers' vehicles on personal trips.

Then I am sure employees are taking taxpayers vehicles on personal trips, along with elected officials. By not having a way to verify the use of your taxpayers vehicles, your elected officials have provided the way for corruption to become a surety, and allowing fraud, waste, & abuse to become an expectable practice.

But government leaders said they think abuse is fairly rare. Citizens, they say, are pretty good watchdogs of government vehicles and don't hesitate to complain if they think government vehicles are being abused.

I do not believe this statement, "Citizens, they say, are pretty good watchdogs of government vehicles and don't hesitate to complain if they think government vehicles are being abused." How many of you go around looking for government vehicles licenses plates? How does one find the person driving the government vehicle when it is parked? If you did confront a person driving a government vehicle do you believe he/she would admit abuse? 
If all of the government owned vehicles are parked after an eight (8) hour day, and paying mileage to those who are on call 24 hours a day. This would stop some, but not all, of the misuse of our taxpayers dollars. But then again your elected officials are not going to give up there perks for anyone.
Remember: The Mississippi Constitution says, "WE THE PEOPLE" perhaps we need to take back our government and ensure our elected officials serve the public instead of the public serving our elected officials.

"I've been to county meetings when I plan to play golf in the afternoon," said Harrison County Supervisor William Martin, who drives a 1992 Crown Victoria. "I've finished what I'm doing and gone to the golf course. I've had people put notes on my car saying, 'What are you doing out here in a county vehicle?' "

If people are placing notes saying, "What are you doing out here in a county vehicle?" on the Supervisors tax paid, government owned vehicle, don't you get the feeling he is being told something. But the way he is looking at it, I am a County Supervisor, I will do whatever I want to do with this government owned vehicle.
He must have known he was going to play golf, I am sure his clubs were in the trunk of the government owned vehicle.
Remember: Money, power & perks - fraud, waste, & abuse - Initiative ballot or Special Elections.

Elected leaders say being a public servant makes it hard to differentiate between government and personal business.

Another stupid statement, what is the definition of  personal use? State law prohibits the personal use of government property, period. Call me old fashion, call me stupid, but I do not read any gray area in the State Law.

"I'm not going to say I haven't (used a county vehicle for personal business)," said Supervisor Eleuterius. "But I'm on call 24 hours a day. For instance, I've been to watch football games on the weekend. But that's supporting the kids. The Coliseum, yes, I've been to events there. We've been invited now to a thing at the Grand (Casino), a Crystal Gayle concert, as county officials. . . . It's the same thing the city mayors do."

Supervisor Eleuterius is not a Mayor! He believes he is on call 24 hours a day, and if called he can go to the location where his government vehicle is and check it out to perform his Supervisory duties. He could drive his own vehicle and get paid mileage for his Supervisory use.
Going to sports events is not a Supervisory function, and if he really thinks sports are, he really needs to get out of politics. Going to a concert is not a Supervisory function, and I doubt that the tickets he received to attend a concert at the Grand Casino stated, "and be sure you drive you government owned vehicle." And once again Supervisor Eleuterius is not a Mayor!

Supervisor Connie Rockco, who drives a 2000 Ford Expedition, said she will occasionally stop at a store on the way home to pick up an item or two, such as a quart of milk.

Lets see, is a 2000 Ford Expedition considered a luxury vehicle? How much did the taxpayers of Mississippi pay for such a luxury vehicle? Could Supervisor Connie Rockco have saved the taxpayers of Mississippi lots of money if he had a small, compact vehicle? Did he even think about saving the taxpayers of Mississippi money? Why does he need to stop at a store and pick up anything? 
It is obvious he believes what ever he does is Ok. 

"But I won't go from home to the store in my county vehicle," Rockco said.

He has stated that he will stop at a store and pick up items he needs, there is know need to drive back to the store in his government owned vehicle.
Does this make since?

Besides state law, Harrison County has a written policy that says county vehicles must be used for county business only

This whole article has been about the misuse of government owned vehicles. And here at the end of the article it is noted that Harrison County has a written policy stating county vehicles must be used for county business only.
Boy, doesn't this statement make you feel better. It makes you wonder why you bothered to read the whole article just to find this out. 
You know that your elected officials and state agency employees are abiding by the written policy even though you have been reading how corrupt these elected officials and state agency employees are.
I am certain everyone will sleep better just knowing about this written policy!!

"I guess the question is, what is personal use?" said Supervisor Benefield. "Do I stop and get a pack of gum at a convenience store or a pack of screws at the hardware store? Yes. But serious shopping? No."

It seems that every time a Supervisor opens his mouth they stick there foot in it. Lets examine Supervisor Benefield statement, "Do I stop and get a pack of gum at a convenience store or a pack of screws at the hardware store? Yes. But serious shopping? No."
A pack of gum, common sense, does this sound like misuse of a government vehicle, I think so.
A pack of screws, it they are to be used on an official taxpayers project, I would say its legal. If he is stopping to pick up the pack of screws for any other use, I would say he needs to get out of politics. 

What to drive?

Until May, state law mandated that governments buy vehicles "of a fuel-efficient model which meets the need of the using entity," and that "no such new passenger vehicles purchased shall be luxury vehicles, utility, carryall or full-size vehicles as defined by the industry" unless elected leaders pass a resolution that a special need for such largess exists. The law carried a similar proviso against buying cars with power windows or locks.

Our elected officials have not upheld the state law, therefore they need to be removed from office. But our government does not work within state laws, or any other laws for that matter.
Fraud, Waste, & Abuse of power - money, power, & perks - intimidation, corruption, & retaliation, this is how your government keeps the people of Mississippi in line.
I know this first hand, I have experienced the wrath and lack of responsibilities of your elected officials and state agencies.
read my website: www.mississippiwebsite.com      

These provisions of the law were universally ignored. Most Coast government leaders interviewed didn't know they existed. Governments have for years bought luxury cars and SUVs, mainly for elected leaders, and power windows and locks are the rule more than the exception.

"Laws are being universally ignored."  What does this mean to a politician? Perhaps the politicians believe the state has just made a mistake, and they are not required to abide by state law. By stating that they were not aware the laws existed, tell me our elected officials and state agency employees are so stupid they want the taxpayers to believe there BS. 
I know Supervisor Connie Rockco, who drives a 2000 Ford Expedition is not aware of the provisions of Mississippi law. The voters which placed him into office know he would not commit fraud, waste, & abuse of power, it's just one big mistake.
County Supervisor William Martin, who drives a 1992 Crown Victoria is another misunderstood elected official, just ask the voters which voted him into office.
The county's $3 million (plus) fleet of tax paid government owned vehicles comes under the, money, power, & perks reason to run for elected office in Harrison County.
I know the taxpayers and voters feel helpless, but your not.  Take away all of the government owned vehicles and pay our elected leaders along with the state agency employees mileage on there own vehicles.
If you need a phone number, fax number, email address, or send me your complaints and I will get them to the elected official or state employee you want to replace.
Remember: "WE THE PEOPLE" run our government, it just our government is keeping it a big secret from the voters.

E-mail addresses: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
                            wranpsscammiss@aol.com
                            misswebsite@aol.com
                            

This year, the state Legislature revised the law, deleting the provisions about fuel efficiency, luxury vehicles and SUVs. The change took effect in May.

Did you, as a Mississippi taxpayer and voter, get to vote on the revised state legislature law? did not know the law was revised until this moment?  So how can a law be revised without our knowledge?
Could it be like when your legislatures went behind closed door, and voted to double there Retirement Benefit Package.  They did not want you the people of Mississippi to know about this, but it got out anyway. And it was repealed, but not because the Governor or Lt. Governor wanted it to be, its just they were caught and had to do something.
An honest Governor would have vetoed the law, but not our newly elected Governor, he not only didn't veto the bill, he refused to sign the bill. This means the bill would become law and he along with the Lt. Governor would benefit from the passage of the bill.
This again is a classic example of how your elected officials could care less about your hard earned paid-in tax money.
They have know problem ensuring they are taking care of themselves first and foremost.

Both Gulfport Mayor Bob Short and Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway have come under fire in recent years for the vehicles they drive.

So, take away there vehicles, you, the taxpayers purchased the vehicles. They do not own the vehicles, their owned by the taxpayers of Mississippi. I do not believe the voters & taxpayers of Harrison County know just how much power they have over elected officials and state agencies.
You, are the power, read the Mississippi Constitution sec. 5 and 6; www.mississippiwebsite.com it explains how government is suppose to function.

In 1997, Short rejected a new $19,000 Ford Crown Victoria the City Council bought for him. He said he "wanted a nicer car. It was a plain Crown Vic." He said he needed a better car, in part, because, "We are bringing in a lot of people from foreign countries to invest in our city." The council sent the car back and bought Short a $23,000 Crown Victoria that met his specifications - leather seats, climate control and a "premium stereo sound system."

This is the height of government corruption, an elected official arguing over the type of vehicle the taxpayers of Harrison County will be paying for. Take the vehicle put it up for public auction and tell the Mayor he can walk to where he needs to go.
He was elected to serve the public, or did he run for office to serve himself. Either way, he should not be in any elected office.

Mayor Holloway caught some flak the same year when Biloxi taxpayers bought him a 1998 GMC Yukon sports utility vehicle for $29,000.

Who decided to purchase this GMC Yukon sports utility vehicle? Is the Mayor working for the people or for himself? Remove the Mayor, place him back into the private sector where one works for his own vehicle.
The power is in the Mississippi Constitution - read it!! www.mississippiwebsite.com

Besides being more expensive than most cars or pickups, SUVs are notorious gas guzzlers. Full-size models, such as Yukons, Chevy Tahoes and Ford Expeditions and Excursions, get less than 20 miles to the gallon.

I get the feeling our elected officials and state agencies are not aware of the fuel shortage and the high prices we the common folks have to pay for fuel.
Or, perhaps your elected official and state agencies just don't give a damn what taxpayers and voters think.

Harrison County government has 16 take-home SUVs, compared with two for Gulfport, two for Biloxi and one for Jackson County.

Stop all take-home, Harrison County government vehicles, or get rid of all the elected officials and state agency employee vehicles!!

Besides elected Supervisors Benefield, Eleuterius and Rockco, several administrators, department heads and others in Harrison County drive sports utility vehicles to and from work. There is no written policy on SUVs, and county leaders had difficulty explaining why various people have them.

They do not care, this has become obvious. I am so tired of corrupt elected officials and state agencies screwing the taxpayers and voters of Mississippi.
I am only one, but I have this Website, and I am working very hard to make you, the taxpayers and voters understand that your not helpless.
People are afraid to stir the pot, change the status quo, make the government work for you instead of the people working for the government. All you must do is get involved, you live here, raise your children here, work here, and pay a hell of a lot in taxes. But yet you allow the government to run your lives, and it is not suppose to work this way. The government is there to serve the public; serve, a word meaning hand out, hand round, give out, dole out, provide, & supply. Not; take, steal, cheat, take care of ones self, intimidate, retaliate, punish, keep in line, not abide by the laws, and revising laws.

Supervisors, and apparently many other county government workers, are able to pick the vehicles they want from the "state bid list."

OH! this is being honest, and fair to the taxpayers which have paid for these vehicles. 
Is their any place in this article where any elected official or state agency employee has stated they serve the people of Harrison County?
When Supervisors and county government workers pick the vehicles they want from the, "state bid list." This is stealing from the taxpayers. And when an elected official and state agency employees will steal, they will also lie, and cheat. Are these the people you want to run your government? It really does not matter, because these are the people you have running your government.

The state contracts prices with many auto dealers across Mississippi, and most local governments buy the bulk of their vehicles under the state contract because it usually offers the best deal.

From the types of vehicles Harrison County has purchased, it seems to me they are very selective on which dealers they contract with. 

But lots of county officials also get their pick of vehicles through swapping and shopping vehicles in-house.

I would like to read the law showing this is a legal procedure. Does the saying; honor among thieves - mean anything to you!

"I just got the one that (former Supervisor) David LaRosa drove, after he became tax collector," Supervisor Eleuterius said of his $28,000 '98 Tahoe. "No, I don't necessarily need (an SUV), other than I take it around a lot of job sites. I drove a car for the last 15 years. . . . I think that if a mayor is allowed to drive an SUV, then county supervisors should be."

Why is the quote, " if the Mayor is allowed to drive an SUV, then county supervisors should be." Are the supervisors stating they are the same as a Mayor. And why is a Mayor driving an SUV anyway.
I believe we need to have an Initiative demanding our elected officials and state agency employees start serving the taxpayers and voters of Mississippi.
First, their must be an Initiative getting our government out of telling the people of Mississippi they will not allow this or that Initiative. This is the Initiative I am working on now.  We do not need a corrupt government telling the taxpayers and voters what Initiatives, "We The People" can have. They are there to serve the taxpayers and voters, and should support all Initiatives the people of Mississippi want to vote on.  We have the right to have five (5) Initiative per statewide ballot. If you can collect the required signatures, and turn the petitions into the county clerks office for authenticities, the government should stay out of the process.
It's time this theory is tested, and perhaps several elected officials will be out of a job if they attempt to stop the people of Mississippi.

Tracking county vehicle swaps can be dizzying.

This is because our elected officials and state agencies have ensured no paper work showing tracking of county vehicles being swapped. Just another way to deceive the people of Mississippi.

For instance, County Administrator Pam Ulrich got former Supervisor C.T. Switzer's 1999 Tahoe to drive to and from work after Switzer left office. Connie Rockco, who defeated Switzer in the election, turned the GMC Jimmy SUV she had been driving as county beautification director over to county Comptroller Mike Fitzpatrick.

Let me understand this, a County Administrator, was given Supervisor C.T. Switzer's 1999 Tahoe after he left office to drive to and from work.  Connie Rockco, who defeated Switzer in the election, turned the GMC Jimmy SUV she had been driving as county beautification director over to county Comptroller Mike Fitzpatrick.
So here we have a County Administrator, Pam Ulrich, a state employee. Not an elected official or county supervisor driving two government tax paid vehicles. With the approval of County Supervisors, which are elected officials. And these elected officials believe this is common place and sanctioned, but should have known they were breaking Mississippi Law.
I see a big problem here, I hope you, the Mississippian's see it also. 

Since Ulrich had gotten Switzer's Tahoe, Rockco had to buy a new $23,000 Ford Expedition. And since Rockco had turned over her beautification SUV to the comptroller, the new beautification director got another Jimmy SUV that someone else had been driving.

I have never seen so much corruption in one state in my life. These elected officials and state agency employee's believe this is what they should be doing with the taxpayers and voters money.
They don't have a clue they are breaking Mississippi Laws, "or do they?", and this goes all the way to the top. Is there anyone out their except me getting very upset about how our government in Mississippi lies, steals, and cheat the taxpayers. 

Rhule Dickinson of the State Auditor's Office said that although state law doesn't limit purchase of SUVs or luxury vehicles per se, it does require "a legitimate public need or purpose for any purchase."

Their is no need for a legitimate public need for purchasing there vehicles. They have stated themselves that once they get their vehicle they may swap it for someone else's.
Another reason to change the way our Mississippi government and state agency employees do business.

"For instance, telephones serve a legitimate purpose," Dickinson said. "But gold-plated phones don't. We could under our audit authority question costs."

This guy is so full of it, it's almost funny. By saying what vehicles the State Auditor's Office are approving for purchase shows a lack of physical responsibility. And comparing the process to a, "Gold -Plated phone" is a another reason to replace him as State Auditor. 

But for the most part, the purchase, use and management of vehicles is left up to local governments and their citizens.

The statement, " and their citizens" is an out and out lie. With all the other needs of the taxpayers and voters in Harrison County, I doubt if the citizens in Harrison County would approve a vehicle for any elected official or state agency employee.
But don't just take my word on this, put it to a vote!!

Who gets them?

Harrison County's policy on take-home vehicles states: "The use and taking home of county-owned vehicles will be restricted ONLY to those employees who are on 24-hour call."

If their were no employees on call 24 hours a day, then this problem would go away.

This policy is loosely interpreted.

Which is telling you anyone can be given the title of, (24 hour employee), which gives the employee approval to take a vehicle home.

"I don't know if I'm on 24-hour call," said Mike Fitzpatrick, county comptroller, or accountant, and also a Biloxi City Council member. "You'd have to ask Pam (Ulrich)."

If the county comptroller, or accountant, and also a Biloxi City Council member is driving a government vehicles home, and he doesn't know whether he has approval or not. Perhaps he doesn't  know if he is actually the county comptroller, and that' s scary.   
But of course it has been determined the Pam Ulrich is approved. 

Ulrich said Fitzpatrick is on the county's emergency call list, so his take-home use of an SUV is justified. But supervisors were uncertain how often accounting emergencies arise that would require Fitzpatrick to be on call.

I would also like to know how often accounting emergencies arise that would require Fitzpatrick to be on call. It's what I call a fair question, and I am sure if the question was answered honesty he would not be driving a government vehicle.

"I think it's just that some of these positions have had vehicles since before any of us took office," said Supervisor Benefield. "At some point in our old form of government, I suspect the comptroller probably had a lot more responsibilities than it does today.

Perhaps Supervisor Benefield doesn't really know if he is a County Supervisor. When he said, "I think," in the beginning of his statement makes me wonder!

"You've named some people (driving vehicles home) in our conversation today that were a surprise to me," Benefield said.

Then why is this man a County Supervisor?

"Are all of these people on this list driving them home?" asked freshman Supervisor Rockco during an interview. "Oh, you're asking me. . . . Vehicles is something that I haven't really gotten to yet. We've had a lot of other issues to deal with since I took office. Maybe I've been remiss. I hope all of our vehicle use is justified. If it's not, then we need to do something about it."

I agree, something needs to be done about taxpayers purchased vehicles. I believe, know one that runs for office, and builds an empire for themselves by keep building from the past administrations.  Mississippi has an extreme corrupt political machines, I believe if you could build a family- tree on elected officials and state agency workers you would find a majority of kin-folk in key positions running Mississippi. 

Supervisor Eleuterius said that after The Sun Herald requested vehicle information, "there was some talk that secretaries were driving them home."

But they must be on call 24 hours a day! 

He said he was surprised to discover Supervisor Marlin Lander's secretary was driving a county vehicle.

Why would this be a revelation, I know how corrupt Supervisor Marlin Ladner is. And he seem to have a problem serving the district he was voted into.  READ MY WEBSITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com 
Marlin Ladner lied to me before he was elected, and lied to me after he was elected. So, don't take much stock in his honesty, he will tell you what you want to hear, then do something else.

"I think (Ladner) immediately, when he found out there was a question, stopped it that day," Eleuterius said. "I think she has resigned."

Why would a secretary resign for driving a county vehicle, the person that needs to resign is Supervisor Marlin Ladner. He must have known she was driving a government vehicle. Which he condoned, so it's not the secretaries fault, but the elected official which allowed this practice.
So, now we have a overpriced corrupted district 3 Supervisor, and perhaps a very good, under-paid, and another political, perhaps not true story. "Ladner said her use of the car didn't stop because of the newspaper or questions, but that she decided to go back to school and went to part-time status." Have I about hit it on the head?

But Ladner said the secretary's take-home use of a Ford Crown Victoria was justified. She was splitting her time between two offices, so Ladner said he approved her use of the car. Ladner said her use of the car didn't stop because of the newspaper or questions, but that she decided to go back to school and went to part-time status.

Let's review this: first, Supervisor Eleuterius said, " he was surprised to discover Supervisor Marlin Lander's secretary was driving a county vehicle."
Second: "I think (Ladner) immediately, when he found out there was a question, stopped it that day," Eleuterius said. "I think she has resigned.
Third: But Ladner said the secretary's take-home use of a Ford Crown Victoria was justified.

Talk about political double talk, this man (Marlin Ladner) is a pro. Question: She was splitting her time between two offices, so Ladner said he approved her use of the car. 
Where was this other office? Was it in the same building she always worked in? 

Other county supervisors and administrators, and those from other Coast governments, said they don't allow secretaries to take county cars home. Biloxi, Gulfport and Jackson County officials said they try to strictly limit take-home vehicles to people on call for service or emergencies.

If you believe this statement, I will sale you so cheap land in Louisiana, called swamp. 

Butch Jordan, Gulfport chief administrative officer, is one of the few top government officials to turn down the use of a government car. Others are Harrison County Tax Assessor Tal Flurry and Gulfport Public Works Director Kris Rieman.

I can possible see a person which will keep his job for years to come. And then we have the other two that needs to find other jobs, out of government.

"Personally, I couldn't justify my use of a city car," Jordan said. "I was assigned one, but I had kids I wanted to drop off at school. I wanted the freedom to go where I want without anyone questioning it. I just drive my own car."

Honesty - is always the best policy!!

Room for improvement?

County and city officials said there's probably room for improvement regarding vehicle management, especially as Coast governments and their vehicle fleets grow along with the population.

I believe this problem has already gotten out of hand. Since they keep all of the older vehicles, while buying new ones. I wonder just how many vehicles Harrison County owns, I doubt if they even know.
Sale all of the government vehicles, this will be one area where our elected officials and state agency employees will not be corrupted.

"Our goal is to standardize and improve all our operating procedures, vehicle use included," Jordan said. "In fact, the vehicle policy we have now has never formally been adopted (by the City Council). We have talked about setting up a fleet management organization."

I would like to have this position, and I am well qualified for the job.  But I am not related, or in there clique, and I am not considered a good ole boy. 

The state PEER commission reports have made several suggestions about saving tax dollars on vehicle use. Foremost is to track employees' mileage and determine whether they should have a government vehicle or be paid mileage.

The PEER Committee is another wasted committee. I know first hand how wasted they are. But it is a paying committee and that is the most important thing to a legislature.

PEER discovered a "break-even" point between providing a car or paying mileage at 32.5 cents a mile. It's 21,000 miles a year. Any employee driving his or her vehicle fewer miles than that is wasting tax dollars. So is any employee being paid mileage for more than 21,000 miles a year.

I believe the big question is, why is Mississippi Government in the business of providing any vehicles to an elected officials and state employees. Let us look at how many employees there are working for Harrison County. How many of them drive there own vehicles, pay for there one insurance and maintenance on there vehicles.
Did all of these elected officials and state employees, which are driving government taxpayers vehicles, ran to serve in there respected offices. No, they ran for office for the money, power, & perks.

Arinder said PEER found many examples of both problems in state government.

If the PEER Committee only make suggestion, and nothing is changed, why have a PEER Committee? 

Harrison County's administrator estimates that most non-police or fire employees put about 15,000 miles a year or less on their vehicles.

So, what does this have to do with corruption of our elected officials?

"I probably don't put but about 4,500 miles a year on mine," said county Comptroller Fitzpatrick. "I usually only drive it four days a week." Fitzpatrick said he drives his personal vehicle on days when he does double duty as a Biloxi councilman.

Isn't that sweet of him, only about 4, 500 miles a year.  But is he forgetting who purchased the vehicle? who pays for the fuel? and who pays for the maintenance/repairs for this one vehicle? I am sure he doesn't think about those other taxpayers cost, and I am sure he could care less.

Paying mileage instead of providing a car would offer another method of saving for governments. They would not have to pay mileage for travel to and from work. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service doesn't permit it.

Either way this problem is looked at, it will still cost the taxpayers money. If Harrison County did not have these vehicles, I wonder if these people would have run for elected office.

Much of private industry in recent years has tightened its policies and management of vehicle use. Some businesses are switching to more fuel-efficient models. Some are eliminating the company car perk.

Harrison County Government is not a private industry, but if Harrison County Government was run like a private industry it would be more efficient. And a large number of elected officials and state employees would not be working at there present positions. 

"We did away with company vehicles for executives, marketing people and pretty much anyone who isn't on call for service or emergencies several years ago," said Kurt Brautigam, spokesman for Mississippi Power Co. "For us, it was a question of capital expense. Rather than buying cars, which were not necessary to keeping the lights on, we decided to put that money into the nuts and bolts of our business."  

I find comparing the Mississippi Power, Company to Harrison County Government is not a viable way of how taxpayers money is being spent.
Mississippi Power, President, Dwight Evens has as much waste as any large company. 

Here is what I would like to see in the near future.  

Let have an Initiative vote on making the, " Mississippi Gulf Coast." That's from the West end of the Ocean Springs, bridge, to the East end of the Bay St. Louis, Bridge. Let have an Initiative vote on the ballot for a metropolitan (town) which combines all of the towns into one. Lets name this town, " Mississippi Gulf Coast," and do away with all the corrupt elected officials and state agency employee's. 

By having one town you only have one Mayor, city counsel, court house, fire & police, and state agencies. The towns would keep their respected names, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi etc.. But in order to save tons of money and not have as many unnecessary elected officials.

Think about it, some will agree and some will not, but by placing it to a vote will decide one way or the other!!

Monday, January 22, 2001

103 ALVERADO DRIVE

LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560

PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428

E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com

WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

SUPERVISOR MARLIN LADNER      

HARRISON COUNTY SUPERVISOR

DISTRICT 3

GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI 39502

PHONE: (228)-867-6528

FAX: (228)-865-4126

E-MAIL: hcc@digiscape.com

            Supervisor Ladner:

            I am updating my web page concerning government vehicles and you authorizing your secretary to drive a government vehicle home.

            I would like too know your secretaries name which drove a government vehicle home, if she is still in school, is she still working part time for you, and is she still authorized to drive a government vehicle home?

            Please answer the entire questions and of course you can read this letter in my web site: www.mississippiwebsite.com.

            Sincerely,

            Steven A. McCaleb

            USN                RET

STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY