The Beacon Journal's recent endorsement of Sheriff Kandy Fatheree for re-election is not only a disservice to readers but also raises questions about the outlet's understanding of the issues that truly impact Summit County.
The Beacon's support appears to rest on two main premises: that Fatheree has implemented a handful of programs viewed favorably and that she has taken responsibility for her mistakes. Unfortunately, the reality is far from this narrative.
Here is a more comprehensive overview of Sheriff Fatheree’s record on issues that matter to the safety and well-being of our community:
- Since 2021, at least 22 individuals have escaped from custody of the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
- In 2024 alone, Fatheree's administration failed to disclose at least four escape incidents. She did not promptly notify the media, Ohio Highway Patrol, or other local police agencies. Failure to report an escape is a crime under Ohio Revised Code and is against the SCSO policy. Fatheree has failed to report at least six escapes since she assumed office.
- At least one unreported escaped violent criminal remains at large and has been at large for over two years.
- Fatheree quietly terminated a deputy who had engaged in sexual misconduct with an inmate, which is statutorily rape, without pressing criminal charges for rape. This allowed the deputy to secure employment at another law enforcement agency.
- Fatheree has allowed unequal disciplinary practices within the department, permitting white deputies who committed fireable offenses to quietly resign, while Black deputies have faced prosecution for similar conduct. Similarly, minority deputies have been disproportionately reprimanded or disciplined compared with white deputies.
- Fatheree hired and then quickly fired a diversity, equity and inclusion administrator because she didn’t approve of his attitude.
- A county vehicle and gas card were provided to an administrative employee commuting 180 miles daily — resulting in over $6,000 in gas card charges in 2023 alone.
- While her administrative staff received pay raises of 23%, deputies received only a 4% increase.
- Fatheree ordered her department to patrol her daughter’s trailer park situated near a local police department.
This list of issues is based on publicly verifiable facts, either through public information requests or coverage by various local news sources. Endorsing Sheriff Fatheree despite such a documented record indicates a concerning lack of awareness to the facts or a willingness to overlook serious shortcomings for the sake of political alignment.
If Fatheree were a Republican, I would not hesitate to support a qualified primary challenger and, if necessary, recommend that the Summit County Republican Party withhold support in the general election. Similarly, I expect journalistic integrity to transcend partisanship when endorsing candidates for critical roles like county sheriff.
Additionally, the Beacon Journal's endorsement claims that Shane Barker's campaign is merely oppositional and lacks substantive issues. This characterization is inaccurate. Barker has a comprehensive 12-point plan for reforming the sheriff's office, transparently laid out in a detailed 25-page white paper available on his website.
This plan addresses key issues such as accountability, jail reform, and community engagement. How is a 25-page paper explaining what Shane will do once in office, how it will be done, and why it's important to do it that way focusing only on his opponent?
Former Sheriff Steve Barry, a Democrat, has endorsed Shane Barker because he is intimately familiar with both Fatheree's and Barker’s records. He understands who is better equipped to restore trust and provide effective leadership in Summit County. That candidate is Shane Barker.
Bryan Williams is the chairman of the Summit County Republican Party.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Opinion: Beacon Journal's endorsement of Kandy Fatheree for sheriff is a disservice
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