The experience, vision, and fortitude to make changes.

Republican Beshai gives endorsement to Democrat Bove for Sheriff

By Daniel Castro

Democratic candidate for Worcester County Sheriff, Scot Bove, receives endorsement from Republican Frank Beshai who dropped out of the race.

May 21, 2010 - Republican Frank Beshai has crossed party lines to announce his endorsement of Scot Bove in the race to replace Guy W. Glodis as Worcester County Sheriff, after pulling out of the race earlier this month. The same seat is currently sought by Bove, a 25-year veteran at the Worcester County House of Corrections, registered Democrat, and resident of Holden.

When pressed about possible blow-back from crossing the proverbial party lines, Beshai stated, "[w]hen I got into this race, I did it to make a statement -- that there was no qualified candidate from the Republican Party. In withdrawing my name from consideration for personal reasons, I want people to know that there is no Republican in this race that has what it takes to effectively run the prison in our backyard."

Former Republican candidate Frank Beshai gives his support for Scot Bove.
Remaining as the only Republican in the race is state Rep. Lew Evangelidis, R-Holden, who Beshai did not mention by name but referenced in his endorsement.

"The voters of Worcester County cannot allow this Department to take a step backward. All the progress made at the jail over the last five years will be jeopardized if the voters elect someone who has no real-life experience in administration, rehabilitation, and hands on training at the Sheriff's Department," Beshai said. "Lifetime politicians have become a way of life around the Commonwealth but we can't afford to have politics dictating the way we execute our criminal offender rehabilitation procedures. It will jeopardize the safety and quality of life for the elderly and our communities in general. It would be a waste of our already spread-thin tax dollars."

While Evangelidis said "obviously every one is free to endorse who ever they want," he also stressed that he was the one candidate committed to ending a culture of patronage. "I have made no job promises to anyone, so I don't expect to get a lot of endorsements in this campaign."

The Worcester County Correctional Facility has a current annual budget of around $41,000,000. The various branches of the Worcester Sheriff's Department, like the Civil Process Department, Work Release Program, and Community Service Program, are also part of this annual budget and operate throughout 60 Central Massachusetts cities and towns. The main branch of the Department is the Worcester County Correctional Facility, located on the West Boylston/Worcester line. The jail averages approximately 1,300 inmates on a daily basis, while the Probation branch administers drug-tests, monitoring, and other probation-related services for criminal offenders.

The next Sheriff should be someone who has the requisite expertise in this Department; that is able to keep the employees safe in an always unsafe environment," Beshai said. It literally needs to be someone who understands how the recidivism rate directly impacts the safety of our neighborhoods. The way the jail is run has a direct impact on the recidivism rate. There's a connection there that must be respected, and it's we the taxpayers that foot the responsibility for each and every inmate. The winner in this race should be the guy who has spent his entire adult life working his way up through the ranks to earn the title of Sheriff. Someone who is not a politician looking for a stepping stone or someone who enjoys playing the system for personal gain."

"If your life was on the line in a riot, who would you want calling the shots? I'll take the guy with 25 years experience at this particular jail, in multiple successive capacities, instead of the clueless," Beshai sniped. "My vision and mission for the Sheriff's Department has remained the same for over 20 years and, despite withdrawing my name from this race for personal reasons, I still believe I can help make that vision become reality. After searching my soul to see who I believe would be the best person to fill the role of Sheriff in our community; the person that aligns himself to the same goals, values, and high standards that I would hold myself to; I have realized that person is Scot Bove. Yes, I am a registered Republican, but that doesn't matter this time. My many supporters and I will rise up and work tirelessly to elect Scot and see that he hits the ground running as the next Sheriff of Worcester County."