“I’ve met him personally twice,” Mesquite Police Department Chief Troy Tanner told the Mesquite Local News about his public endorsement of presidential candidate Marco Rubio. “I did my own research into several of the candidates and I think he is the best person to lead the United States.
Rubio is a Florida Republican senator running for President in the 2016 election. He continually polls in the top ten contenders in a field of 17 Republican candidates. He also has ties to Las Vegas, NV, having spent part of his childhood there.
Tanner released a public letter about his endorsement on Aug. 10 in which he states “While many law enforcement organizations make political endorsements, historically individual police officers do not jeopardize their reputation by offering personal endorsements to any candidate for public office. However, meeting with this incredible man and understanding his goals, ideas, and plans to modernize our economy and government, it is apparent he is the leader we need to orchestrate a bold conservative reform and transform America. Because of this I have decided it is time for me to break with tradition and make a personal endorsement.”
Saying he will not force his personal political views on any of his employees, Tanner went on to explain to the MLN that “I have not been politically involved until the last three years. In that time, I’ve dealt extensively with state and local political leaders and I’ve seen what we can do for Mesquite when we get involved.”
Indeed, Tanner has testified before the Nevada State Assembly and the Clark County Commission in support of the raising the ‘More Cops” sales tax rate that was passed by the voters in 2004. He has also worked with the Nevada Governor’s office on police enforcement policies and issues.
“I boldly offer my unconditional and total support by endorsing the candidacy of Marco Rubio for President of the United States of America,” Tanner’s letter says.
“Marco will fight for us citizens, secure our future, and bring fresh ideas to the forefront. I believe Marco is the kind of leader we need who is capable of bringing Americans together to revive the founding principles that made our country great,” his letter of endorsement concludes.
Campaign officials intend to publish Tanner’s letter on Rubio’s Web site in the near future.
Like all Americans, Chief Tanner is free to vote for whoever he likes. But his opinion of the candidates is no more important than mine, and I doubt that my opinion will get any press coverage. Professionally and ethically, it would be appropriate for the Chief to stick to the excellent work he and his department does policing our fair city and avoid public pronouncements on partisan politics.
I ditto what He says in comment before mine.
“Like all Americans, Chief Tanner is free to vote for whoever he likes. But his opinion of the candidates is no more important than mine, and I doubt that my opinion will get any press coverage. Professionally and ethically, it would be appropriate for the Chief to stick to the excellent work he and his department does policing our fair city and avoid public pronouncements on partisan politics.”
And I will add….if you ever wondered why our policemen are not aligned with the People, here’s a fine example of that! They stay in their little tiny box of information. We stopped the More Cops Tax before and we will defeat it again. WHY should we pay more taxes when your department will not even furnish a forensic audit first?
Really? I understand the Mayor and Council members injecting themselves in the Presidential race, but I feel city staff should stay clear of partisan politics. Chief Tanner can vote for whoever he wants, but I don’t think he should be using his city position to try and sway Mesquite residents. We have enough politicians at city hall without every department head engaging in partisan politics.
while I respect your opinion chief, you couldn’t be more wrong. The most qualified candidate out there is Hillary Clinton, who by the way I think will win the presidency hands down, not to mention that she could be our first female president, as Obama became our first black president, but you probably didn’t vote for him either. Sorry to learn that you are a republican, the party of do nothing and against everything.
Shame on the novice police chief for butting in where he uses his title for political reasons. Sure he has an opinion, but he knows that this public endorsement is wrong. He should concentrate on making the police department more responsive to city needs than worry about Washington. His activism for more tax dollars to increase his overly large department makes one think is he really the best chief we can have. Maybe he wants more military vehicles and M-16’s and other “toys” and pretend the department needs these tools.
Chief – instead of publicly endorsing a Presidential candidate – why don’t you publicly tell the City Attorney, Bob Sweetin, to stop speeding & texting and driving down Mesquite and Pioneer Blvds. The speed limit is posted 35 mph and every driver should know Nevada state law about Texting and Driving. I even sent you a text about this last October! Just because Bob and Officer Chesley own a City Business and all of you work for the City, does not mean you get to turn your head the other way. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2016 #TheresMyPoliticalEndorsement
Everybody wants to blame the police chief but this is obviously Barbara Ellestad, once again, putting her Republican politics into every news story. She should be the one blamed for this “top” news story in Mesquite. She is beyond shameful. Write a letter to the editor to complain and see what gets published. Nothing. Ellestad just can’t even pretend to act like a journalist.
Way to go Barbara. You managed to get your Republican view on the front page. You must either have no self respect or no respect for your readers. This is sleazy journalism.
Yep it is sleazy journalism by Barbara Ellestad!
My garbage man met Jeb Bush and endorses Donald Trump.
All of you haters have an opinion of what you call “news” yet you can’t seem to get your eyes off the print edition and/or the online edition. Stop your whining. Get your degree in journalism/communication/english and start your own Mesquite newspaper. Then, as Editor, you will have a say over the content of which you publish.
Hey Chief,
Why don’t you boldly and publicly say what you think should be done with Cliven Bundy?
Barbara, this is so childish and self serving. What are you going to do next, give equal time to someone that once saw Martin O’Malley? Mesquite deserves better than this dribble.