Thank you so much for your prayers, support, encouragement, and help during the campaign. It has truly been an honor to meet so many of the good people of Harford County and hear your concerns. Though we did not prevail in the primary, I will continue to work behind the scenes to make sure your concerns are being addressed.

Congratulations to Norm Cochran and Jesse Bane on their primary victories, and I wish them and their families all the best.

Final election results can be viewed at harfordcountymd.gov/Elections/primary/Returns

There are a few people I would like to give special thanks to:

• My beautiful wife, Beverly. Bev has supported me from the very start of this campaign and endured many things for me to run this race. Without her steadfast support, I never could have done this. She has my undying gratitude and affection.
• My children, Julia, James, Christiana, Mark, Nathan, Matthew, Amanda, and Alyssa. They endured fundraisers, events, proudly wore their "Tritt for Sheriff" T-shirts often, went waving, door-knocking, and provided a lot of support and encouragement. What a blessing to have such a great family!
• Brian and Jo Powell. Brian managed the campaign, putting in many long hours and hard work. Brian did a lot with what we had, and although we were outspent by tens of thousands of dollars, we finished less than 900 votes county-wide behind the top vote getter. Jo endured many hours without her husband while he helped with the campaign. Jo also made phone calls and worked hard to help with the campaign.

Thanks to my parents, David Sr. and Betsy who instilled in me the values that made me get involved in the first place.

Thanks to everyone who supported us financially, or with in-kind donations.

Thanks to Travis Seitler for setting up the website.

Thanks to everyone who advertised for us by putting a sign in their yard.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered in the campaign– poll workers, sign-wavers, letter-stuffing, and door-knocking.

Thanks to the families that helped us with fundraising events– The Hollin Family, the Gills, the Delps, Amanda Olsavsky, The Mitchell Family, Rob Warlick, the Melani family, Jim Lewis and Family, and all the others I have neglected to mention.

A special thanks to the deputy sheriffs and others in the law enforcement and corrections community who believed in me and supported us behind the scenes. If there is any way I can serve you, please do not hesitate to ask.

Finally, if you have any campaign literature left over, please recycle it. If you need a yard sign picked up, please email me at dave@trittforsheriff.com and we will come and get it. Yes, we are saving them, just in case…

Your Humble Servant,

Dave Tritt

 
We were blessed to have a front page story in the Harford Section of the Baltimore Sun. Going door knocking after that article has been nothing short of amazing. When we knock on the doors they are excited to see us. Many times they say, “Keep your literature, you already have my vote.” The people want change and they embrace the fact that I was the only republican candidate to stand up for change.

Over the last few months I attended the Farm Fair with my family and supporters, the BBQ Bash, the FOP candidate night and several other events where I have been overwhelmed with words of encouragement. The people I meet agree that change is needed and that only an outsider can bring lasting change.

I look forward to September 12 where I hope and pray that you vote TRITT for SHERIFF.

God bless,
Dave

If you were unable to make it to the event and would still like to contribute please go to our donate page. Any contribution, even $10, is greatly appreciated. With $10 we can send 25 pieces of mail, print 90 mailers, or buy 4 yard signs. No contribution is too small.

Yard Signs are being made as I type. If you would like a yard sign please email me with your address, phone number, and email so that we can contact you.

Thank you for your continued support. Together we can restore LEADERSHIP WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.

Print your own ticket: just click on this ticket to load it in a new window, and you can print out as many copies as you’d like!

Applewood Farm is located at 4435 Prospect Road, Whiteford, MD 21160. You can click on the address to get customized directions, but be sure to call Applewood Farm at 410-836-1140 or e-mail applewoodfarm@earthlink.net to confirm the directions first — we don’t want you to miss any of the fun!

Admission:

$30 for Individual
$40 for a Couple
$50 for a Family (includes 4 ride tickets)
Children 7 and under are FREE!

I also want to thank the deputy sheriffs who put themselves in harm’s way to ensure Harford County is a safe place to live, work, and visit. They do this voluntarily, for low pay, and little recognition, yet the majority of these professionals do their jobs in an outstanding manner on a daily basis.

I want to talk about the three pillars of our campaign- SERVICE, INTEGRITY, and ACCOUNTABILITY.

George Washington is someone who I would consider to be a “servant-leader”. During the Revolutionary War, Washington and his men spent a cold winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. When the owner of a home on the property offered accommodations to General Washington and his top advisers, Washington refused this comfort, sleeping in a cold, leaky tent until there were enough log cabins built to house every single one of his men. This wasn’t simply a symbolic gesture; his staff had legitimate concerns that Washington would catch pneumonia as a result. George Washington did not try to call the shots from a comfortable distance; he got into the battle with his men and served along side of them. This is the type of example I will set as your next sheriff. Although there are many administrative functions performed by the sheriff, I believe that it is very important to interact with deputies and people in the community, on the road, and “in the trenches”, on a regular basis, making sure the policies in place are effective. Just as criminals adapt and change their methods, we too must adapt and be vigilant.

I have always heard the word “integrity” defined as doing the right thing, even when you think no one else is watching. We live in an age where some politicians even try to re-define the word “is” to excuse their bad behavior. Legislators pass enormous raises for themselves at taxpayer expense. We live in a society where CEOs and top executives of major corporations going bankrupt receive enormous severance packages while employees lose their jobs, pensions, and make extraordinary sacrifices. Regrettably, one of our own elected officials in Harford County was forced to resign shortly after the last election due to scandal. Eventually, the taxpayers footed the bill for this misbehavior at the price of nearly $200,000. Character matters. You can have all the training and all the degrees in the world, but if you do not lead with integrity, sooner or later, your organization will fall apart.

Humans, by nature, are proud people. We don’t like to accept correction, criticism, or be disagreed with. We all deal with pride at one level or another. Knowing this, it is crucial that we elect leaders who will operate with openness, transparency, and accessibility. Doing so will create the proper environment for government that will be accountable to the people. It is important for those in public service not to surround themselves with “yes men”, but to interact with people of character who will continually challenge them to excellence. When elected, I will do just that.

While I was in the Air Force, I learned an enormous amount about character, discipline, leadership, and preparation. I also learned something else- the government wastes an enormous amount of money. Most agencies are given absolutely no incentive to be responsible with taxpayer dollars. Working in small business, as I have for almost 10 years, requires a different approach. Private businesses are concerned about the bottom line, about cutting expenses, and getting the most out of every dollar spent. I have never seen a government budget without some fat that couldn’t be trimmed out, and I think we could benefit from having a sheriff with some private sector experience and the right fiscal priorities. As an outsider, I’ll be able to look at things objectively. I don’t have an axe to grind- if a program works, we’ll keep it and improve it- if not, we’ll dump it-and then get to work on something that does. It is important that we use taxpayer funds on things that will benefit the safety of the public, not ineffective programs or items that are of no value to the safety of the deputies or the citizens of Harford County.

Many of you have asked, “Why run for sheriff?”

The short answer is that I want to serve. I want to serve the people of Harford County both in a policy making role, and on the front lines- by being a leader that demonstrates service before self, integrity in everything I do, openness, accessibility, and accountability to both deputies and citizens. My opponent has been in law enforcement for longer than I have been alive. No matter what criticisms I may bring in this campaign, he has served Harford County for over 32 years, and he deserves recognition for his service to the community. I am grateful for him and others like him who have devoted their lives to this honorable profession. This does not, however, change my belief that it is time to refocus the priorities of the leadership of the HCSO. I want to improve the readiness of the agency, encourage greater citizen participation, and bring honor to the name of the HCSO.

Many of you may have this question on your minds……”Don’t you have to be in law enforcement to run for sheriff?”

The simple answer is, “No.” There is no statute or constitutional mandate in the State of Maryland that requires a sheriff to have any law enforcement background.

Now before you think, “Gee, that’s scary. Any yahoo can run for sheriff!”- Consider this- our country was founded by a bunch of yahoos who believed that it was our God given right to live in freedom and liberty without excessive intrusion into our lives. And many of these “yahoos” paid the ultimate price, with their blood, to secure the freedom that many of us take for granted every day.

President Ronald Reagan, in his first inaugural address in 1981 said this, “ From time to time, we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self- rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?”

The office of sheriff is unique, in that the sheriff is the ONLY law enforcement official who answers directly to the voters through election. The sheriff is YOUR representative in the law enforcement community. Just as you would elect a senator, delegate, congressman, president, or other official to represent your values in the legislative arena, you should elect a sheriff that will represent your values and priorities in the law enforcement community.

“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.”
Thomas Jefferson

It is interesting to note that the president, although he is the commander-in- chief of the world’s most powerful military, is an elected civilian. John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Grover Cleveland, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt are among our commander-in-chiefs who never served in the military. We have elected surveyors, businessmen, peanut farmers, fence builders, and yes, even actors to be our presidents. Our entire government is controlled by elected civilians in order to maintain accountability to the people. In a similar manner, sheriffs are elected to serve those who elect them, not based solely on their experience, but on their character and vision. Sheriff Buford Pusser is one man who comes to mind. Buford Pusser was a wrestler who was discharged from the Army because of his asthma. His home in McNairy County, Tennessee had been overrun with gambling, prostitution, and corruption. Although Sheriff Pusser had no law enforcement experience when elected, he had the character, drive, and vision to clean up the town he loved. He was successful, but not without great personal sacrifice and hardship. His wife was killed in an ambush while responding to a call with him, and he was badly wounded by gunfire. Yet, he managed to recover and continue serving as sheriff for many more years.

I do not mean to downplay the importance of training and professionalism. Our deputies in Harford County are better trained and equipped, in many ways, than ever before. It is essential that our priorities reflect a commitment to good customer service, professionalism, and the best training possible. Regardless of who is elected the next sheriff, however, the agency will have thousands of years of collective law enforcement, corrections, and court services experience just waiting to be tapped for new ideas on how to give more effective and efficient service to the community. It is not law enforcement experience in which the agency is deficient. What is needed is a clear vision and a renewed commitment for the leadership to communicate with and partner with the community. Every day, deputy sheriffs perform their duties in an outstanding fashion. I believe they deserve a sheriff who will promote, protect, honor and defend the name of the HCSO and make it a priority to serve them as they serve you.

“The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
Theodore Roosevelt

The base realignment at APG is expected to bring up to 70,000 new residents to Harford County over the next ten years. It is critical that we elect a sheriff who will not be satisfied with the “status quo”, but someone with the energy, drive, determination, character, and long-term vision to move the agency in the right direction- and someone who believes in LEADERSHIP WITH ACCOUNTABILITY. I believe that I am that man. As we head into this campaign, I covet your prayers both for me and my family, and I thank you for your continued support in this race to become the 80^th Sheriff of Harford County.

I’d like to close with another quote from President Theodore Roosevelt…..

“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.”

Your support means more than I can articulate. Thank you all so much for being here today.