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11 OCT 04: MARSHAL-TOWN

We're three weeks away from Election Day -- and the Muscogee County Marshal finds himself facing a state investigation. But Ken Suddeth probably shouldn't worry. The County Sheriff has been under a District Attorney's investigation for
months, and nothing's happened there.

While I was away, Columbus Council voted to ask the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to review the Marshal's purchase of handguns through private donations. The whole idea seems strange, doesn't it - asking people for money to help the city, without imposing a tax?

Muscogee County Marshal Ken Suddeth says he's not answerable to Columbus Council - and is answerable only to the voters. The way Suddeth's acting, if you didn't know better you'd think he was Marshal Dillon....

Marshal Ken Suddeth refused to turn over some records of the pistol project to Columbus Council - but he's now released them to the Ledger-Enquirer and WRBL. It turns out he purchased not only 15 pistols, but 28 badges. Aren't the targets at the police weapons range good enough?

(Think about that a second - 28 badges and 15 pistols. Which 13 people are NOT getting weapons? Does the Marshal's office have a secret unit that's skilled in kung fu?)

I watched WRBL's report carefully to see who donated money to the Marshal to buy the pistols - but no names stood out. Considering they're Glock pistols, I assume no donors had last names of "Heckler" or "Koch."

As of Friday, the G.B.I. apparently had not received the Columbus Council's request to review the Marshal's pistol project. After what happened with Grey Conger, the Council has to be careful with this - and not put the request on city
stationery....

I bring up the District Attorney because someone needs to say it: the probe of the pistol project smells full of election-year politics. The complaint first was brought up by Councilor Nathan Suber, who's opposed Marshal Ken Suddeth for years.
Come to think of it, did someone in the Marshal's office arrest Suber's daughter?

You may recall several Columbus Councilors tried to abolish the Marshal's office a few years ago - but voters turned that referendum down. Maybe that's where Ken Suddeth gained the impression he's answerable only to the voters. But then again, the voters didn't throw out any Councilors over it -- so maybe they simply aren't asking questions.

It almost seems like certain Columbus politicians have decided they can't beat Sheriff Ralph Johnson, so they're trying to oust somebody else. Maybe some political clubs have a "one rascal minimum" for keeping your position....

As you probably know, Marshal Ken Suddeth faces a challenger in three weeks. Democratic candidate Greg Countryman says his opponent lacks integrity. But if we vote for Mr. Countryman, will he show so much integrity that his department will lack 15 pistols and 28 badges?

Supporters of Greg Countryman say one deputy hasn't spoken with Marshal Ken Suddeth in two years. I can relate to this a little. It's called long stints on an overnight shift....

There's one matter of "integrity" Greg Countryman may be hiding in his pocket until the final days of the Marshal's race. It's Ken Suddeth's admission a couple of years ago that he overstated his military service record for years. We're not sure if he padded his record before or after President Bush did.

But an unresolved puzzle surrounds the Greg Countryman campaign as well. Several weeks ago, a campaign sign at Wynnton and Buena Vista Roads said he was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association. A few days later, the P.B.A. words disappeared. Did Mr. Countryman really mean the Professional Bowlers Association?

Regular blog readers should know we do NOT make political endorsements. But at this point, Marshal Ken Suddeth seems to have some problems. Republican Mayor Bob Poydasheff wants his own party's candidate reviewed. And when a Greg Countryman sign appears outside the office of that non-partisan Bobby Peters, it's not a good sign.

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