Dallas County Sheriff's Department Embraces "Big Brother" Car Monitoring System

[TXCharlie]

Dallas Co. Sheriff's Deputies' Cars To Be Monitored


POSTED: 9:55 am CDT September 3, 2008
UPDATED: 10:28 am CDT September 3, 2008


DALLAS -- Dallas County sheriff's deputies and constables who take their cars home will now have their every move monitored.

If deputies turn on their engines after their shift ends or drive outside of Dallas County, their bosses will get an automated e-mail.

The monitoring is part of a crackdown on wasted fuel ordered by county commissioners.

[TXCharlie]

(video on web site)

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/man-in-chicken-suit-ruffles-da.html

4:59 PM Thu, Aug 21, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Kevin Krause E-mail News tips

Dallas County Dems are crying fowl over this video from the Republicans that shows a person in a chicken suit taunting Sheriff Lupe Valdez for refusing to debate Republican sheriff's candidate Lowell Cannaday.

Problem is, Valdez has agreed to debate her Republican rival.
The chicken man flap has ignited some life into the lackluster sheriff's race, which has been quiet since the March primaries.

Check out Valdez's campaign statement after the jump. Below that is a statement from the state Democratic Party.

DALLAS - The Lupe Valdez campaign released a statement regarding the dishonest
web video released today by the Dallas County Republican Party regarding the issue of
joint public forums between the Sheriff and her Republican opponent.
"This is Dallas County's first good look at Lowell Cannaday, the Dallas County
Republican party and the type of campaign they're going to run, and it's not
pretty. While Sheriff Valdez has been working tirelessly to save taxpayer money
without compromising public safety, the Dallas County GOP and Lowell

Cannaday have been shopping for a chicken costume. The Sheriff is scheduled
for four joint public events with Mr. Cannaday, which are even listed on
Cannaday's own website. This desperate and dishonest stunt is beneath anycandidate for office and Lowell Cannaday should be ashamed. Dallas Countyvoters deserve better than this from a candidate for Sheriff. Mr. Cannaday owesDallas voters an apology," said Kirk McPike, the Sheriff's campaign manager.

In fact, the Valdez campaign has agreed to four public forums with former Councilman
Cannaday. The four scheduled forums are sponsored by and scheduled for:

• Stemmons Corridor Business Association. Tuesday, Sept. 16 at noon.
Holiday Inn Select at Love Field, 3300 West Mockingbird Lane in Dallas.
• League of Women Voters. Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 PM. Lovers Lane United
Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road in Dallas.
• Duncanville Chamber of Commerce. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 11:30 AM. 800
North Main Street in Duncanville.
• Dallas Bar Association. Wednesday, October 15 at noon. The Belo Mansion,
2101 Ross Avenue in Dallas.

This one is from the Texas Democrats:

(Dallas, TX) - In an attempt to mislead voters, the Dallas County Republican Party and Republican Candidate Lowell Cannaday are using a YouTube video to falsely claim that Sheriff Lupe Valdez has refused to debate the issues. A simple look at Cannaday's website clearly contradicts their claim. On his very own website, Cannaday has listed the four debates with Sheriff Valdez will take place in September and October.

"Lowell Cannaday and Dallas Republicans have proven again that when you get caught in a lie, your chicken comes home to roost," said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie. "Before wasting time with chicken costumes, the Dallas County GOP and Lowell Cannaday should have taken the time to review their own campaign schedule, which includes four debates with Sheriff Valdez."

In the recently posted YouTube video, a man dressed in a chicken costume is harassing attendees at a local fundraiser. The man is holding a sign and making the false accusation against Lupe Valdez. At the end of the video, one can clearly see it was produced by the Dallas County Republican Party.

"This is another example of the kind of Republican behavior that helped Democrats sweep elections in Dallas County two years ago," added Richie. "Dallas County voters expect more from their Sheriff than a rubber chicken who doesn't know what's on the schedule, and that's one more reason to reelect Sheriff Valdez this November."