SHOULD WE DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL CANDIDATES?

Should we do background checks on all the candidates?

Art Wenzel recently wrote a letter to Register Publications criticizing District 2 Commissioner candidate Tom Orschell’s account of his run-ins with the law. Mr. Wenzel should be commended for taking the time to go to the County courthouse to dig up the criminal records of Mr. Orschell, but perhaps if he wanted to be a true public advocate he would’ve kept digging.

Had he taken the time to do so, he also would’ve found the criminal past of District 1 Commissioner candidate Jeff Hughes. These documents are also public records and can be found at the Clerk’s office.

Mr. Hughes was arrested on three separate occasions for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated. These arrests, and subsequent convictions, were in 1986, 1988 and 1991. Mr. Hughes also paid fines, served time in jail, and was on probation.

Mr. Orschell should at least be given credit for having the guts to come clean about his criminal past. Should background checks be required for every candidate that runs for public office? Should the public care about events that took place over 20 years ago?

These men have paid their debts to society. The decision whether or not to vote for them should be based on what they can, or cannot, do for Dearborn County, not their past criminal actions.

Linda Mitchell
Miller Township