by Kelly Lewis, Esq.
It was 3 weeks before the primary election in 1995. It was an ordinary primary election in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, one of the fastest growing counties in America. But the election and what the election would produce would be far from ordinary. A few months earlier, the long-serving Monroe County Sheriff, Forrest B. Sebring, had announced his plans not to seek re-election. At the same time his Chief Deputy Sheriff Todd A. Martin announced his plans to seek election as Sheriff. Not long after, Forrest Sebring retired and Todd Martin was named and appointed Acting Sheriff. In Pennsylvania, the retirement of an elected county official and appointment of an Acting Sheriff creates a political process that enables the Governor to nominate a replacement for the vacated elected office, and if the PA Senate confirms the nomination with a 2/3’s vote, the nominated replacement is sworn in as Sheriff to fill out the remaining election term. In the instant case, Todd Martin was quickly nominated by Governor Tom Ridge to fill the remaining term (9 months) as Monroe County Sheriff. Now in a perfect world and textbooks, the next time the Pennsylvania Senate was in Session, the Senate would timely consider open Governor nomination’s and a 2/3’s confirmation vote could have been timely achieved. But, life and politics don’t always turn-out like the story book says.
First off, I’m not sure anyone ever replaces a man like Forrest B. Sebring. A legendary figure in local, regional and statewide circles, Sheriff Sebring, just plain looked, sounded and acted like, well, The Sheriff. Whether speaking with you one-on-one or in front of a large crowd Sheriff Sebring had a remarkable ability to tell a great story, that demonstrated his point of view with bunches of funny asides. He had a story about peanuts and chocolate-coated peanuts that got better every time he told it. But most importantly, Sheriff Forrest B. Sebring shared the code. The code took the most complex human interactions and politics and made them simple-defined. Like the bible, the code was so obvious it was more easily accompanied with the saying, “He, who has ears, let them hear.” Some basic tenets, “you are only as good as your word.” “Always support organizations and breakfasts, year-round, not just election year!” Don’t join an organization or charity when you are running for public office – wait and join it for the right reasons.” “Don’t ever join a group or cause for political reasons or gain.” “Working together gets things done.” “Do good and good things come your Way!” And, so many more!
This was the culture Todd Martin learned as Deputy and Chief Deputy Sheriff. He didn’t just believe the code; Todd lived, breathed and extended it.
Harrisburg and Washington have a different code.
In Harrisburg the above-described nomination and confirmation process becomes an unabashed horse-trading session. Every angle of political leverage is and will be sought, bought and secured. At some point Todd was told his confirmation vote would be done right before the primary election to maximize the political impact for his primary election. In Harrisburg these innocuous steps reinforce the Harrisburg code. These steps were business as usual. And in a young man’s life with so much at stake, it would have been easy to permit these innocuous steps to proceed, to look the other way because no one else would know, and gain a political advantage to win.
It was under these specific circumstances that I got the call from Todd Martin that I remember most. You see, getting an unfair advantage over his opponents was the last thing Todd wanted in his campaign. More than anything, he wanted to win his election, fair and square. The very thought of some Harrisburg political maneuvering to taint his hard work and dedication was against his code. So instead of sitting back, Todd acted. In a clearly worded letter to Governor Ridge and the PA Senate, Todd respectfully asked that his nomination and confirmation actions, be tabled until after the election. The letter didn’t move a mountain, but it defined a man. In Harrisburg, they angrily backed-off and without their so-called help, Todd easily won by the largest margins in the election. I remember it well. And it reinforced another part of the code, “Even when no one will ever know, your actions speak louder than your words.”
Today, Todd A. Martin was presented the Golden Deeds Award from the Exchange Club of the Pocono Mountains. It’s the highest honor the Exchange Club bestows and Todd receiving the Award is justified many times over. Todd’s wife Terri, and beautiful children, Karli, Jared, Kelli and family attended the ceremony. And I was honored to have my wife and two children at the ceremony to witness the same.
Christian Son, Father, Husband, Brother, Uncle, Sheriff, Fireman, Leader and Friend; God doesn’t make a lot of men like Todd Martin. And, when God does, it’s special and worthy of note, praise and celebration.
President & CEO The Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania TechQuest-PA & The TechQuest Internship MONROECOUNTY SHERIFF TODD MARTIN RECEIVES LAW OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD |
