Dakota County Sheriff’s Web domain name purchase raises questions
Bellows: “I’m sorry I did it”
by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers
Last June, months before Apple Valley Police Sgt. Mitch Scott announced he was running for Dakota County sheriff, his opponent, Dave Bellows, purchased the domain name mitchscottforsheriff.com.
Bellows, who was appointed Dakota County sheriff by county commissioners after the surprise retirement of former Sheriff Don Gudmundson in February, said he regrets the purchase.
He said he did it to find out if Scott was going to run against him for the sheriff position.
“I heard he was thinking of running, and this was my way of determining if he was going to run or not,” Bellows said, adding, “If someone goes to use it, you’re notified.”
Bellows emphasized that he later released the site for sale.
But Scott said Bellows’ action puts into question his opponent’s entire campaign message, which is, according to Bellows’ campaign literature, “Accountable, ethical and experienced leadership.”
Scott said Bellows’ actions don’t align with the way he’s portraying himself to voters.
“His behavior shows a lack of integrity,” Scott said. “We’re in law enforcement; ethics and integrity should be above all.”
Bellows said while he regretted the action, it didn’t stop Scott from getting a Web site (www.mitchscottforsheriff.org), and accused Scott of bringing up the issue to avoid talking about qualifications.
“This comes back to he doesn’t want to argue qualifications; he’s never questioned my qualifications for sheriff, but I surely question his,” said Bellows, who was Gudmundson’s appointed chief deputy for 10 years, after 19 years under Gudmundson in Lakeville’s police department.
Scott also questioned whether Bellows had something to do with a phone call made to cancel reservations at a restaurant where Scott’s campaign had arranged for his first fundraiser.
“The American Legion called to confirm that I was going to cancel, and I told them I didn’t understand what they were talking about. They said they got a call from someone who said they were me and canceling the event,” Scott said.
Bellows vehemently denied the allegation.
“Absolutely not. That’s so beneath me. I wouldn’t do it … and no one on my campaign would do it, either,” Bellows said.
Bellows questioned why Scott is bringing the issues to light now when they happened months ago, and said there should be more emphasis on issues.
He noted that experience is important in the sheriff’s office, especially because of the economic climate and the tough budget decisions that must be made.
Last year, Bellows said the department cut $450,000 from its budget, and this year must reduce it by another $500,000.
“I know that budget inside and out,”Bellows said, adding, “I know where we can make cuts where it will impact service levels the least amount. ”
Scott said that he’s also had extensive experience with budgeting in his position with the Apple Valley Police Department, and said regardless of the size of the budget, the work is the same.
“Whether you have 50 officers or 200 officers, the majority of your budget is dealing with salary and benefits,” he said, adding that the key to proper budget management is to continually reevaluate, restructure or reorganize as necessary.
While answering questions, each campaign leveled more allegations at the other.
Bellows criticized Scott for violating Lakeville’s ordinance by driving his truck on the sidewalk while installing campaign signs along 160th Street.
“Is it OK to violate a law in the city of Lakeville that he’d be enforcing if it happened in the city of Apple Valley?” Bellows asked.
Scott said he didn’t know about the ordinance and had permission from the Crystal Lake Golf Club to install the signs and drive in the area.
Bellows said a property owner can’t grant permission to violate the law.
Scott said he drove off the road because he had his family in the vehicle and there was no safe place to park that wouldn’t interfere with traffic.
Scott again raised questions about Gudmundson’s early retirement, and county commissioners’ unanimous appointment of Bellows as sheriff.
Scott continues to claim there was behind-the-scenes maneuvering and the outcome is proof of a “good ol’ boy” mentality in the sheriff’s department.
He said Bellows’ actions in purchasing the domain name bolsters his argument.
Bellows, Gudmundson and commissioners have repeatedly denied the allegations.
Laura Adelmann is at dceditor@frontiernet.net.
I agree with Mr. Scott when he says law enforcement should be about ethics and integrity. Clearly Mr. Bellows has none of either. Bellows’ states “That’s so beneath me” when confronted with the allegation he or someone from his campaign tried to cancel a fundraiser for Scott, however purchasing a possible domain name for Mitch when he announced he was running for Sheriff is not beneath him? Really? I think both of the underhanded ploys are unethical and quite childish. And when Bellows questions why Scott is bringing up these issues now when they “happened months ago”, it should be obvious that it is a good idea to have these examples of unethical behavior fresh in voters minds when they go to the polls. Unfortunately, the “good ol’ boys club’ is very influential at the county level. Just because a guy has almost 30 years of experience behind him, doesn’t mean he is qualified to do the job efficiently. Bellows should retire and leave the future of Dakota County to someone who has new ideas for a more efficiently managed county. I believe Mitch Scott will be an excellent choice for Dakota County Sheriff and has my vote.
Bellows explanation for buying up the domain name of his opponent is weak. ‘Fess up and move on. Instead, he compounds the error in judgement by trying to explain it away – and badly at that. I really didn’t know anything about this race until now, and now I know all I need to know. If Mr. Bellows is dancing the two-step on something as simple as this, what is going to happen when the lives of our officers and the public they protect are at stake?
If the goal of our system is to freely elect officials which we, the people, believe to be the best to represent us, then it is my opinion that the officials who represent us should share that goal. May the best man for the job win, is the statement. Domain name registration isn’t illegal or unethical (in my opinion) for a sheriff who uses it to find out if an opponent will be campaigning (it does seem silly when a simple phone call may have done the job and there are easier, cheaper ways of investigating a domain name). However, it would be unethical and aside from our system, I believe, if he were to use the domain as a way of deterring the people of Dakota County from accessing information about Mitch Scott, which, we have discovered, could not be the case in either way because Mitch Scott Registered a (dot)org domain name instead (which I think is a better choice anyway).
If there is no good old boys club operating within Dakota County, explain to me why the outgoing Sheriff left his post early and facilitated the appointment of Bellows to his position? The position of Sheriff throughout history has been granted its authority from the electorate. A Sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in the U.S. All others are appointed. Why then did not the previous Sheriff/Commissioners appoint Burrows as acting Sheriff rather than appointing him to this elected positon? I think the answer is obvious. There is a good old boys club. I would vote for Mitch Scott for this reason alone even though I think there are many more reasons to vote for him.
I’m a web developer and have been for over 12 years. Simply buying a domain name does not make you privy to anyone who searches for it with the intent to buy it. That’s a lie. When you purchase a domain name, you own the right to use it for the specified time in which you’ve registered it but anyone can search for available domain names and find the owners. The only way he would know if someone searched for it with the intent of using it is if he was contacted directly to sell it to a private party.
The notion that simply being the record of registration on a domain name gives you some magical insight into whether someone else would have wanted it is either a ridiculously uninformed opinion or a lie to cover his intent.
By the way, anyone can search for the owner of a domain by visiting any WHOIS site. Simply Google, “whois” and several options will appear. Unless the domain has been registered privately, the owner’s contact information will show up usually.
Just wanted to add one more thing: If he wanted to know if the domain name was registered (as a way of determining his intent to run) all he needed to do was search the WHOIS which he likely knows how to do if he was able to register a domain name.
Also, how could he possibly predict the domain name that he would register? THAT alone was his way of doing political recon? There are dozens of alternative domains he could have registered instead.
I’m telling you, Bellows had a nefarious plan for that domain.
It is quite obvious that Mr. Bellows does not have a good answer as to why he purchased this site or is not willing to share it. After being questioned on a number of issues he finally comes back with the the crushing blow for Mitch Scott..”He drove on the side walk!” Oh my gosh now that is big news! (BTW my neighbor told me that he saw a Sheriffs department squad car parked on the road blocking traffic to put up a Bellows sign.) Mr. Bellows if that was the worst thing you could find about Mitch Scott I feel pretty good about having him as our Sheriff.
You on the other hand just keep showing up in questionable scenarios starting with your appointment based on Gundmundsons that he was leaving for family reasons and then applied for his current job as Sheriff of Stearns County a couple of weeks later.
I heard Bellows speak at our Rotary Club meeting, nice guy, when asked about the campaign by a member he chose to “not campaign when in uniform” – I thought it was a noble and thoughtful response. No doubt he has the experience, that is all he has done. But doing what they did “retire” and appoint then the old guy goes off and takes a job in another city, we got screwed right there folks.
I applauded the hard work and leadership of Bellows but really think the voters of Dakota County need to step up and vote for a new way of thinking. Mitch Scott, although maybe not as “experienced in county work” as the other guy, knows what he knows and being a new guy will work extra hard to do MORE. IF Bellows gets back in then we will get screwed again when his time comes to “retire” and the cycle, no doubt, will continue.
People preach it for centuries – GET UP AND VOTE – Take your stand and get these “good old boys” and career politicians out and NEW IDEAS and resources IN.
I would like to see a Sheriff that has the confidence and respect of the County Board, the Dakota County police chiefs, most of mayors in Dakota County, the Dakota County Attorney, etc. The candidate that has the endorsement from these leaders is Dave Bellows. Mitch Scott has but one endorsement – from a group of Apple Valley police officers that work for him. Before you decide which man is better prepared and better suited to be our Dakota County Sheriff, Google both men and look over their campaign web sites. Dave Bellows provides clear examples of achievement and vision. Mitch Scott doesn’t seem to have a platform or a vision. He might be a nice guy, but I think our Sheriff should know what he is doing when in command of 200 employees and a budget of $18 million. Dave Bellows has my vote.
Bellows has only ben GIVEN his positions. Not earned anything. Good old boys clubs are the thing of the past. Let’s get someone who is not “handcuffed” to others like so many people in office today. I believe Bellows is underhanded and isn’t a man of character. Sure he might be a nice guy, but I don’t trust him. Be careful I don’t think there is much this guy wouldn’t do to win this election. I am voting for Mitch Scott because Mickey Mouse is already the sheriff and we don’t need him. Mitch might not have all the experience, but he will and he has shown his integrity by running a good campaign with honesty and will be a better leader than the past two good old boys club members. God bless america.
The theme for this election season should be “vote them out” I know that the Sheriff position is NOT supposed to be political, but when you look at the way in which Mr. Bellows rode someone’s coat tails and was handed the job, instead of actually being elected, well that’s not right. As far as bragging about having a bunch of endorsements from career Mayors and County Board members, that doesn’t cut it now days either. Most of those people should have served their office ONCE & the moved on. I’m sticking with my plan, voting in NEW blood across the ticket. The best MAN for the job of Dakota County Sheriff, Mitch Scott.
I have read comments concerning endorsements. I wonder if many of Bellow’s endorsements actually know why they have endorsed him? For many it is easier to say yes, then no. They just don’t want the confrontation. I went to Mr. Bellow’s website and saw his endorsements. I wonder why he would need to list his family members as endorsing him. I have followed many campaigns and I believe endorsements really don’t mean anything to the average voter. Why would I care if the mayor of a city I know nothing about endorses someone? As far as I know the mayor maybe a person that should have been voted out of office as well. I would always advise a political candidate to be careful who they hitch their wagon to, they may pull you off a cliff. Bottom line I think character is the biggest factor. If you look at their history, buying someone’s domain name is a more important reason not to support someone.