August 27, 2008                                        For Immediate Release

                                                                     Contact: 432-9407

          The campaign of Capt. Frank Balles, Republican candidate for Atlantic County Sheriff, will rise to a new level on Friday.

          On that day, beachgoers, boardwalk strollers and residents will be able to look to the sky and see a plane towing a banner, proclaiming: 15 YEARS IS TOO LONG—VOTE BALLES 4 SHERIFF.”

          The banner plane will fly along the ocean coast from Brigantine to Longport and return on the bay side. 

          Balles is a 23-year veteran of the Pleasantville Police Department, rising from street patrol officer through administration, management and command positions and serves as the department’s acting chief as necessary.

          The 15 years on the banner refers to the tenure as Sheriff of Jim McGettigan.

          “It’s been fifteen years of broken and unfulfilled promises,” Balles said.  “In 1993, McGettigan promised creation of a K-9 unit, a narcotics squad and a dive team.  The people of the county are still waiting.

          “In 1994, he discontinued supplementary Sheriff’s officers patrols in the county, removing an additional law enforcement presence from the streets of our communities,” Balles said.  “When he took office, he pledged to address the critical issue of unserved warrants, only to see the number of such warrants grow from 5,000 to 6,600 --- a 30 per cent increase.”

          “As the airplane banner graphically and accurately points out, 15 years is too long,” Balles said.

            Balles has pledged to restore the supplemental patrol activities by sheriff’s officers, create a K-9 unit to be funded by a reallocation of existing resources and utilizing cash confiscated from drug dealers, and make serving of warrants on fugitives a top priority to get lawbreakers off the streets.

          “It is time for the citizens and taxpayers of Atlantic County to benefit from the services of a sheriff who is dedicated to law enforcement rather than political advancement,” Balles said.  “And, by looking to the skies on Friday, they will be able to see who that individual is.”