BENTON COUNTY — Former Benton County Sheriff Andy Lee has sent a letter to Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone alleging Sheriff Keith Ferguson is using a public-owned vehicle for campaign purposes.

Lee, who finished third two years ago in the sheriff ’s race behind Ferguson and Kelley Cradduck, is not a candidate this year. Ferguson and Cradduck are candidates.

Lee sent the letter toStone on April 17, according to e-mail from Lee the newspaper received Thursday.

A member of Lee’s camp made a similar complaint to the state Ethics Commission in the 2008 campaign. The commission questioned Ferguson, who said he is on call 24/7 and used the vehicle to drive between campaign functions.

Commissioners found Ferguson to be in violation of the ethics laws and wrote him a public letter of caution, the lightest form of public admonishment. The commission acknowledged in a letter to Ferguson a public emergency responder would need a wellequipped vehicle at all times.

Ferguson said Thursdayhe has used the countyowned pickup during this year’s election to drive between campaign speaking engagements or appearances during his “on-duty time.” He uses his personal vehicle for knocking on doors or putting up campaign signs, Ferguson said.

Lee’s letter asks Stone to accept the correspondence as acriminal complaint alleging three instances that the sheriff used his pickup in violation of state law.

Stone said Thursday he received Lee’s letter but had not had time to review it.

Don Kendall, campaign manager for Ferguson, called Lee’s claims baseless.

“There are no criminal complaints that Andy Lee can file because he has no official capacity to make a criminal complaint,” Kendall said.

Chuck Lange, executive director of the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association, saw no problem with Ferguson’s actions.

“If the sheriff was pulling an 8-by-12 campaign sign behind his county-owned truck, there might be a problem,” Lange said. “If any sheriff does something that’s really wrong, someone should file a complaint. But this? I don’t know of any other county that’s having this issue.”

News, Pages 19 on 04/28/2010