Are you ready

 On Facebook, a woman posted that she wants to get enough signatures on a petition to be placed on the ballot for the upcoming election. She wants to run for Baltimore County Sheriff. The incumbent is not running, and she wishes to toss her hat in the ring, so to speak.

I thought it only fair to ask if she would delineate her qualifications for the job. In our county, the Sheriff, and his/her deputies, while technically law enforcement personnel, do not do police patrol work. Their duties concern court operations, serving legal processes, governmental building security,  prisoner transport, executing warrants, and sheriff's sales.

 I got no answer from the would-be candidate, but someone else replied that all she is asking for is a spot on the ballot. I'm all for giving people a chance, but I don't see any point in endorsing her petition for the ballot if she is not qualified to do the job if elected. And again, she did not reply to the request. For all I know she is eminently qualified and would serve the office well, if elected. 

There is an awful lot of that spirit going around these days, people feeling they are ready to do any job they come across. Maybe it stems from those TV shows in which anyone can be a star. 

Anyone can sing, and when enough people want to hear you sing, you are a star. But let's see some experience in law and court procedures before we hang the sheriff's star on your shirt, please.

(FYI - the Battle of North Point took place on September 12, 1814 during the War of 1812.  Wells and McComas were American sharpshooters credited with firing the shots which killed British commander General Robert Ross, a loss which led to an American win in this battle and in the defense of Ft. McHenry two days later, a battle we still sing about in The Star Spangled Banner.)