Top 10 Stories of 2012: Szabo Shenanigans

Bedford Patch launched in June of 2011, making 2012 the first complete year of full-time hyper-local online community coverage in Bedford.

In the last 12 months, readers have been treated with some uplifting and positive stories and accomplishments. At other times, Patch has been forced to cover local and national tragedies that make us all take pause and remember who and what is most important to us.

We thought it only fitting that, as we approach 2013, we look back at some of the most interesting and newsworthy local stories of the last year. After all, where else are you going to get a list that's entirely dedicated to Bedford?

#9: Hillsborough County Sheriff Candidate's Remarks Spark Outrage

Frank Szabo made national headlines in August when he made controversial comments regarding his staunch pro-life platform.

An admitted Free Stater, Szabo, in an interview with Bedford Patch compared abortion to slavery and said he'd condone the use of deadly force in extreme circumstances pertaining to abortion.

"I don't think anybody would have trouble with preventing a full-grown human being from being murdered," Szabo told Patch, "so why would anyone object to the use of deadly force to prevent the murder of an unborn human?"

Szabo, who apologized and retracted his comments a day later, lost his bid for the Republican nomination for county sheriff during the Sept. 11 Primary election.

In November, Szabo announced he emigrated to South America via an update on his campaign Facebook page with the following post (see screen shot of full message above):

As some of you may know, my family and I have left the country. This was a decision which was a possibility many months ago. If it were not for the campaign, we would have left much earlier. After having lost The Primary, it became a certainty. In my opinion, there was nothing else I could do which could make a real difference.

I did not wish to publicize our plans for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was to protect those politically-active supporters who may have felt the backlash for my decision to leave. I was/am somewhat concerned for capital controls; current and forthcoming.

Top 10 Newsworthy Stories of 2012

#10: Bedford hires a new town manager

#9: Frank Szabo's abortion remarks spark outrage

#8: Bedford All-Stars fall one win short of Little League World Series

#7: Bedford plays large role in Romney's primary victory

#6: Sandy knocks out power to thousands in Bedford

#5: Plenty of Fireworks in District 9 Senate Race

#4: Sparks fly in Bedford Town Moderator Race

#3: Sunday, Dec. 30 4 p.m.

#2: Monday, Dec. 31, 6 a.m.

#1: Monday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.

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