THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509120081
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
A question of experience
Tom Mason's letter in the Aug. 31 Compass states that Al Teich, a Circuit Court Clerk candidate, would have us believe that you have to be a lawyer to fill the clerk's position.
Being a lawyer is not a requirement for this position, but it brings experience that a City Councilman and owner of a printing business does not have. Randy Wright gained a bit of fame when he led a group opposing an increase in the real estate tax of the city. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Wright has voted for all of the real estate tax increases since elected to the council.
Mr. Mason stated ``there has never in the history of Norfolk been a lawyer elected to the position of Clerk of the Court.'' Evidently Mr. Mason's investigation failed to include William ``Billy'' Prieur, who was a licensed lawyer and the Clerk of the Court for many years.
Mr. Prieur, Mrs. (Katherine) Respess, Hugh Stovall and the present incumbent had considerable experience in the clerk's office prior to being elected to fill the position. Mr. Wright lacks any of this ``in-house'' experience, and he should forget about seeking the clerk's position. He might direct his attention toward bringing a battleship to Nauticus to increase its dismal attendance record.
Myron O. Wilcox
Lucian Court
Limits are limits - period
My eyes welled up when I read in the Compass of Kevin Fry's plight vis-a-vis the speed limits.
Pity this poor soul ricocheting through traffic well over the posted speed limit and the only excuse he has to proffer when one of our law enforcement officers pulls him over is ``Gee ... everyone else is speeding.''
The harsh reality is that endemic dysfunctional driving habits spread like cancer; one who disregards speed limits is also prone to:
a) Tailgate those who do obey speed limits;
b) run red lights;
c) suffer from lane-changitis;
d) fail to use turn signals;
e) coast through stop signs;
f) fail to stop before turning right on red;
g) stop halfway into intersections on red lights.
Imagine the chaos that would ensue if every motorist chose to interpret the traffic code in favor of his/her own egocentrism. Come to think about it, this is about what we have now!
If Mr. Fry is so unhappy with speed signage, better he lobby his elected officials to raise the limits. But then, if it were raised from 30 to 40 mph, he probably would go 50!
Alas, the envelope is still being pushed.
Bob Giles
Argall Avenue
Waiting since June of '92
In June 1992, all my neighbors and I received a letter from the Norfolk Department of Utilities, Division of Engineering. The letter stated: ``In the near future, the Department of Utilities will begin construction on a sanitary sewer rehabilitation project in the Overbrook/East Fairmont Park area.''
The letter goes on to describe in more detail what will be done and requests that a form be signed to allow a contractor to enter each individual person's property to do the work. The attached instruction sheet was signed by Gary Heisler over the name of Peter S. Fortin, P.E., engineering manager.
It seems to me that the ``near future'' has come and gone with regard to June 1992. I have tried more than once to reach either of the men whose names appear on this letter, left my name and phone number and never got a response.
This work has been completed in all areas around my street but not on my street. I would like to know what has happened and when this scheduled and budgeted work will be done. Maybe the money was used to buy a baseball stadium or pay rent on Waterside?
Philip M. Piper
Hurley Avenue by CNB