THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605040123
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 568 lines
I read The Virginian-Pilot's endorsement of candidates for Chesapeake mayor and City Council this morning with extreme disappointment. The Pilot's failure to endorse even one Republican backed candidate for council was frustrating, but admittedly not a surprise. Much more bothersome to me than this expected oversight was the overall tenor of the endorsement piece, the fundamental misunderstanding of Chesapeake political affairs exhibited therein and the laughable endorsement of council gadfly Jim Whitener.
Not only did the Pilot's endorsement omit all Republican candidates, the editorial board went further and specifically non-endorsed three of the four Republican candidates by name. None of the other candidates were singled out for this dishonor. Your editorial also dripped of mean-spirited sarcasm, i.e., that Dalton Edge is a Robert Nance ``sidekick,'' that Councilman Nance is ``often in conflict with one city department or another - currently it's the police,'' and that given the city's record, ``it wouldn't hurt to have on council a person with some knowledge of investigations.''
Interestingly, Dalton Edge, is described as Nance ``sidekick'' (for some reason unbeknownst to those of us regularly in the company of both men and who do not even find them necessarily to be friends), while Elizabeth Thornton, who you describe as running at (Mayor) Ward's request'' is described as a ``sure source of civility.'' Unfortunately for the reader, the basis for your subjective conclusion of assured civility is not contained in your editorial. And, if anyone be a council sidekick, it would have to Councilman Dwight Parker who has been known to make motions at the mayors prompting, while Mayor Ward then relinquishes the gavel to Vice Mayor Nance so that Councilman Ward can second Mr. Parker's motions. Despite this practice, Mr. Parker is not described pejoratively as a ``sidekick'' but rather is glowingly described in your editorial as having a ``calming'' effect at meetings, again without support for the subjective conclusion. Most egregiously on the Pilot's part, however, is your veiled reference to Councilman Nance being in ``conflict'' with the Police Department. Your editorial neglects to mention that the genesis of the conflict stems from Mr. Nance being a grand theft victim at the hands of a police captain's son - a fact on which Mr. Nance, to my knowledge has never even made public comment. To suggest anything else is defamatory.
Further eroding the weight of your editorial endorsement is your repeated description of a ``cruel'' council motivated by ``vendettas,'' with ``personal rancor,'' that is ``too partisan,'' suffering from excessive partisanship,'' ``divisiveness,'' and ``partisan axe-grinding.'' These are gross exaggerations and an inaccurate portrayal of our city. Anybody who has ever witnessed a Chesapeake Council meeting will attest to the congeniality evidenced among all our councilmen. The overwhelming majority of resolutions are passed on 9-0 vote. The few hotly contested 5-4 issues, such as opposition to the Southeastern Expressway, find multiple crossover, with Mayor Ward actually voting in support of Robert Nance's motion on that particular issue.
If the sole episode of partisan divisiveness on which you base your allegations be the firing of the former city manager, I challenge anybody, including your paper, to come forward with a defense for the sorry leadership exhibited by past city government. I would further ask you to explain independent Councilman Krasnoff's vote with the Republican majority to terminate Mr. Rein's employment. The only partisanship evident to me in that episode was the way the then two Democrat council members stood behind their appointed man.
Finally, the Pilot's endorsement of Mr. Whitener could only have been done to insulate the Pilot from the very same charges of partisanship of which the Pilot accuses current council and on which it reportedly bases all its endorsements. Mr. Whitener's endorsement is the only thing standing between a blanket endorsement of the entire Democratic slate of candidates. While Mr. Whitener's career as a naval investigative officer may seem sound on paper, and while his responses to your questions may have exhibited a level of cordiality, his endorsement shows either a profound lack of knowledge of Chesapeake politics on the part of your editorial board, or a deliberate slight of Edward Hall, the sole Democrat candidate overlooked by your panel.
Apparently you are not aware that Mr. Whitener is a dyed-in-the-wood council gadlfy in the tradition of Carl ``Council Watcher'' Burns, T.J. ``Cowboy'' Carrawan, and John ``Billy-boy'' Perry. To the uninitiated, this amalgam of political discontents have been addressing council every week, on various issues of utter insignificance, ever since the Republicans turned on the TV cameras in council chambers. The last time I personally had opportunity to watch Mr. Whitener in action, he was speaking against expansion of the Greenbrier Holiday Inn because Chesapeake was without hook and ladder trucks that could reach above the fifth floor for firefighting purposes. His specious argument called to mind the Rodgers and Hammerstein, ``Everything's up to date in Kansas City, they've gone about as far as they can go. They even built a skyscraper seven stories tall - about as tall as a building oughta go!'' I am justifiably fearful of Mr. Whitener's vision of progress for the City of Chesapeake, and your editorial board was remiss in presuming to know what might be best for our city without delving into Mr. Whitener's tortuous history before council.
This one selection alone shows that your endorsements were ill-conceived. If the voters want to end the alleged ``partisan bickering'' that you trumpet, I suggest the voters get rid of the partisan split. I urge citizens of Chesapeake to vote either the straight Democratic ticket of Ward, Parker, Thornton and Ed Hall, the man you overlooked, or hopefully the Republican ticket of Cosgrove, Nance, Edge and Pierce. Any vote along these partisan lines would be much more reasoned and deserving of respect than the slate of candidates your editorial board arrogantly proffers for our city.
Philip J. Infantino
Chairman
Public Relations Committee
Chesapeake Republican Party
Blair Court No surprise
Surprised? I'm not! You've endorsed Democrats again to go along with your endorsements of Bill Clinton and Mary Sue Terry. Hundreds of portable classrooms, water you cannot drink, roads you can't drive on, scandal, you name it. We don't want dissension! Why, if we had dissension and debate, we might even solve some of these problems.
My husband is Cuban. I don't want a politically correct ticket. I want the best candidate available! Dalton Edge on May 7.
Donna Martinez
Blackthrone Drive Above the rest
I recently attended one of the Chesapeake City Council candidate forums and listened closely to all.
You know, they sounded like a cross-section of all of us. Some didn't have a clue. Some responded with no focus. Some only related to their immediate professions and couldn't identify the big picture. Some dwelled on past history in office with little to say about the here and now.
There was a lot of grinning and a little bit of spinning, but a few seemed to rise above all that.
One of those was definitely Jim Whitener. I liked him a couple of years ago. I like him more today.
He's ready with facts and figures that the others don't have or didn't care to obtain. He also takes care to present us with a good method to obtain better government. I like his philosophy.
Everybody in the boat with Jim. There's room for all of us. Just grab an oar and let's go!
Warren Cooke
Oak Ridge Drive No hidden agenda
Two years ago, when faced with the horrifying prospect of a borrow pit being located 250 feet from my back door, I received a call from Jim Whitener offering to help. Initially, I was very skeptical. After all, all politicians offer to help when they are running for something. How many are still there after election day?
In the intervening years, I have found out how deep Jim Whitener's commitment is to the city of Chesapeake. Although he lost that election, he did not fade away. Instead, he has spent uncountable hours as a concerned citizen in attending council sessions and public hearings, meeting (again often unasked) with concerned or threatened citizens and neighborhoods, analyzing city budget data and capital improvements, etc. With Jim Whitener, what you see is what you get. Jim has no hidden agendas; his only concern is that each resident of Chesapeake be treated fairly and honestly in his or her dealings with city government, and to determine what that is, he listens to the citizens.
Fortunately, Jim Whitener is once again running for City Council. On May 7, we can elect Jim Whitener to City Council or not; either way, he will still be at Council meetings, standing up for the citizens. But wouldn't it be nice to have someone who is looking out for your interests able to press the button when the vote is called?
Robert Pillers
Battlefield Boulevard Lacking vision
Chesapeake needs to keep up with the changes taking place all around it.
We are teaching children in portable classrooms. The traffic is in a snarl everywhere you look. This is because of bad planning or no planning. The present leadership lacks the vision and ability to plan ahead.
Growth is haphazard, controlled by the greed of the wealthy.
On May 7, vote for John Cosgrove for mayor and Bill Pierce, Dalton Edge and Robert Nance for the City Council. These men will work hard for the city.
Earl J. Harrison
Taft Road Recommendations
The two most important issues facing Chesapeake are education and public safety. The brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our city safe are supporting Mayor Bill Ward, Ed Hall, Dwight Parker and Elizabeth Thornton. The dedicated teachers who teach our children every day are also supporting these candidates. These are the people who protect our streets and prepare our children for the 21st century. As one who works daily in Chesapeake's schools, I have experienced their dedication.
All citizens in Chesapeake need to listen to their choices to provide the best leadership on these two critical issues. On May 7, support the choice of Chesapeake's teachers, deputies and police officers, who support Ward, Hall, Parker and Thornton.
Felicia Rosenbaum
Portsmouth Perplexing choices
I am surprised and perplexed to see that the Chesapeake Educational Association has endorsed only one of the three Republican-backed candidates for School Board, Harry Murphy. While Harry Murphy is an outstanding candidate, his views mirror those of his running mates, Jim Thompson and Patti Willis. They all believe strongly in school safety, a back-to-basics curriculum and increased funding for teachers' salaries. In fact, it was Patti Willis who personally went to Richmond to lobby the General Assembly for increased funding for our city teachers' salaries.
I hope that Chesapeake public school teachers will consider all the candidates and perhaps question the rationale of union power brokers in handing out the coveted CEA endorsements this year, which, obviously, could not have been based on beliefs.
Jason A. Walker
Jule Drive Group's endorsement
On April 21, the membership of Chesapeake Forward endorsed candidates for the mayoral, councilmatic and School Board races.
For mayor, the membership endorses founding member of Chesapeake Forward, William E. Ward, for re-election. He has served Chesapeake and represented our interest.
For City Council, the membership endorsed the re-election of Councilman Dwight M. Parker and James E. Whitener, faithful members of Chesapeake Forward, and Edward Hall, former president of the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations, for City Council. It is the membership's judgment that our endorsees for mayor and the council possess the honesty, integrity and trustworthiness to represent our interest.
For School Board, the membership endorsed a member of Chesapeake Forward and the School Board, James Wheaton, also a member of Chesapeake Forward and former member of the School Board, Col. Allen Goode Jr., U.S.A., ret., the Rev. Thomas Mercer, pastor of Hickory United Methodist Church and Mr. Harry Murphy, an entrepreneur, to election. It is the membership's judgment that our endorsees for School Board possess honesty, integrity and trustworthiness to represent our interest in excellence in education of children.
On Tuesday, May 7, the membership of Chesapeake Forward encourages all Chesapeake voters to elect our endorsed candidates for mayor, City Council and School Board. Chesapeake Forward also encourages all citizens, corporate and residential, to work along with our organization in enhancing the quality of life here in our beloved city.
Lamont Simmons
President
Chesapeake Forward Highly motivated
When I see pictures of Michael J. Woods, candidate for Chesapeake School Board, I remember him as Officer Mike Woods, a fellow with no gray hair, wearing a Norfolk Police uniform and attached to a German shepherd by a seven-foot leash. Mike was a young K-9 cop when I underwent training (as a deputy with the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office) at the Norfolk Police K-9 School in 1981. He was a motivated, friendly officer who was always willing to give us trainees help with our new duties.
Over the years, I lost touch with Mike, but quickly recalled him when I saw his picture during the last School Board race. I voted for him then (and will again) and was disappointed for our city when he lost. Michael Woods, like Maury Brickhouse (the chairman of the Chesapeake School board who has decided not to run), has something that is vital to our school kids and our educators - experience dealing with those kids that were not reached by education. He and Maury both know how terribly important education is to all of our citizens, whether they have school-age kids or not. If we don't reach them in school, the odds are that we will never do so, and we are then destined to support them through welfare or prison spending.
I don't know (or care) whether Michael Woods and Maury Brickhouse are politically aligned through party affiliation, and find that distinction rather meaningless anymore. What I do know is that both men are highly motivated, caring family men who will put the needs of the students and faculty of Chesapeake Public Schools at the proper level in government - the ``factory'' where our future is being produced.
I support Michael Woods for Chesapeake School Board, as I would have Maury Brickhouse had he sought re-election. We owe it to our kids and ourselves to put experienced, caring people in these positions. With Maury choosing to step down, Mike's election is even more critical.
A.C. ``Andy'' Black Jr.
Hornsea Road Bad judgement
I must add my comments to those of others who believe that Chesapeake's Republican state delegate, Robert Nelms, has disgraced himself so publicly that he should resign in shame.
Let's look at it this way. If we are to believe Mr. Nelms when he says he was just taking a walk to think about things and felt the call of nature, then we must believe that it is OK for anyone to answer the call of nature in a public park. We, of course, know that everyone cannot do that. There are laws against it. So most of us don't answer the call of nature in a public way. We also have to take into consideration that Mr. Nelms has been to this very park on at least one previous occasion, and he was mugged, and hurt, during that visit. Then to make it worse, he invokes legislative privilege to protect himself from being prosecuted for his behavior. When we look at just these things, we have to believe this man definitely shows a great lack of good judgment.
Do we really need any more folks in government who display such a lack of good judgment? We already have far too much of that in some of our current city officials here in Chesapeake. Remember the councilman's statement, ``We make the law, and we can break the law?'' Instead, there needs to be people in public office we can respect and look to for guidance.
Maybe it is time we citizens give the other party, candidates an opportunity in public office. May 7 is election day for City Council and School Board seats. Let's look a little more carefully at the candidates running and be sure they act the way they talk.
Doris Robinson
Kate Drive Sour grapes
I'm nor sure if Robert Nance is to be congratulated or The Virginian-Pilot criticized for running the non-story about the Chesapeake Education Association's endorsement of the team headed by Mayor Bill Ward.
The paper only reported information given by a callow and disappointed candidate. It sounded like sour grapes to me, and is typical of Nance's style of politics. He wants the attention anywhere but on his bad decisions while on City Council, so he is reduced to making up stories and convincing newspapers to run them.
While he is ingenious at self-promotion, this is the man who proposed forcing Chesapeake residents to drink salty water and had the city manager fired for standing up against this stupid idea. We may not be able to do anything about the paper's choice of stories, but we can do something about Robert Nance and his political cronies.
On May 7, support candidates who are thinking of Chesapeake and not their political futures. Adult leadership, which is comprised of wisdom, responsibility and vision to make decisions that benefit all the people is what Chesapeake needs as it enters the next century.
My vote will not be wasted for I shall cast it for these qualified candidates: Ward, Hall, Parker and Thornton.
Ron Bowers
Portlock Road New outlook
John Cosgrove is my choice for mayor. Mr. Cosgrove has the strength of conviction to represent all of the people of Chesapeake and not cave in to the pressures of the developers and other special interests. We need a man of his caliber in the mayor's office so we can be truly represented and have our children's future protected.
The citizens of Chesapeake have a great opportunity to bring a new outlook to City Council and have a council that is there for us, the taxpayers. i know that we will be very proud of the job that John Cosgrove will do for us as the next mayor of Chesapeake. Please vote for John Cosgrove for mayor on May 7, 1996.
Aubrey Williams
Drummond Lane Breach of conduct
Why are teachers wasting time dabbling in politics in a questionable manner, trying to influence elections and in general making fools of themselves instead of bring those SATs and Passport Test scores up?
At the very least, one would expect them to conduct their business in an ethical way. Yet, Elizabeth Thiel's article clearly documents that the campaign manager of one of the candidates that they endorsed sat on the committee that endorsed the candidates. Common sense would dictate that a person would remove themselves from the endorsement committee when they are personally involved in the campaign in a partisan way.
It was equally appalling to find out that during the last School Board election this same committee endorsed candidates ``even before the deadline for candidates to file for the race,'' according to a Virginian-Pilot article. How can you endorse candidates before you know who is running?
I can only pray they are applying better sense in the classroom with our children, than they are in trying to influence local politics. This is a very serious breech of ethical conduct and has lost my vote for now and in the future.
Veronica Johnston
Burris Street Protecting children
Chesapeake is at a crucial time in its history. The issues our City Council debates will not only affect me but also my children.
As a resident of Deep Creek, both my children had the privilege of having Dwight Parker as a teacher. Mr. Parker, I found, cares about his students and all young people. I feel that he would always protect our children's interest when making decisions on the council.
Leadership is more than taking popular stances on today's issues. It is making informed decisions to insure Chesapeake's future.
This is why I am supporting Dwight Parker for City Council. He truly cares about what kind of city his students grow up in.
Pat Lucado
Boxwood Drive Expressed consensus
The purpose of this letter is to express my support for Edward Hall for Chesapeake City Council.
During Ed's second term as president of the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations, I had the honor of serving as his vice president. He always conducted the affairs of the organization with integrity. Whenever he spoke on behalf of the organization, he always presented the wishes and consensus vote of the organization and not his own personal views. He listened to the concerns of citizens from all areas of the city with equal enthusiasm. All of his actions reflected his commitment to help create a better city for all of the citizens of Chesapeake.
On May 7, vote for Edward L. Hall Jr.
John E. Warren
Deep Creek Action, not talk
Dalton Edge is a candidate who says what he means and means what he says. When South Norfolk went to him for help, we got it! I don't want politicians who talk a good line and don't mean it. If you want our city to be led well, don't forget Dalton Edge on May 7.
John Ben Gibson
Godwin Avenue The only choice
May 7 will be an important day. Yes, it will be election day, but the choices that day will affect everyone who lives in their respective cities and school districts. On that day the citizens of Hampton Roads will be making tough choices to lead them on into the 21st century.
What we need to be prepared for the upcoming millennium seems fairly simple, at least to me. We need to grow, but this growth has to be managed and has to involve the citizens affected by the growth. we need quality education - facilities, faculty and curriculum preparing for the future, working with the community and its businesses. We need to improve our transportation. We are not an island and so we need regional solutions to congestion and improvement and encouragement of mass transit. And lastly, we need a quality community life - more recreational facilities, more public safety programs and personnel and citizen involvement.
To make a choice for Chesapeake City Council on May 7 to move in the direction of programs with concern on growth, education, transportation and quality community life there is only one candidate. Ed Hall is the choice and the only choice! Ed Hall will be your councilman. He will lead us forward. He will listen and ask for your input and involvement.
Let's make Chesapeake better, a rising star into the 21st century. Vote for Ed Hall on May 7.
Patricia A. O'Connor
Granada Drive Two special candidates
There are two special candidates running for office in the upcoming May 7 election - Jim Wheaton, a candidate for the Chesapeake School Board, and Jim Whitener, a candidate for City Council. I do not think that Chesapeake could have any two better persons representing them in their respective seats.
Jim Wheaton has worked diligently for the schools in Chesapeake as a current member of the School Board and is now asking for our support as an elected candidate, responsible to the voters. He has worked hard for fiscal responsibility and accountability in the School Board's budget issues, worked equally hard to see that the time line for building new schools to help ease the overcrowding that exists has been maintained, and is working hard to see that our students get a quality education to prepare them for whatever work or career they want to head towards after they leave grades 1-12. He needs to be able to remain to see that our schools remain safe places for our kids to learn. After all, he will have a couple of his own in there soon.
Jim Whitener is an honorable individual with a dogged determination to see an issue through to its rightful conclusion. He has the talents and skills to handle Chesapeake's burgeoning budget and to see all sides of an issue before he makes his decision. Once that decision is made, he is then equally capable of working with others to accomplish those goals. He will keep the greater Chesapeake area in mind when working on council, not just those special interests who seem to keep plaguing us.
As one letter said, please become an informed citizen as you go to the polls and vote, and vote you must. Chesapeake is on the brink. We need a good, strong City Council and School Board to see us through.
These two men are good candidates for the job.
Joyce Dabbs
Deep Creek No positive suggestions
We have only one incumbent running in the May 7 School Board election, and he seems to be running against himself. Anyone who has had the opportunity to see the campaign literature presented by our School Board candidates will be struck by the negative tone of Jim Wheaton's flyers. He cites only problems with our schools, but offers no specific solutions.
Since Jim Wheaton has served on the Chesapeake School Board for five years, I would like to know how much he has done to solve the problems he sees. If after five years with Jim Wheaton on our School Board we are in the dismal condition he portrays, why should we give him more time?
I intend to vote for people who have studied our schools, have recognized their strengths, and have offered positive suggestions for improvement. Please join me in voting for Harry Murphy, Jim Thomson and Patti Willis for Chesapeake School Board. Our children will benefit from their caring, rational approach to education.
Davis W. Messmore
Butterfly Drive Honest about problems
I know he doesn't have all the answers, but I'm impressed with Jim Wheaton's honesty about the problems facing our schools.
They might seem boring, but when I saw him begin to dig into test score statistics, explain what they really mean, and say we need to get back to the basics to help improve them, I realized he's the kind of man we need to keep on the Chesapeake School Board.
He says we can find ways to save money and that we need to make certain we don't end up with a mess like they're having in Virginia Beach with their schools. I believe him. He says we need to have more discipline in our schools. I agree.
Jim Wheaton has my vote Tuesday.
Karen Benton
Decatur Street A vital resource
I was pleased to read your recent endorsement of Patricia Willis. For the past eight years, I have been a neighbor and close friend of Patti Willis, Chesapeake School Board candidate. She is actively involved with her three childrens' education and their various extra-curricular activities.
As a former teacher, Patti knows the need for parental involvement. She is a parent volunteer and is aware of her influence on her children and the effect she has on their schooling. She is constantly seeking what is best for her children's education. She will do the same for all children as a School Board member.
The same determination that pushed Patti to complete degrees in education and law will enable her to solve problems to better our current school system. As a former Chesapeake school teacher, I am aware of the growing concern for school facility improvement while offering students a curriculum that is both stimulating and challenging. Patti can be a vital resource on the School Board to provide a quality education for our Chesapeake students.
Debbie Davis
Windswept Circle Vote for Robert Nance I hope everyone will join me in voting for Robert Nance for City Council. Mr. Nance makes commitments, not promises. He is committed to the people and to preserving the quality of life in Chesapeake. He is committed to the taxpayers and to spending our money wisely. Mr. Nance is committed to making the city departments accountable, all of the city departments. He is committed to having good water for our residents and businesses.
Mr. Nance has proven in his four years on City Council he has the courage and strength to stand behind his commitments. He has consistently voted against raising taxes, and he has consistently voted for managed growth.
We need Robert Nance on City Council.
Anne Tregembo
Bomar Drive Where's he been?
In his interview with Sid Oman on ``Sounding Board'' today, Bill Ward said that he doesn't know John Cosgrove and, therefore, could not comment on their differences as candidates. Where has Bill Ward been? Didn't he come face-to-face with John Cosgrove at various civic league forums? Hasn't he been reading the newspapers?
As an informed citizen, I would be happy to enlighten Mr. Ward. There are significant differences between the present mayor and John Cosgrove. The most significant one is that John Cosgrove is an advocate for managed growth that will retain the character of our city. The present mayor is for growth as usual. His many votes in favor of rezonings are a matter of public record.
Mr. Ward's lack of vision concerning growth and his blatant refusal to join Republicans in their efforts to acquire growth management tools is a major contributing factor to our present situation of crowded roads, poor water and mobiles in our schools.
Let's start off fresh and elect a real citizen representative, John Cosgrove!
Jason A. Walker
Jule Drive Raising consciousness
I am writing in reply to your editorial on the right choices for Chesapeake City Council. I was upset with your comments about Robert Nance and the way you say he causes division and partisan bickering on the council. I have not found these things to be true in the least.
In Mr. Nance's case, I must go on record as saying what you view as divisiveness, I view as purging an entrenched status quo mentality. This mentality has left the city short on vision as well as adequate services to deal with an ever-increasing number of people.
Robert Nance has helped raise the level of public consciousness about many items of mismanagement, the inadequate staff levels in the fire department are the most recent. For that, the families and friends of those fire fighters will always be grateful.
Christopher Kreisel
Vice President
Professional Fire Firefighters of Chesapeake Open-minded approach
On May 7, the citizens of Chesapeake will go to the polls to select individuals they feel are capable of providing effective leadership to our city in the coming years. Honesty, integrity, foresight and the ability to reason are but a few of the qualities that we seek in our leaders. Much has been said and written about partisan politics that have, unfortunately, cast a dark cloud over our City Council. However effective the council may be as a whole, the actions of individual members can be detrimental to how council is perceived by those it represents. It is time to bring to the City Council individuals that will serve our community with the best interest of the citizens of Chesapeake in mind. One candidate that meets this criterion is Edward L. Hall Jr.
I have known Ed Hall for 10 years and have had the pleasure to work with him as director and officer of our homeowners's association. During that time, I have witnessed Ed's increased interest in the affairs of our community and his participation in organizations that have offered their expertise to our city's leaders. What has always impressed me about Ed Hall is that he has volunteered his services to the community because of his deep commitment to his fellow citizens and not because he expected personal gain, status or recognition. Ed is a good listener and he possesses the ability to focus on the key elements of any discussion and to formulate solutions to complex problems. In my dealings with Ed, there have been times when we may have had differing opinions, but never did he refuse to listen to my point of view and to work toward an effective resolution of the issue at hand. This type of open-minded approach is indicative of Ed Hall's demeanor and is but one of the fine qualities that he will bring to the City Council.
I urge my fellow citizens to support Ed Hall's candidacy.
Robert L. Steele
Barcelona Drive by CNB