Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995 TAG: 9510310060
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
On many streets, cars come out every which way going 35 mph instead of the 25 mph speed limit. This makes it unsafe for us to walk or ride bikes in the street.
If Roanoke County ever does get sidewalks, it shouldn't require a tax increase. I think we pay enough in taxes that sidewalks should be part of our community. I think a survey should be done to find out if people want to use tax funds to create sidewalks.
CARRIE RAMSEY
ROANOKE
Exposing liberals' voting records
LIBERALS are expressing great hatred toward conservative Christians, especially the Christian Coalition and its leaders. Fierce name-calling and mean-spirited, dishonest attacks pour from the liberals. Almost anything goes. Why?
There's a philosophical-cultural conflict. For too long, liberals have been legislating their secular-humanist beliefs, imposing their left-wing values on all of us. Conservative Christians, especially Christian Coalition members, are encouraging legislators to base laws, regulations and rules on traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and what's best for families.
The Christian Coalition lobbies legislators, and informs people about issues and about legislators' positions on these issues. It contributes a Judeo-Christian ethical influence to public policy. Liberals strongly oppose and fear this influence.
The coalition distributes "score cards" that inform people about legislators' voting records on specific issues related to Judeo-Christian ethics and those that affect families. Also, it distributes voters' guides that inform people about political candidates' positions. Liberals despise these score cards and voter guides, because they inform people how much liberal politicians trash Judeo-Christian ethics and undermine family formation, stability and autonomy.
Don't be misled by the liberals' lies. The coalition endorses no candidates or political parties (read its score cards and voters' guides). It just gives us important facts about issues and politicians. Liberals are extremely angry about having their liberalism exposed and effectively opposed.
Conservative Christians, including members of the coalition, provide important light our society needs. They deserve our thanks and support.
SHIRLEY W. COOK
RADFORD
Jortner will work to improve education
WE ARE endorsing Bernie Jortner for the Montgomery County School Board, District B. He has been a friend and mentor for 15 years. Not only is Jortner a warm and committed individual, he's a dynamic and inspiring educator whose enthusiasm is remembered by hundreds of students.
He's a father who will work tirelessly for our kids by advocating classes that emphasize basic skills and information technology, and he's dedicated to increasing parents' involvement in their children's education. He's also determined to lower the county's dropout rate, an upsetting trend that needs immediate attention.
Other candidates appear to have agendas that have a lot to do with narrowing the focus of our schools and very little to do with education.
DELBERT and JOHANNA JONES
CHRISTIANSBURG
Safety is at stake in sheriff's race
I LIVE near the Hiwassee community and was frightened by recent events involving the shooting of a local resident and then the standoff with the sheriff's office. I suppose you really never know what might happen in your community when horror like this might besiege your own family or friends.
I urge voters to look at what Sheriff Ralph Dobbins has done for all of us. Don't gamble our safety on the promises of what another is going to do.
MAE MORRIS
ALLISONIA
Put Branscom to work for Botetourt
I AM not impressed by Rob Hagan's attempt to get elected on the strength of Reed Kelly's performance as sheriff. In his campaign, Joel Branscom hasn't tried to ride the coattails of anyone. He hasn't tried to take credit for Roanoke's falling crime index and homicide rate because these are things a prosecutor doesn't control. Instead, he has emphasized his prosecution experience and his Botetourt County roots.
As an attorney who practices in Botetourt and Roanoke city, I can attest that Branscom not only has more experience as a prosecutor, but he's a better, more prepared prosecutor. If you don't believe me, consider this: When Roanoke city suffered what was arguably the worst mass murder in this area's history, Don Caldwell, Roanoke's elected commonwealth's attorney, assigned Branscom to spearhead the prosecution.
Additionally, having been exposed to both, I've been extremely impressed with Branscom's courtroom decorum and his ability to treat everyone with respect.
When you vote, you can vote for Kelly, the sheriff with 22 years of law enforcement. You can also vote to steal back one of our own from Roanoke. Branscom and Kelly would make a truly impressive law-enforcement team for our county. It seems a shame that a bright, experienced prosecutor like Branscom has to commute to Roanoke every day when he's willing to put his talents to work for Botetourt County.
JOHN R. PATTERSON
FINCASTLE
Legislature needs a good doctor
I SUPPORT the candidacy of Dr. Newell Falkinburg. He came to Roanoke in 1974 after serving our country in the U.S. Air Force. After Falkinburg's military service, he was recruited to Roanoke to help establish the kidney-dialysis unit at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He is a volunteer physician at the Roanoke Free Clinic. It's one of his many activities within the community.
Falkinburg has been a friend and neighbor for many years, and I feel he would make an excellent legislator. Presently, with 40 attorneys and no doctors serving in the 100-member House of Delegates, I feel Virginians could use a physician in Richmond.
W. WARREN TOMLINSON
ROANOKE
Misinforming for political spin
REGARDING Bud Brumitt's Oct. 22 letter to the editor, ``Windfall is really a tax increase gust'':
The Botetourt County commissioner of revenue doesn't have the prerogative of changing tax-collection dates. He may make recommendations, but changing dates is a function of the county Board of Supervisors. The only tax change that can be made unilaterally by the commissioner of revenue is the valuation of personal-property taxes.
To claim a windfall of $3 million by changing tax-due dates is absurd. If a property-tax bill is $500 for the year, it doesn't change, regardless of the collection date. If taxes were paid in October rather than December, monies collected may, if invested by the county treasurer, collect interest for two months. However, the taxpayer's bill would remain the same. To me, as a taxpayer, payments made in October are preferable to those made during the expensive Christmas season and immediately prior to annual new year's bills.
To say the county has hoarded more than $15 million in surplus accounts implies that elected and appointed county officials are being underhanded with the citizens. I may be completely naive, but I cannot believe this. In my opinion, the majority of our officials - whether Democrat, Republican or independent - are doing what they believe is best for Botetourt County. I believe they're performing well, considering Botetourt's accelerated population and industry growth in recent years.
Supporting one's political candidate by informing the public of his or her attributes is commendable. Criticizing the opposing candidate with the use of erroneous information is dishonest and wrong, at any level.
JOSEPH G. JOHNSON JR.
FINCASTLE
by CNB