Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9511020032
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I don't share your opinion. I think liberal Steve McGraw made a mistake by handpicking Spike Harrison for county supervisor. This could also create a conflict of interest.
We need good teachers. Teaching is a demanding profession. There's no better service you can contribute to society than working with our young people. Let us leave Harrison in education.
Warren Brown has much to offer and ample time to devote to the job. He believes in conservative values, that the best government is the least government, and wants to keep government accountable to the people. The advisory board he wants to appoint is an effort to better hear from all people.
And, yes, Brown has faith that you'll cast your vote on Nov. 7 for him - the man who will listen to you, work for you, and will keep the Catawba District first.
PHYLLIS GOODYKOONTZ
ROANOKE
Edwards has done zero for Northeast
I WOULD just like to remind the Northeast neighborhoods and any other small neighborhood in Roanoke city to remember to give John Edwards the same kind of support he has given us in the past as a member of Roanoke City Council. Namely, a big fat zero!
Edwards fell in line behind the mayor, along with the rest of City Council and the Planning Commission's members, to the tune of local big-business interests to bring us an asphalt plant within city limits and a low-income housing project for us to enjoy in our back yards. We should be sure to give him and other members of local government the same kind of support at the polls.
PAUL SMITH
ROANOKE
Chuck Reid has the inside track
I HAVE worked alongside law-enforcement officials for more than 32 years in another state, and for more than four years with the Bedford County Sheriff's Department as a special police officer. I've observed many good and bad officers through this period. I also grew up in a law-enforcement family. Observing these special people handle any situation has never ceased to amaze me. The personnel of the department rank among the best.
What we don't need in this department is an outsider who can't remain in a position very long - an outsider with pieces of paper (called degrees), but with little practical experience as a deputy or a jailer. Nor do we need someone who may attempt to convert the department into a branch of the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau.
What our county needs is a law-enforcement officer who has dedicated his life and his family's life to the people of Bedford County, not someone who has just established an address in the county. We need Chuck Reid.
EMIL R. VANDERSPIEGEL
BEDFORD
Put Maynard's experience to work
DOUG Maynard should be elected our next sheriff because he's well-qualified. With his service in the Roanoke City Police Department and as an investigator for the Virginia public-defender's office, he has investigated major crimes in Bedford, Botetourt, Roanoke and Franklin counties. He has served as a fingerprint instructor for the Roanoke City Sheriff's Department and the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy.
He has the type of practical training that a sheriff's department needs. You can see this when you look at his plan for patrol districts to improve response time, and his proposal for a safe house for battered women. He knows the needs of our county because he has lived here to see what's needed firsthand. Let's give him the opportunity to put his knowledge and training to use in the Bedford County Sheriff's Department.
JERRY KIRK
THAXTON
Franklin should stick with Dudley
THANK YOU for your Oct. 25 editorial (``Claude Whitehead for the House'') endorsing Claude Whitehead for the House of Delegates' race in Franklin, Floyd and parts of Pittsylvania counties.
Fortunately for those in Franklin County, your opinions on anything having to do with our area are a joke. You have for years characterized our citizens as rednecked moonshiners who exist solely to work in your factories, shop in your stores and enrich your pocketbooks.
When Roanoke Valley's exalted leaders decided almost 20 years ago against an international airport in the Burnt Chimney area because it would mean a 40- to 50-minute drive to catch a plane for them, little did these shortsighted leaders know. Now you're the proud owners of an architectural nightmare with the majority of flights on commuter planes, and no covered parking or shuttle service from the parking garage to the terminal.
Travel any of our secondary roads and compare them with your narrow ones, with no shoulders and poorly designed drainage. Walk into any of our public schools and see clean, attractive facilities where our children receive a fine education. I know you must also envy the Smith Mountain Lake tax base that we benefit from.
Maybe it's been sour grapes for the past 40 years that has molded your opinion of Franklin County and its people.
Allen Dudley has been an outstanding rookie delegate. He's intelligent, analytical and progressive. You should be so lucky to have him represent you.
NANCY E. HAMLIN
ROCKY MOUNT
Branscom wants to meet future needs
IN THEIR Oct. 28 letter to the editor (``Branscom would build an empire''), Richard and Ned Jeter claimed that Joel Branscom said at a recent forum that he would double the staff in the Botetourt County commonwealth's attorney's office. I was there, and he didn't say anything of the sort. That misleading information is part of a piece of mail piece Rob Hagan has distributed.
At the forum, Branscom said he would attempt to make the part-time assistant's position full time by increasing the salary from $27,000 to $32,000. Twice as much service for a small increase in pay. In last year's budget, Hagan requested the position be funded at $41,000. This is a point Hagan conveniently leaves out in his mailing.
At the forum, most candidates for local office talked of spending millions for everything from industrial parks and schools to more deputies for the sheriff's department. The Jeters failed to point out that Branscom has a plan to make money for the county by doing court-cost collections in-house instead of sending the money out of Botetourt.
As Botetourt grows, its prosecution needs will also grow. At least, Branscom is prepared to meet those needs.
THOMAS W. ROE JR.
FINCASTLE
Teachers' unit does not pass judgment
AS PRESIDENT of the Roanoke County Education Association, I take offense to the remarks made in the Oct. 26 Neighbors section article (``Jordhal says he'll add an educator's perspective'') by Vernon Jordahl, a candidate for the Cave Spring seat on the Roanoke County School Board.
He alleges that the Virginia Education Association and the RCEA have ``resisted efforts to get rid of incompetent teachers. Their agenda has not always served the best interests of the schools.'' I couldn't disagree with him more.
The RCEA program of action includes four basic planks: community involvement; working toward a cooperative relationship with the School Board and school administration; working toward increased compensation and fringe benefits; and addressing critical concerns facing public education.
It isn't the association's role to identify incompetence. We make every effort to ensure that all employees have access to and fully experience their due-process rights as afforded by state and federal laws.
JUDY DEYERLE
President, Roanoke County
Education Association> SALEM
by CNB