THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503230780
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
News reports covering the General Assembly during the recent session focused on the bickering and theatrics of many members.
As a legislative representative of a professional education organization who had occasion to observe the legislature in action during much of this session, I was proud to note that Del. William S. ``Billy'' Moore Jr. did not engage in political posturing, but continued his fine tradition of giving fair and responsible representation for his district.
The city of Portsmouth has received excellent service by Del. Moore for many years, even before redistricting, which brought other areas into the district. Because I had the opportunity to view the General Assembly from a closer perspective than many other citizens, I believed that I should bring to their attention the fine representation we have received from Del. Moore and thank him for a job well done.
Jean H. Shackelford
Sterling Point Drive
March 1, 1995 Morrison criticized
Circuit Court Judge Johnny E. Morrison's wife, Cynthia P. Morrison, announced her candidacy for clerk of the Circuit Court March 11.
From recent observation of Judge Morrison's dealings, it appears that he is forming some kind of ``coup'' to take complete control of the judicial system of Portsmouth. His previous brushes with judges when he was commonwealth's attorney, revealed that he thought he could run the court like he thought he could. He failed. He was wrong when he penned a letter on behalf of someone convicted in federal court.
He was extremely wrong in offering himself as a financial backer of riverboat gambling.
I'm just a layman, but I believe his conduct makes a mockery of the Canons of Judicial Conduct for this commonwealth. I'm sure the word nepotism is mentioned somewhere in those canons.
His ``coup'' could be the beginning of his ``coup de grace.''
Charles C. Shepheard
Tarnywood Drive
March 13, 1995 Reconsider boat tax
I write to voice my opinion on the city's boat tax and to suggest that the city revisit the issue. Although I am not a resident, and therefore do not vote in Portsmouth, I believe that I am an important member of the community. I believe this because of the contribution I make to the city's economy.
To give you a fair representation of the impact a single person such as myself can have, I offer the following expenditures incurred by me in Portsmouth in 1994: marina fees, $2,544; fuel expenses, $3,820; dining and recreation, $3,800; maintenance and repairs, $815; marina electric, $711.
As you can see, this is nearly $12,000 spent directly in Portsmouth and paid for by me personally. This does not even take into account miscellaneous expenses for groceries, lunches and all the other things we generally pay for in cash. If you were to include these, the number easily would exceed $15,000. In addition, it makes no estimate of the various guests who are on the boat most weekends for a day of recreation starting in Portsmouth or my friend who is on the boat every weekend and also spends considerable money in Portsmouth.
I live in Chesapeake, and if it were not for my boat in Portsmouth, I would have no occasion to be in Portsmouth.
Please don't make the same mistake our federal government made a few years ago when they imposed the luxury tax on new boats and decimated the American boating industry. Remember, the law was designed to produce revenue but wound up costing many times what it brought in.
Many of the other, if not most, boat owners at Tidewater Yacht do not live in Portsmouth and certainly would be able to find more geographically convenient places to keep their boats. I always believed that Portsmouth's present policy on the boat tax was very farsighted, and I know there are many boats in Portsmouth directly because of it.
Mark J. Rossetti
Lakes of Greenbrier Apartments
Chesapeake MEMO: Mail your letter to Letters to the Editor; The Portsmouth Currents; 307
County St.; Portsmouth, Va. 23704. Or fax us at 446-2607. by CNB