THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9510310093
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 210 lines
I am sick of the ridiculous claims being made by senatorial candidate Dimitrios Rerras. He had falsely accused Sen. Stanley Walker of opposing longer sentences for dangerous criminals using guns. Nothing could be farther from the truth. These distorted claims need to be corrected.
In 1994, Sen. Walker voted for longer sentences for violent and repeat offenders, including those who use any kind of weapons. This resulted in the fact that Virginia now has the longest sentences to be served for these kinds of crimes of any state in the nation. To continue to distort the voting record of Sen. Walker is deceitful and wrong.
I urge the citizens of Norfolk to vote to continue the leadership and honesty of the Norfolk senators, Stanley Walker, 6th District, and Yvonne Miller, 5th District.
Mia Colden
Norfolk State University
In the Aug. 17 Compass, Robert P. Walker wrote a letter to the editor with the headline: ``Rerras Tough on Crime.'' I read the letter carefully and found only attacks upon Sen. Stanley Walker and nothing at all about Mr. Rerras' stand on crime. It would appear that the Republicans are up to their same old tricks of calling anyone who isn't a Republican a ``liberal'' and making false attacks against the candidates they are running against.
Sen. Stanley Walker has long been a friend to the people of the 6th District. After calling his office, I found out about all of the important crime-fighting measures he has introduced. Because of Sen. Walker, the city of Norfolk has five new assistant commonwealth attorneys and at least four paralegals.
The administration that Mr. Rerras advocates wanted to cut revenue sharing to the city of Norfolk that would have cost the Police Department more than $1 million. Sen. Walker fought for and restored these funds. The list goes on and on.
For anyone who would like to inform themselves, this information is available simply by calling Sen. Walker's office just like I did.
Chuck East
Magnolia Avenue
Dimitrios Rerras repeatedly makes claims that attempt to tarnish the record of Sen. Stanley Walker.
I called both campaign offices and visited civic league meetings to gather information about these candidates. What I found was that Sen. Walker has a long list of accomplishments in the areas that are crucial to maintaining Virginia's vitality and growth (i.e. economic development, public and higher education, crime and punishment, services for the elderly and disabled, and environmental protection and replenishment).
As a citizen concerned about the future and welfare of both the city of Norfolk and the state of Virginia, I urge my fellow citizens to vote for Sen. Walker's re-election.
Melissa Langknecht
Graydon Avenue
In a world that continues to deteriorate before our very eyes, my focus this election is on our need to continue to implement programs that protect our environment.
In Virginia we have some of the most beautiful and most historic land in America. Let's make certain we continue to elect leaders who have a proven interest in protecting our precious natural resources. After all, Virginia relies on the tourism industry for revenue; therefore, isn't it in our best interest to keep our cities healthy and beautiful?
I know that Sen. Stanley Walker has a vested interest in Virginia; he has worked for more than 30 years to make this state a better place for all of us to live. He has proven that he cares about Virginia's future and about preserving her natural beauty.
It was Sen. Walker who helped establish the Chesapeake Bay Partnership Foundation that works to save the Chesapeake Bay and bring in industries that implement sound environmental policies. It was also Sen. Walker who fought for our beaches when it was proposed that funds for sand replenishment be eliminated. It was Sen. Walker who was successful in restoring $225,000 to keep sand on the weathered beaches of Ocean View.
Paige McMillan
East Main Street
Sen. Stanley Walker fought for the people of Virginia and as a direct result, we have more police on the street and more prosecutors to lock the criminals up (Appropriations Act 1994).
It was Stanley Walker who championed a bill that reformed welfare in which Virginia is now 48th in the country on welfare spending (1995 State Policy Reference Book). It has been Stanley Walker who restored the Port Authority when jobs would have been lost and Norfolk's economy hurt badly. Remember it was our ports that allowed Virginia to be one of only two states in the country during our last recession to balance our budget without a tax increase (U.S. Department of Labor).
Sen. Walker has voted for a balanced budget every year in office. The results of Sen. Walker's fiscal policies are this: Virginia has the lowest sales tax in the country (U.S. Department of Labor); Virginia ranks 49th in state tax burden as a percentage of income (The Tax Foundation); state taxes take a smaller bite out of household income in 1995 than in 1984 (House Appropriations Committee).
Since 1992 Stanley Walker has voted for over $415 million worth of tax relief for all Virginians, including small business owners, senior citizens and corporations (Secretary of Finance).
Todd Arnold
Bolling Avenue
Anyone who can read should be able to document that Sen. Stanley Walker has voted to lock up violent criminals and get tough on crime. They would also be able to confirm that Sen. Walker fought the Republican initiative to cut millions of dollars from the budgets of educational institutions. Sen. Walker has a long, easy-to-confirm record of support for education and tough action against crime and criminals.
Susan Boyette
Old Dominion University
I resent the accusation made by Robert P. Walker in his Aug. 17 Compass letter to the editor that Sen. Stanley Walker is ``out of touch with the needs of the people.'' I have watched Sen. Walker work in our community for a number of years and have seen him at any number of civic league meetings, community groups and young citizen gatherings.
I've often wondered how Sen. Walker has time for any sort of a personal life because he is always attending these important get-togethers. Sen. Walker has never been ``out of touch'' by any stretch of the imagination.
Wayne Phillips
La Valette Avenue
In the 6th District, I'll cast my vote for Sen. Stanley Walker. He is out to improve the education system. Sen. Walker fully supports early childhood education programs and programs to prevent children from dropping out of school. Sen. Walker truly cares about the educational opportunities for the children of Norfolk and Virginia.
Paulette Benson
Bay Dunes
The Nov. 7 General Assembly election is of great significance, and the decisions made by legislators during the 1996 session will have repercussions we must live with for years. I urge all citizens of Norfolk who care about a solid and healthy future for our community to vote carefully, after critically examining the hype generated by many candidates.
I have done so and will be voting for Stanley Walker to represent us as our senator in Richmond. Sen. Walker is a man of integrity, wisdom, solid values and good judgment. He has consistenly been a champion of family values, tough on crime, committed to the education of our children and resistant to tax increases.
Sen. Walker has done an outstanding job representing us and he deserves our continued support. He has proven himself to be capable and responsible and I am proud to have the honor to vote for him.
Lisa A. Kensler
Old Ocean View Road
What's the interest rate?
In September, I found it necessary to be out of town for three weeks. When I returned to Norfolk on Oct. 8, I discovered that I had failed to pay my Norfolk real estate taxes on time; my tax bill for $1,184.45 was eight days overdue. I immediately wrote a check for this amount and sent it in on Oct. 9. Two days later (Oct. 11), I received a notice from the Norfolk City Treasurer that I owed interest and penalties for this 10-day period - an additional sum of $128.28.
If my accounting is correct, this seems to amount to about 11 percent interest in 10 days. What would this amount to on an annualized, compounded basis? If banks or retail establishments charged this high an interest rate, there would surely be a public outcry.
Joseph T. Fitzpatrick, Norfolk's treasurer, may wonder why municipal solvency is difficult. This sort of treatment by our city representatives certainly engenders ill will. Over the long run, flight among its citizens is sure to be encouraged.
This is a bad way to conduct business.
Robert B. Whitmore Jr.
College Place Who cares about crime? This is the second time in two months my car has been broken into in my driveway. Does anyone care? The first time it took two days to get a police report number because the computers were down.
Other cars were vandalized on the same night. Must we sit up all night watching? My car is not a new, expensive sports car; it is a family car. It carries us to the grocery store, church, volunteer work and to help homeless people.
But who cares? The police cannot be everywhere, but someone must know who the vandals are. Will they care? Perhaps these are the people who don't see insurance rates rise because of the vandalism. Perhaps these are the people who don't have to pay the deductible. Perhaps they don't read the letters to the editors.
Even though there was evidence of fingerprints and other identifying marks, there are too many serious crimes to take up the time of the authorities. So who cares? We do.
What is next? Those who work with youth groups try to instill responsibility for the community in the children. But the children who are there are the ones who have parents who care.
We pray for those who vandalize, kill, maim and get away with it. We care.
Grace Van Derveer
Willow Terrace Peace, love and unity
I attended the Million Man March, and I know there were well over a million black men there because I was one - one in a million of a sea of black men who stood proud and tall.
As far as the eye could see there were my brothers. Not 400 or 400,000, but a million black men.
The Lord truly blessed us with a beautiful day, a day that has been long awaited, a glorious day that will go down in history. I'm just proud I was there. I saw peace, love, unity and a million black men from across America.
Aubrey L. Hunter
Anderson Street Kids don't see color
I am a 10-year-old black male. My opinion on the Million Man March is that it is creating more controversy among the races. My idea is that the kids of my generation should march on Washington to stop adults from saying racist things.
We kids see no color. If whites, blacks and all other races join together we can become a stronger generation. The main reason I want to march is to stop people from using racist words and race as a big deal. Every time we turn on the TV, we hear race in things, like the O.J. trial. The race card is almost completely thrown out the window by kids.
This march would not have to take place in Washington, but I would like that. Maybe if we started in America, it could soon be the world. I think it is time to make a change.
Shontre Outlaw
Stuart Gifted Center by CNB