THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511020163
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 191 lines
I have had the privilege of having Clancy Holland as a friend for 50 years. We have been classmates in high school and college and roommates in college.
Clancy is truly a very special person. Wherever he is involved, he rises to the top and is recognized and honored by his peers. To mention a few examples: He was captain of his high-school and college football teams, president of the student body at Hampden-Sydney College, president of his medical-school class at the Medical College of Virginia and was inducted into ODK, a national leadership fra-ter-ni-ty.
Clancy has continued his leadership role in the civic and medical communities by serving as city councilman and mayor of Virginia Beach, president of the Medical Society of Virginia Beach, and now as our state senator.
We don't need someone to echo the governor's agenda. We need Clancy, who has the qualities cited above, as well as the experience gleaned from years of dedicated service to our city and state.
William T. Johnson, M.D.
Virginia Beach Professional, civic ties get vote for Schrock
I urge voters in the 7th Senatorial District to support and elect Ed Schrock.
I have known Ed professionally and through a number of civic outreach contacts for some 15 years. I have always been most impressed with his integrity, professional competence and abiding sense of responsibility. He is an inspiring leader, dogged worker and an articulate advocate for those he represents. He would bring these talents and qualities to his representation of 7th District citizens in Richmond where he would truly be a breath of fresh air.
I think most voters are fed up with the status quo in the General Assembly and are ready to elect a man of integrity, capable and committed to fiscal responsibility, fighting crime and maintaining the commonwealth's education system. Ed Schrock is just such a man.
Also, voters should not forget that the speaker of the House of Delegates and the Senate majority leader, both Democrats, were most responsible for delaying the badly needed Lake Gaston water project, apparently for purely partisan reasons. A prudent way to see that there is no recurrence is to ensure that Republicans take control of both Assembly houses. And a good way to do this is to send Ed Schrock to Richmond in January.
P. Lee Starkey
Virginia Beach Good things for Beach `sunk' by Holland, Dems
Much has been said about Clancy Holland, D-Va. Beach, but the facts remain. Where was he when the governor wanted a special session on the Lake Gaston issue? It was sunk by Senator Holland and the Democrats, which will cost the taxpayers again.
Where was Mr. Holland on the issue of illegal collection of taxes from federal and military employees? Despite a Supreme Court ruling that it was wrong in other states and the taxes should be paid back, Mr. Holland and the Democrats sank that subject for a while. Remember Mary Sue Terry?
Where was Mr. Holland on the return of lottery money to localities? Mr. Holland says it needs to be looked at. What's to look at? Take some, give some back. Sunk again by Mr. Holland and the Dem-o-crats.
The list goes on. Education, welfare - both will cost the taxpayers more. Mr. Holland again looking out for us. Riverboat gambling? Now Virginia money takes a bus to New Jersey or to Indian reservations outside the state. Mr. Holland again.
How about the legislation to protect any teacher from disruptive students and court-happy parents? Sunk again by Mr. Holland and the Democrats.
Clancy Holland, Stanley Walker, Howard Copeland, Glenn Croshaw need to go! We in Virginia Beach sure couldn't do any worse; but if we leave them in office, it will surely get worse. They are for control by a few. Remember when Virginia Beach was controlled by the Kellams. It's time for a change. We need to send a message to those who think they are wiser than the voters who elect them. Vote. We can always change again.
John H. Pitts
Virginia Beach In quartet of responses, Wardrup's sour note
I would like to thank Sen. Clancy Holland, candidate Phil Geib and candidate Ed Schrock for their honest answers to a citizen's question in The Virginian-Pilot concerning horse racing, riverboat gambling and gun control. Their honest answers have helped me understand where they stand and whom to vote for on Nov. 7.
To Mr. Wardrup, whose answer was: ``I can't answer a question like that. I've got a voting record on all these issues,'' thanks. His evasive answer has helped me decide whom not to vote for on Election Day.
Now I understand why so many people respond to Ross Perot when he says people want a third party because they are tired of professional politicians who don't offer any answers to our problems.
Shannon Herrera
Wexford Drive For quality education, vote for Republicans
In this year's General Assembly campaign it is ironic that the Democrat candidates and incumbents are holding themselves out as the supporters of quality public education. Last year, Virginia had the largest decline in reading test scores of any state in the United States.
Yet the Democrats and their allies in the leadership of the Virginia Education Association and its local affiliates (``teachers unions'') have endeavored to block every proposal by Governor Allen's administration to implement more rigorous minimum academic standards and proficiency testing to identify students and schools that do not measure up so that corrective measures can be undertaken.
Locally, the Democratic/teachers union-dominated Virginia Beach School Board presents a microcosm of what Democrat control has given the public: uncontrolled spending, a refusal to accept responsibility and academic decline. Last year Virginia Beach's pass rate on the Literacy Passport test declined 6.6 percent; average SAT test scores did not improve even one point, notwithstanding that across the country SAT scores improved because of reformatted tests and an extra 30 minutes students had to take the test. (Virginia Beach's 1995 scores were 20 points below the national av-er-age.)
Republicans, not Democrats and the teachers-union leadership, have consistently sought more rigorous academics, proficiency testing to restore instructional accountability for both students and teachers, and statutory immunity for teachers from frivolous lawsuits. Concerned parents and taxpayers who want quality public education should vote for Republicans Ed Schrock, Leo Wardrup, Frank Wagner, Bob Purkey, Ken Stolle, Bob McDonnell, Mark Earley, and Bob Tata on Nov. 7.
Michael B. Hamar
Bay Point Drive For essential reforms, elect Ed Schrock
For the first time in over 100 years the Republicans are within three House fo Delegates seats and three Senate seats of winning a majority in the General Assembly.
During all of these years the entrenched Democratic Party has affected life in Virginia by high taxes, wasteful spending, failed social programs, controlled lottery funds and continued lower educational standards. And probably most important, Democrats have controlled the criminal-justice system by passing lax crime laws and appointing their own judges in secret, closed-door meetings.
Reforms are mandatory in all of these areas. We are fortunate to have an able candidate, Ed Schrock, who has the will, the time and the knowledge to bring about these honest changes.
Ed Schrock is a retired Navy captain with financial and managerial experience. He is active in 15 community and civic activities.
He has visited over 18,000 homes in a person-to-person grass-roots campaign.
Virginia Beach voters can make history by electing Ed Schrock as one of three new Republican senators who will help put an end to this one-party rule in Virginia.
Ruth Wallace
Virginia Beach Arrogance of School Board, education association again revealed
The heavy influence of the Virginia Beach Education Association (VBEA) and its arrogance are showing through the Virginia Beach School Board again. Imagine School Board members accusing City Council of being in cahoots with taxpayers to ``protect taxpayers at the expense of school children'' (``Step by Step,'' editorial, The Virginian-Pilot, Sept. 29). Just who foots the bill for education in our city?
More important, who is the ``consumer'' of education in our city? Most parents are taxpayers and a majority of taxpayers have school-age children at one time or another. So are taxpayers out of line to think they should have some input to the budgetary process for our schools?
Maybe taxpayers are supposed to trust the ``experts'' at VBEA to tell us exactly what our own children need, how much it will cost and what our share of the contribution is. Then the VBEA, the VEA and the NEA can team up to ``nationalize'' standards and agendas, further removing them from local input. We taxpayers will blithely dig deep to fund a political indoctrination of our children with which we may not even agree!
Where else have we ever seen ``consumers'' coerced into buying a product that the seller has determined is best for them?
We know our own children best and most of us want what is best for them. How dare the School Board/VBEA treat us like ignorant rubes who should have no input into the education of those we love best! Such arrogance!
Mary G. Martin
Virginia Beach More money won't stop tragedies on Shore Drive
I agree with Margaret Allen's letter, ``Will improving Shore Drive improve Shore Drive drivers'' (Beacon, Oct. 1).
This route is not traveled frequently by me but I am familiar with the road. The city of Virginia Beach should not be asked to invest large sums of money into changing the road pattern there, because all divers do not accept their responsibility to drive courteously and within the speed limit and to be aware of the turns, etc., on a stretch of road they are unfamiliar with.
I would also like to point out that passengers in the vehicle should show courtesy and consideration to the driver. May each driver, whether young or old, strive to drive only when all legal papers are correct (inspections, up-to-date license etc.) and be alert when traveling. The Virginia Beach Police Department is constantly studying and working in trying to help our streets and highways to be safe.
Laura Bounly
Virginia Beach by CNB