THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604270142
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 391 lines
Signs of cowardice
The tell-tale signs include trespassing, destruction of private property, theft, cowardice, intentional ignorance, herd-mentality and frantic fear of losing the race.
Last week, unknown, as yet, persons removed and destroyed large wooden candidate signs from citizens' private yards. Cardboard yard signs were also stolen from private property. These signs belonged to Jim Whitener, independent candidate for the City Council. What power Mr. Whitener must have, to turn otherwise law-abiding persons into criminals.
With no money for hiring professional sign-makers, volunteers purchased the materials and made these signs in their garages. Picture little old ladies kneeling on cold cement floors, sawing, nailing, stapling. This labor of love resulted in bruised knees, swollen thumbs, split fingernails, staple holes, hand splinters and headaches. High winds, rain and mud were ignored as heavy wooden signs were dragged across deep ditches. Pain shot through arms and shoulders a the post hole digger took huge bites from the soil and the iron mallet slowly drove the blunt boards slowly downward. Breathless and smiling, pride poured forth as each of artist Robert Piller's 20 hand-painted signs were unveiled - Whitener.
Personally, I put ``sign-nappers'' in the same category as horse thieves. They still shoot horse thieves, don't they?
When candidates bunch together and run (illegally) as a political party, they develop a type of herd mentality; safety in numbers with no leader . . . no front runner. Well, my friends, Jim Whitener is decidedly the leader of this race and deserves his place in the winner's circle
Place your votes!
Betsy Patterson
Benefit Road
Budget conflict
Benefit RoadWhat is the single most important issue that City Council members work on and vote on? It's the annual budget.
Yet, Dwight Parker says he's not going to vote on it because it's a conflict of interest. You see, Mr. Parker is a school employee. As such, he will be voting on a pay raise for himself. He is correct: That is a conflict of interest.
During his swearing-in ceremony, broadcast over WCTV, channel 23, he said on several occasions that he wanted to thank his wife for letting him ``play politics.'' Does Mr. Parker think the job of City Council member is a game? Is it just fun and games?
I think we need a City Council member who can vote on the budget and has a serious, adult attitude about the job, which Mr. Parker has not displayed. I'll be voting for Cosgrove, Pierce, Nance and Edge in hopes that it will bring some adult leadership to the council and four people who can vote on the budget.
Barkley Smith
Angus Road
Full-time councilman On May 7 the citizens of Chesapeake have the opportunity to vote for new leadership on the City Council. Bill Pierce is the man who can provide this leadership. Bill will be a full-service, full-time councilman.
Retired both from the U.S. Air Force and as a civilian management analyst, Bill could easily rest on his laurels, but instead feels the need to serve once again. Bill has been active in many areas of city government and has proven to the citizens of Chesapeake that he can get things done through perseverance and hard work. The citizens of Chesapeake wanted an elected School Board, and Bill was instrumental in getting this issue on the ballot. On May 7, after a four-year struggle, his efforts will become reality as Chesapeake makes the transition to an elected School Board.
We, the voters, deserve a city councilman with Bill's character, abilities and can-do common-sense approach to solving our city's problems. Let's do ourselves a favor and elect Bill Pierce to City Council.
Mike Ellis
Collington Drive
Truth about taxes
In his re-election brochure, ``Promises Made, Promises Kept,'' Mayor Bill Ward boasts that under his administration ``property taxes were reduced in 1994 and 1995.''
I'd like to have some of what he's been smoking. My property taxes increased (along with, I'll wager, thousands of others) in 1994 and 1995 and also in 1993, 1992, 1991 and every other year back to the ice age. And I'll also wager they'll go up in 1996, 1997, 1998 and to the end of the millennium when, the archangels willing, Mayor Ward will no longer be in office.
You see, in their zeal to hold on to their power, public officials, especially during election campaigns, become total strangers to the truth.
So if your property taxes (not your assessments and not your tax rate - the mayor thinks the electorate is too dumb to know the difference) were reduced in 1994 and 1995, then, by all means, cast your ballot for Mayor Ward.
But if they were increased (just look at your tax bills for the past years) then vote for Mickey Mouse, Ambrose Bierce, Cool and the Gang or anyone with the faintest smudge of integrity on their character. And your community will be infinitely refreshed.
Carl Cahill
Old Drive
Honorable person
We have known Jim Whitener for approximately five years and have always found him to be an honorable person. We feel that he would be a great asset to the City Council because he believes in fair and open politics. His only concern is how the city of Chesapeake is operated.
We also know that he would support whatever goals are best for the city, its employees and the citizens. It does not matter to him who proposes the idea or plan because he is an independent candidate and would vote for whatever is best for the city of Chesapeake and those concerned. He has expressed to us, that in his opinion the cause of a lot of the problems the city is experiencing now is because of split politics. The council is not functioning as a team for the greater concerns of the city.
We truly feel that James Whitener would be a great addition to the City Council and that is why we concerned citizens and retired city employees are supporting him.
L.C. Farley
H.L. Calloway
Chesapeake
The man needed
Our city is in need of new council members who possess experience, willingness, courage and time to bring new approaches to Chesapeake's complex problems.
As a retired management analyst, Bill Pierce has worked at the local, state and federal levels of government. He knows how to work through red tape to get things accomplished. His wide range of experience will no doubt be of great value to our City Council.
Bill Pierce is the man needed on our City Council. Bill does not owe favors to any special-interest groups in our city.
Chesapeake needs a full-time councilman to study and resolve the issues facing our city.
Being retired, Bill will work full-time on his council duties. He can be reached in his office during normal working hours and he will always return citizens' calls. No appointment is needed to see Bill. He is even willing to meet citizens at a location more convenient to them if his office is inconvenient in order to discuss your concerns for the city of Chesapeake.
Tommy and Maria McMillan
Centerville Turnpike
Claim disputed
Politics is a dirty game. It is even more so when politicians speak of their integrity and display little. Recently a flyer was displayed in the Camelot community describing Bill Pierce as the best person to fill a seat on Chesapeake City Council. Several civic leaders had endorsed Mr. William Pierce on this flyer, including Mr. C.C. Hawkins, president of the Camelot Civic League. In the endorsement, which included Mr. Hawkins' signature, it implies Mr. Bill Pierce supported or opposed issues which the Camelot Community had brought before the Chesapeake City Council. This includes having opposed the moving of Major Hilliard Library from George Washington Highway, Northern Deep Creek.
We have not brought the current issue of the moving of the Major Hilliard Library before Chesapeake City Council. To my knowledge, Mr. Bill Pierce has never spoken before Chesapeake City Council in support of the Camelot Community on any issue. This leaves me to wonder if any information in Mr. Pierce's flyer is true.
Mr. Pierce may have fooled at least two people in our community with this information, but I sincerely doubt he will be the support he needs to win a seat on Chesapeake City Council.
Nettie L. Bailey
Drawbridge Drive
Teachers' influence
It amazes me just how incompetent the Chesapeake Education Association thinks the average citizen of our great city is. I believe every citizen should vote their convictions concerning candidates for any public office. That includes teachers in our Chesapeake Schools.
Parents and citizens are concerned about much more than those things mentioned by CEA Director James Caruth in the article appearing in The Virginian-Pilot on April 18. Personally, I am concerned that a teacher in the Chesapeake school system who is a member of the CEA political action committee is managing the campaign for one of the candidates. This is bold and totally inappropriate.
Efforts have been organized to sway teachers in their voting for years, but it's another matter for them to publicly endorse a slate of candidates to influence the public vote. It is time for this practice to cease.
Republicans and Democrats alike have stood for quality education in our city. Most of the Chesapeake City Council has supported education through the years 100 percent. it does not take the CEA to get the City Council to vote for good Chesapeake schools.
The article captioned ``Questions arise about nods from teachers group'' makes an important point. Citizens do not respect the process and are not comfortable with it. Mayoral candidate John A. Cosgrove stated it well, ``Let's get real. The CEA is a teachers union.''
Parents want good education for their children and they want good teachers to teach them, but leave the voting to the parents and citizens.
Pauline Dennis
Virginia Avenue
Dirty politics
Four years ago, The Virginian-Pilot published an editorial cartoon illustrating the negative campaign that was being conducted by certain candidates in the Chesapeake City Council elections. Unfortunately, it seems that the current council race has also been marred by the same type of irresponsible actions by certain individuals.
Gene Waters, a prominent supporter of Mr. Nance and his colleagues, has circulated to various civic groups a letter that grossly distorts and incorrectly categorizes my involvement as a representative of the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations. Mr. Waters distributed this letter as president of both the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations and the Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations and, in doing so, drew the membership of those two respected organizations into dirty politics.
Mr. Waters states that I ignored the direction of our citizens and instead represented the special interests of certain groups before the Chesapeake City Council. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a representative of both my homeowners' association and the CCCO, I have appeared many times before the City Council to express views that were directed by the membership of those organizations. I stated those views, not as an individual, but as the spokesperson for the citizens who took the time to review issues and from opinions that they felt needed to be expressed by the city's leadership.
It troubles me that by attacking my candidacy with distorted and inaccurate information, Mr. Waters, Mr. Nance and Mr. Pierce also smear the good intentions of the citizens and the organizations that I have represented. My record speaks for itself. I pledge to continue to provide representative leadership to all citizens of Chesapeake and urge my fellow citizens to support candidates who promote the best interests of our fine city.
Edward L. Hall
Granada Drive
Schools first
I recommend Elizabeth Thornton for Chesapeake City Council. She believes in putting schools first and ensuring that Chesapeake has first-class teachers and facilities. She has experience with environmental issues and supports clean industries to add to Chesapeake's industrial and tax base. In addition, she has a regional viewpoint and will deal fairly with our sister communities.
Elizabeth Thornton will research the issues facing the citizens of Chesapeake and reach fair and ethical decisions. Elizabeth Thornton has my vote for the City Council.
Patricia A. Heltsley
Drury Lane
An idealist
For the past 16 years, I have been a teacher for the Chesapeake Public School system and a Western Branch resident. I feel compelled to express my concern regarding the upcoming City Council election.
Our city is going through unparalleled growth, which has led to over-crowding in our schools and a strain on city services. We need someone on the City Council who is willing to address these issues. I feel this man is Jim Whitener. For the past 30 years, my husband and I have had the pleasure of knowing Jim. He is a man of honesty, integrity and total dedication.
As a non-partisan candidate for the council, Jim will serve in the best interest for all the citizens of Chesapeake. He is an idealist, who, when elected, refuses to accept compensation from the city.
I urge the citizens of Chesapeake to vote for James E. Whitener on May 7 if they want someone who truly cares for our city.
Nancy B. Moy
Point Elizabeth Drive
Group's choices
The Friends of Chesapeake General Hospital endorsed a slate of candidates for the May 7 City Council election. William E. Ward was endorsed for re-election as mayor, Dwight M. Parker was endorsed for re-election to council and William H. Pierce and Elizabeth P. Thornton were endorsed for election to the City Council.
Under Mayor Ward's leadership residential activity has declined and commercial activity has increased. He has shown sound leadership and outstanding ability to bring people together and work for the good of the city.
Dwight Parker has demonstrated his ability to work with others in the best interest of the city and he is very supportive of the education of our children. William H. Pierce and Elizabeth P. Thornton have excellent backgrounds and experience that will greatly improve the overall effectiveness of the council as a governing body.
For these reasons, the Friends of Chesapeake General Hospital strongly encourage you to vote for Ward, Parker, Pierce and Thornton on Nov. 7 for election to Chesapeake City Council.
Willie G. Cooper
Rock Creek Drive
Works for youth
Chesapeake has had an outstanding School Board, one that has been the envy of other parts of this great Commonwealth, and I would like to see that continue. Chesapeake has had School Board members who have been open and available to the citizens of Chesapeake. They are always willing to hear from the parents, teachers and students. As I have sat in on School board meetings, I wondered why more parents don't attend or speak at the meetings. They are there for you and are interested in your views on issues concerning the children of Chesapeake. They provide an opportunity for anyone to speak at the beginning of each meeting.
In continuing on this line of accessibility, I would like to encourage you to vote for Thomas Mercer for the School Board of Chesapeake Public Schools. I have known Tom Mercer for many years. he has always worked for the benefit of children and youth. Even before Tom was married, he worked with the youth of the area, planning activities and retreats. Tom is a product of Chesapeake Public Schools and graduated from Indian River High School.
Tom Mercer and his wife, Susan, both have a background in education and have three children who are or will be attending Chesapeake Public Schools. Tom feels, as I do, to quote the title of a book written by our former school superintendent, ``Children Are Our Most Important Legacy'' in Chesapeake.
You could not vote for a better person to serve on the School Board than Thomas L. Mercer. Exercise your right to vote on May 7.
Joann McClung
Linden Avenue
Good neighbor
Ed Hall, candidate for Chesapeake City Council, is a quality person of utmost integrity who has no self-serving ulterior motives in his aspirations to help Chesapeake move into the next millennium.
I have been a resident in Chesapeake for the past 10 years with my wife and two children. I moved to Chesapeake because of the quality of life and the sense of community. I know for a fact that Ed Hall wants Chesapeake to remain a quality place to live and raise a family. Ed Hall has been my good neighbor and civic league associate for these 10 years. I have seen him adapt to the changes in the workplace in Hampton Roads from his previous employment in shipbuilding and repair to his current employment with Ingersoll Dresser.
Ed Hall's approach to problem-solving and compromise is very methodical and deliberate. He has the quality of being a good listener and a consensus gatherer. Ed believes in doing the right thing in the best interest of the majority and not kowtowing to individuals or special interest groups for self-gain.
If you want someone in City Council to serve the interests of all the citizens of Chesapeake, vote for Ed Hall on May 7.
Victor L. Pickett
Granada Drive
Credit is due
In response to the recent letter to the editor by James Morgan entitled ``Who Are they?''
Mr. Morgan has no facts. He probably just likes Jim Rein, the former city manager. That's OK, but Mr. Rein was a poor manager and should have been dismissed.
Had Mr. Morgan done his homework, he would have a long list of good deeds Mr. Nance has done for Chesapeake.
Why not give credit where it is due? Why not correct problems that arise instead of keeping someone in a management position who is not doing a good job?
Susan Cook
Battlefield Boulevard
Reverse moral decline
I believe in Dalton Edge. He is an individual of deep Christian faith and compassion for his fellow man. Our political system seems at times to be in deep moral decline. We must work to reverse this decay. I'm going to vote for Dalton Edge on May 7.
John Koolman
Plummer Drive
Stop bickering
Chesapeake City Council candidate Elizabeth Thornton says, ``It's time we got to the business of making Chesapeake a better place to live and work, and stopped the partisan bickering. It's time for consensus on the important issues affecting Chesapeake.'' As long as I have known Elizabeth, she has always found the common ground among differing viewpoints and facilitated positive outcomes. She researches the issues, carefully weighing the benefits and consequences of each option, cautious not to lose sight of real progress for the common good.
Elizabeth is intelligent, a good listener and reaches conclusions ethically and fairly. She recognizes that basically we all want the same thing - a good quality of life in Chesapeake, by putting schools first, enhancing public safety and attracting clean industry to keep tax rates low. Elizabeth Thornton will work to balance the needs of our families with the pressures of growth, mindful not to jeopardize our future for a quick political fix.
For 20 years, Elizabeth has dedicated herself to encouraging citizen involvement in the political process through education and advocacy. She has testified before the City Council on environmental and land-use issues. Elizabeth wants to see sidewalks and bike paths to ensure safety for our children, a seemingly under-rated issue with a tremendous impact on our quality of life.
Elizabeth is eminently qualified for Chesapeake City Council. She has been a resident of Deep Creek for 12 years and works as the graduate program coordinator for international studies at Old Dominion University. I believe it's time the people of Chesapeake inject new talent into the City Council and elect someone who can work with others, bring good common sense to the City Council, and direct growth in Chesapeake in a way that will preserve the beauty we now enjoy. Vote for Elizabeth Thornton May 7.
Jeanne Reporter
San Pedro Drive
Get educated
In May 1994 we had an opportunity to vote on candidates to fill five out of nine City Council seats. At the time there were 74,152 registered voters in Chesapeake. Only 29.2 percent voted in the election!
Since that time, do you agree with where your tax dollars have been spent? Has the quality of life in Chesapeake improved for you?
Here we are, two years later. Another opportunity is coming up on May 7 to exercise our right to vote, not only for mayor but also for three City Council members and four School Board members.
Do you know which of the City Council candidates is most likely to vote with special interest groups? Which one has researched and spoken out on many issues that come before the City Council? Which of the candidates is most likely to bring much needed new ideas and leadership to our city government?
If you can't attend forums, talk to civic leaders or the candidates themselves on where they stand on issues. I am proud to say that most of the 20 years I've liked in Chesapeake I have never missed a chance to vote. I'm embarrassed though at how few of those times I was well educated on who I was voting for.
Please get educated on who is running for these important positions. Ask the difficult questions. Don't let anyone or anything get in your way on May 7 to vote. Chesapeake is a great place to live, work and raise children, but there is room for improvement. Seize your opportunity to vote!
Denise Waters
Clearfield Avenue by CNB