DATE: Saturday, November 1, 1997            TAG: 9711010001

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  138 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

79th DISTRICT

Voters kept mum

at Civic Forum

On the night of Oct. 22, I attended a Portsmouth Civic Forum hoping to ask candidates questions. I listened to the candidates, but when I got ready to ask a question I was told that only the Civic Forum could, even when no one else was talking.

I grilled two candidates, Dan Evans and Voyce McGinley, before the meeting started and got answers to my question. Johnny Joannou and Sheriff Waters showed up just in time for the meeting to start, and I did not get the chance to talk to them.

I am not a party man. I vote for the best candidate, the one who relates to the citizens. Joannou and Waters did not relate to me or any other person in the forum, except their own people.

Louis K. Freas

Portsmouth, Oct. 23, 1997

Evans has the edge

on education reform

Johnny Joannou has served 16 years in the General Assembly, during a period when the Democrats controlled it. In that time, public education has gone downhill. Now he promises that if elected, he will improve education. His past record belies his promise.

Dan Evans, his opponent for delegate in the 79th District, has new ideas designed to improve education, including school choice and charter schools. Despite Joannou's accusation that charter schools will take money away from public schools, the truth is that charter schools will direct those same funds to a more efficient teaching system.

Evans' proposals will offer a better education to all children, including those at the lowest end of the economic ladder, and force existing schools to improve in order to compete. Our children will be winners all around.

Robert E. Powis

Portsmouth, Oct. 23, 1997

Joannou wasn't

``redistricted'' out

In your Oct. 24 editorial endorsement of Johnny S. Joannou for House District 79, you reported that Joannou ``later served eight years in the state Senate, before being redistricted out of a job.''

In fact, Joannou lost re-election to the Virginia Senate to now incumbent Sen. Frederick M. Quayle in 1991 when the number of Republicans in the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly grew from 10 to 18 members. Therefore, it is inaccurate to report that Joannou was ``redistricted out of a job.''

Charles H. Cunningham

Virginia Beach, Oct. 25, 1997

87th DISTRICT

Drake really is

the only choice

Too bad The Virginian-Pilot couldn't follow its own advice. Thelma Drake is indeed an outstanding delegate, period!

To recommend we ignore our common sense and take our chances on a total stranger sent to us from our mayor's law firm is laughable. Let's give our delegate the only endorsement she needs to continue to do her job - our vote Nov. 4.

Joann Belote

Norfolk, Oct. 27, 1997

Fiorella's roots

transplanted to Ghent

You claim that Todd Fiorella's family has deep roots in Ocean View, but his parents are not running for office.

When Mr. Fiorella moved back to Norfolk, he chose to make his home in Ghent and only recently has moved back to the Bayview area of the 87th District. Fiorella has never even voted in our district in a local election and has just become involved in his community.

You also claim that he favors investment in public education. How much has Mr. Fiorella invested in public education? He did not attend any public school until he went to college, has never been married and does not have children.

I will vote for Thelma Drake, who has a great deal of experience as both a community leader and as our delegate.

Marjorie Wood

Norfolk, Oct. 27, 1997

Pilot's facts

endorse Drake

The Pilot has endorsed Todd Fiorella for delegate of the 87th District. However, in doing so it praised Thelma Drake, the incumbent, for her community activism.

You stated that Delegate Drake is the only delegate from Norfolk who is not a lawyer and that she has quickly learned her way around Richmond. Your facts speak volumes, regardless of your endorsement.

Drake has been active in the community long before running for the House of Delegates. Her longstanding record of community involvement shows that she is sincere in wanting to help the district, and I can only wonder about the sincerity of newcomer Todd Fiorella.

Connie Gaylor

Norfolk, Oct. 27, 1997

100th DISTRICT

Eastern Shore

merits more space

Thank you for the nicely done Voter Guide in the Oct. 26 paper. However, some of your Eastern Shore readers were surprised at the short shrift given to the House of Delegates race in the 100th District. While an entire page was given to other races at this level, we warranted only a terse biographical paragraph, devoid of any information about our positions on the issues.

As you know, The Pilot is our only Virginia daily newspaper over here and as such is widely read. Mind you, we don't want more than our share; even a half-page would have been nice. The incumbent delegate, Robert Bloxom, refused an invitation by our local WESR radio for an on-air debate, making it even harder for my shoestring budget campaign to get the message out. As far as I know, we are both still available for comment.

Richard Andrews

Candidate, 100th District

Nassawadox, Oct. 27, 1997

REVENUE COMMISSIONER

Kellam has experience

for revenue post

As an independent voter, I have reviewed the records and qualifications of the two candidates for the office of commissioner of the revenue. I have no doubt that Philip J. Kellam, with 14 years of experience in that same office, is best-qualified to continue and improve the operation of the office.

Russell E. Simpson Jr.

Virginia Beach, Oct. 22, 1997

Retire the old line,

elect Richards

As a resident of Virginia Beach, I have seen the benefit of having new genes in the leadership pool for our city - people like Billy Harrison, Louisa Strayhorn and Linwood Branch. If our city is to continue to move forward, we must elect new people to positions of authority.

The Kellam name is associated with the old-line leadership of big government and ``spend-a-nomics.'' It is time for new blood, ideas and goals. I encourage all citizens to vote for Rickie Richards for commissioner of revenue.

Teresa L. Butler

Virginia Beach, Oct. 27, 1997

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