Class and character

My friend and I attended two functions one evening for two opposing candidates for prosecuting district attorney. The difference in the two people was so significant I had to write.

Sandy Self spoke to us about how terrible James Eidson has been as district attorney. She told us he ran an office with poor management skills. She said her management skills were inherent.

Sandy said Eidson did not compliment her work and that 90 percent of what it took to be a good prosecutor was ego. Sandy sounded like a disgruntled employee instead of a candidate.

At Eidson's function, he told us about his experience and his challenges with the job and his high record of felony convictions. He told us more than a million dollars had been collected in 1997 in bad checks. He went on to talk about his management of budgets. He praised his wonderful staff, most of whom were there actively supporting him.

I gave Eidson the opportunity to say something negative about Self. I inquired about the articles in the paper alleging Sandy's prosecutorial misconduct charges in a recent trial. Eidson said a new trial had been ordered and declined to comment further.

James is not a politician; he is a very fine district attorney. Too bad most voters won't have the opportunity to compare these candidates side by side. It is a clear choice. James Eidson has class and character.

JOAN JACKSON

Abilene

Handling 3 roles

I've been a member of the Junior League of Abilene for 12 years. This is a volunteer organization made up of women, more than 80 percent of whom work outside the home.

I have known Sandy Self as a fellow member of this organization. She has always shown she is capable of handling her family life, her professional life and her civic role with great success.

She has always been passionate about her role as first assistant district attorney for Taylor County and has shown that she is an excellent attorney. After all, she is the only candidate who is board-certified in criminal law.

While managing family and professional life successfully, she has chaired many notable charitable endeavors, such as overseeing the implementation of the Child Advocacy Center, a Junior League project. It's also important for me to know that she shares my Christian beliefs and values.

I'm thankful for people like Sandy who are willing to share their talents and energies with us.

By the way, if you are concerned about her taking care of a few volunteer services out of the DA's office, shouldn't you be concerned about Eidson running his campaign from the same office?

I trust Sandy Self to run the DA's office and to be a guiding force for Taylor County.

MELANIE GRAY

Abilene

Unfair judgment

I, like James Eidson, am divorced. I take personal exception to Ms. Hammett's March 1 letter because being divorced does not make you a second-class citizen in this town or anywhere else.

I have known James since he came to Abilene almost 20 years ago and know the circumstances of his personal life. Evidently, this writer does not. To personally attack Eidson in this manner certainly has no place in politics and more importantly has no place in our society. Until you have walked a mile in his shoes, please withhold your unfounded, sexist judgment.

I will vote for Eidson because he has the experience to do the job. I will vote for Eidson because he has the qualifications to do the job. And, divorced or not, I will stick by him as a friend through these character assassinations because as Christians we are taught to turn the other cheek.

JAMES MYERS

Abilene

McCall sound choice

Your endorsement of Terry McCall for Justice, 11th Court of Appeals, is a sound decision. That is the same decision reached by a State Bar of Texas poll of attorneys in the 23-county district.

In the poll of attorneys in the 11th District, Terry McCall received 42 percent of the votes, Democrat Randy Wilson 38 percent, Kollin Shadle just over 14 percent and Robert Pelton 7 percent. Among the three Republican candidates, McCall received 66 percent.

Those of us who practice law in this area know McCall's legal ability. I have served as defense counsel in a number of DWI trials where Terry was the prosecutor. I can assure you that McCall is not only a very capable trial lawyer but also a person of high integrity. He has that rare combination of good, common sense coupled with legal knowledge and ability.

McCall has an excellent reputation among the bench, bar and general public as an appellate attorney. He has handled civil appeals on cases in my office and on cases arising in the offices of a number of other attorneys in this area. We all recognize his ability.

I am not surprised that McCall is so strongly supported by attorneys in the district, both Democrats and Republicans. Lawyers, regardless of party, want the most qualified, knowledgeable candidate to be elected justice of the 11th Court of Appeals. Terry McCall is that person. I applaud the Abilene Reporter-News for endorsing the right candidate.

JIM PARKER

Comanche

Bragging on A.L.

Let me tell you about my friend, A.L. Deatherage, a candidate for justice of the peace, precinct 1, place 2, in the Taylor County Republican primary. Having known A.L. for 31 years, I feel I am qualified to brag on him a little and at the same time urge Abilenians to vote for one of their homegrown boys.

A.L. is the youngest of six children, all born and raised in Abilene. After graduation from Abilene High School, A.L. married my friend, Kathy. This union has lasted nearly 29 years and has produced three children, one son-in-law and one grandson, Jace. A.L. is a devoted, caring and loving husband, father and grandfather as well as a dedicated peace officer.

Why does all this matter? It matters because a man's roots say an awful lot about him. A.L.'s roots say stability, solidity, honesty, bravery, hard work and "stick-to-ativity." A.L. cares about your children and mine and works every day to ensure a safe city in which to raise our families.

He has your best interests at heart and will follow the law to the letter. I trust A.L. with my life, and you can, too.

It is time for a change. Join me in electing A.L. to the position of justice of the peace, precinct 1, place 2. We'll all be glad you did.

BECKY TURNEY

Abilene

A DA to commend

On Feb. 9, 1990, our daughter and grandson were hit by a drunk driver on North Judge Ely Blvd. A young lady in the other car was killed.

In meetings with James Eidson, I found him to be compassionate and dedicated. Justice was done! The drunk driver is now serving a life sentence.

One day you may need an effectual district attorney as we did, and it will be a comfort to have James there.

I would like to commend him on the outstanding job he has done while he has been our district attorney. He has dedicated his entire career, 19 years, to the service of the people of Taylor County.

Law enforcement runs in his blood. When James was a small boy growing up in Eastland, his grandfather was police chief in Brownwood. He is carrying on that proud tradition of his family.

I believe it's imperative that Eidson continue as our district attorney. He and his staff have an excellent track record and are getting the job done for Taylor County. The reason for this success is that he is a prosecutor, not a politician.

I agree with James that the "DA's office ain't broke and don't need fixin'." But he needs our help. Vote to re-elect James Eidson as district attorney.

LONNIE EDWARDS

Abilene

Bankruptcy issue

I'm not very sophisticated when it comes to how political campaigns work, but if I understand the article in your paper correctly, Melinda Cunningham has managed to come up with enough cash to loan herself more than $5,000 for her campaign. But when she and her husband declared bankruptcy a few years ago, they left their employees and other people they owed money to holding the bag.

I've raised this issue with Chuck Statler, and he wouldn't talk about it. I guess I appreciate his taking the high road on this, but it seems to me like the Reporter-News at least should find out if the Cunninghams made good to the people who were depending on them for a paycheck before she started spending so much money trying to get the Taylor County taxpayers to giver her a paycheck.

These matters are supposed to be public record, but most of us don't know how to go about getting that kind of information, or can't get to the courthouse to find out. We have to depend on the media. So, media, do your job. Tell us who got paid and who got stuck.

WILLIAM LEE

Abilene

Local coverup?

Coverups in the national media we have come to expect, but we deserve better at the local level.

Now that you have endorsed Melinda Cunningham, do you still have the courage to find out if her husband's statements about their bankruptcy are true? For example: How many Cunningham employees failed to receive their paychecks as a result of their bankruptcy? Did the Cunninghams sell their house with the big swimming pool to avoid bankruptcy? Have the Cunninghams made good on any of those debts since they took bankruptcy?

I think it's very interesting that just a few years later the Cunninghams are rich enough to loan her campaign $5,500. How much of that could have gone to the employees who got stiffed? And how would you feel if you were one of those employees?

Cunningham's opponent may not be willing to discuss the bankruptcy, but that's just because he's too much of a gentleman. The voters have a right to know. I challenge the Reporter-News to give us the answers.

J.D. YORK

Abilene

Payback for DA?

What's wrong with James Eidson? Did he do too good of a job? I recall that District Attorney Eidson was in charge of bringing some prominent people before a grand jury to investigate them about their involvement with the "librarygate" affair a few years ago.

After reading his opponent's list of contributors, which include some leading citizens in Abilene, the thought occurred to me that perhaps some may think it is payback time for Eidson.

Until his opponent started criticizing him, I had only heard that our law enforcement services, including the police and the district attorney, were doing a good job. I still believe this. I do not recall discussions in the newspaper, on television or in City Hall about problems with our present district attorney.

This all makes me wonder why some people decided we need to replace a good DA with one of his assistants. There is something here that just does not ring true. I wonder what the hidden agendas are in this election. It is quite unusual, given the lack of apparent problems, why an assistant would decide it was in her best interest to run against her boss unless she is having considerable help from somewhere.

I believe Eidson is doing a good job, and I will vote for him again.

DIANE FRALEY

Abilene

Self's capable skills

Recent reference has been made to Sandy Self's capable skills as wife and mother as though they were detrimental to her ability to serve as a public servant.

Frankly, this is a curious argument in a world where 40 percent of the work force may be women.

My offices have employed dozens of fine working mothers over the last 20 years. The vast majority were dedicated to children and to being top professionals. In fact, their efficiency was enhanced by the responsibility of the home. They wanted a better community for their families. To argue that Self cannot be a quality DA because she has home duties is to insult this core group of women professionals who somehow pull it all together.

It is curious to me that our current DA made Sandy his first assistant DA and now questions her qualifications as a candidate. But she is a board-certified trial lawyer whom he wanted to try his most important cases.

I know her husband sees her as his "first partner."

If a working woman is not qualified for this office, why is it that the only contact I have had with Eidson supporters has been with three female attorneys from his staff? Seems that if one seeks to move up and do a better job of being DA, then she is unqualified.

Our community is not served by gender arguments, but can be served by dedicated men and women who value their families and who live to make our children's future more peaceful and secure in a law-abiding and law-enforcing atmosphere.

ED ENZOR

Abilene

Support for James

I would like to express my support for James Eidson in his re-election campaign for Taylor County district attorney.

I have known James for close to 10 years and have the utmost respect for him and the excellent job he does. As a businessman I appreciate the fact that Eidson takes a big interest in the collection of bad checks, to the tune of about $1 million a year. He always conducts himself in a professional manner, whether it be at the courthouse or out and about town.

James holds himself and others to very high standards. This is very evident in the way he has run his office while being district attorney for the past 10 years.

James Eidson can most definitely count on my support and vote come March 10.

RONNIE INGLE

Abilene

Ex-wife for Eidson

As the former wife of James Eidson and as the mother of his two children, I can no longer sit idly by while our children are brought into this election.

For the record, James is a wonderful father to his children. How someone who does not know our private and family life can comment on that is amazing to me.

James does not just visit his children, he is a part of their everyday lives (i.e., Little League, football, horse shows, etc.). No father could be prouder. James and I have joint custody of our children by decree, and how many divorced fathers can say that?

After physicians' assistant school, I could have practiced anywhere in the country but came back here just so that he could be a part of their lives because he so badly wanted to be there to guide them and watch them grow. We jointly make the day-to-day decisions that affect our children.

James sets a splendid example for his son, and because of James, Sam is maturing into a fine, truthful young man who makes conscientious decisions and has a keen sense of right and wrong. Sam has inherited his father's most admirable qualities.

I have always known James to do what is just and fair, and he has never bowed to political pressure. I, too, join in the support of James Eidson for DA.

BELINDA ARCHIE

Tuscola

Self 's disloyalty

If Sandy Self can't be loyal to the person who gave her the opportunity to get where she is today, why should the voters of Taylor County believe she would be loyal to them?

If a more prestigious position becomes available, will she then begin pointing fingers at the voters and telling them what they did wrong?

CHANDE WRIGHT

Abilene

Eidson at wheel

As far as I can tell, criminals aren't just walking away after committing crimes. James Eidson and his office send criminal after criminal to prison. In plea bargains and in trials, criminals are going to the pen for long periods of time.

We have a good thing going here with James Eidson at the wheel. Why stop it now?

ANN WAGNER

Abilene

1>Thursday, March 5, 1998