Friday, September 4, 1998

Jobs to Abilene

Recently the editor questioned the advisability of new businesses coming to Abilene with the low unemployment rate we have. He thinks they will have problems finding enough workers to fill their needs.

When Lockheed closed, Abilene was flooded with unemployed people, people who had worked themselves up to making a decent wage in a town that thinks $7 an hour is good pay. Those people had to have jobs. Some who were supervisors are working as floormen at Wal-Mart or stock men at Payless Cashways. They are just trying to hang on until something with a decent salary scale is available or until they can retire. Some of these people had worked for Lockheed as machinists for 25 to 30 years and are now janitors trying to make a living for their families.

Many of these people have had to move away. Approximately 20 are working at a plant in Stephenville, most maintaining their homes in the Abilene area just waiting for some business to come to Abilene so they can come home.

How many people applied for jobs when Blue Cross had its job fair? How many applied for the Zoltek jobs - especially when it first announced it would be paying $12-$13 an hour?

Just let a business come into this area offering wages over $10 an hour and jobs that let these men get back to doing what they did for so many years and allow them to come back home to their families, and let's see what kind of a workforce we have!

BEVERLY REEVES

Hawley

Dishonest letter

As a Texas Republican currently residing in Washington, D.C., I am keenly interested in the competitive congressional races in Texas. Because of this interest, I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight on a letter in the Aug. 21 Abilene Reporter-News.

In that edition, a letter appeared from Channon Cain of Roscoe. I found the letter to be particularly interesting since Channon was one of my roommates earlier this summer while he worked as a paid intern for Congressman Charles Stenholm. While I consider Channon to be a good person and an even better friend, in no manner is this letter to be taken personally.

While an intern, Channon claimed residence in Corpus Christi, which was on his Texas driver's license. While Channon may have spent time this summer in Roscoe, he is now a student at Texas Tech University. Both make him ineligible to vote in the 17th District. I was extremely disappointed to see someone from outside the district misrepresenting himself in such a dishonest manner while making disparaging and irresponsible political attacks.

Although I am not a resident of the district, I felt it important to set the record straight. It is sad and pathetic that the Stenholm campaign has apparently used Channon for this politically motivated stunt. By using a paid staffer to support his campaign with misrepresented facts, the Stenholm campaign has done a disservice to the voters of the 17th District.

DARREN PITTMAN

Washington, D.C.

Republican turn-off

Too many people are being turned off by mean-spirited politics. As a Republican, I think it is time we take a hard look in the mirror.

I was especially displeased during the last race when Rudy Izzard and his political machine launched a mudslinging contest against Congressman Stenholm. This time, I'm throwing my support to Stenholm because of the Izzard misinformation blitz and all the meanness his campaign is churning up again.

If people are so upset because an elected official didn't tell the truth about his sexual misconduct, shouldn't we be concerned about a congressional candidate's deception campaign?

I'm not a Democrat, but I have liked the way Stenholm has served the 17th District, and I dislike Izzard's smoke and mirrors. When so many are embarrassed by their elected officials, Stenholm has been the epitome of a gentleman while serving his constituents. He further has a demonstrated ability to work with members of both parties and has an experience level that no newcomer to politics can match.

Are we ready for a freshman congressman with a chip on his shoulder who doesn't have the know-how to get things done or who would isolate the 17th District by not being able to work with members of Congress on both sides of the fence?

I urge fellow Republicans to keep Congressman Stenholm. He is a known and reliable public servant who has a demonstrated track record and has served the people of West Texas with honor, dignity and intelligence.

ROY BROOKS

Winters

Right to free speech

I am a member of the Christian Coalition and the Concerned Women for America groups and need to set something straight on the issue of campaign finance reform and the legislation that Charlie Stenholm sponsored.

First of all, I know Congressman Stenholm told his constituents that all the Shays-Meehan bill did was require interest groups to list their contributors. Well, according to many organizations, the ones I'm involved with and many others like the National Rifle Association and Americans for Tax Reform, this is not the case.

The bill that Stenholm voted for does stifle my right to free speech. Because, as a member of organizations like the Christian Coalition, I am counting on them to advertise messages about the issues that are important to me. Under this bill, they would not be able to do this. Because there is a gag order on what they can say two months before an election, if an issue like partial birth abortion would come up for a vote in September, these groups would not be able to run commercials that corresponded with the legislation. In other words, their right to say, "Call your congressman and ask him to vote against partial birth abortion," would be taken away.

To find out more information about this bill, please call one of the organizations I listed above. They will let you know what Stenholm has supported and misrepresented.

CAROLYN THOMSON

Abilene

Rudy and ranching

In response to Channon Smith's accusation that Rudy Izzard's agricultural background is being fabricated, I would like to set the facts straight.

In the '80s and early '90s, Rudy ranched in Brazos County as a partner with Alton Nevill. The ranch consisted of about 160 cow-calf pairs. In 1992 Rudy moved back to San Angelo and leased 1,200 acres at Christoval. He kept this operation until the time he began running for Congress, which put stress on his time. Hence Channon Smith's reference to Rudy's FEC report, which does not list ranching as a source of income because it was filed after Rudy let his last lease go.

If anyone would like to see the documentation, I'm sure Rudy would be happy to show any interested party.

Another fact is that Channon Smith was an intern for Charlie Stenholm in Washington. My question to Channon is, did Charlie teach you how to misrepresent the truth by using selective information?

To the people of the 17th District: Ask yourself, if Charlie and his supporters are willing to misrepresent the truth about Rudy, what other issue would they be willing to misrepresent? I believe our district needs better representation in Washington. Rudy Izzard will stand on his integrity and honesty and will back it up with documentation.

To the farmers and ranchers of the 17th District: Ask yourself, are you really better off after 20 years of Charlie's representation? Think about it.

BRET MEDFORD

Stamford

Value of experience

Recently your paper has printed several articles about the effect of the drought and low oil and gas prices on the economy of the Big Country and Concho Valley. At the same time many letters to the editor have appeared on the race for Congress in the 17th District. At a time when this area is stressed economically, it makes sense that we should keep a person in Congress proven by his record.

Congressman Stenholm knows the economy of the area and has obtained a rank in Congress (ranking minority member on the House Agriculture committee) that will benefit the agriculture, employment and other business interests of the 17th District. Stenholm has proven he can function in a bipartisan manner on matters of concern to the people of this district and produce meaningful results.

Members of Congress who are bipartisan, as opposed to those who operate on the political fringes of either party, get more accomplished in the long run. The people of the 17th District have shown that practical results are preferred over showboating.

I understand the congressman from the Lubbock district may move up to the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee. Should West Texas have both the committee chairman and ranking minority member of this committee, the opinions of West Texas people would have stronger representation in Congress.

Let's keep Charles Stenholm in Congress representing the 17th District.

GARNER YOUNG

Coleman

CityLink's defense

In defense of CityLink and its employees, which have come under some criticism recently, I must say I have always been pleased with their service.

Apparently some disabled riders are complaining about rude drivers. I am handicapped and have ridden both the handivans and the route buses for years, and I've never found any CityLink employee to be impolite. In fact, they have always been nice to me, and I greatly appreciate their help. They do an excellent job with the resources they have.

The thing that worries me is whether the capricious Republican social Darwinists in Washington would eliminate the U.S. Department of Transportation subsidy for municipal transit systems. CityLink and other city bus companies use these federal funds to buy the very expensive special equipment needed to accommodate severely handicapped riders. This federal program has enriched the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in this country by allowing them fuller participation in their communities, and CityLink's handivan operation probably could not continue without it.

Republican elitist politicians seem to think government exists only for benefit of the healthy, wealthy and powerful and that it is charity's job to take care of "the unfortunate," if the rich happen to be inclined to share their wealth. So Republicans would rather use tax money to line the pockets of corporate fat cats than spend it on disadvantaged people. I say that the government belongs to everyone.

RICKY JANNISE

Abilene