Thursday, October 22, 1998

Vote for Lesa

We as registered voters in Taylor County should take the opportunity to vote on Nov. 3 for candidates of our choice. We should make a special effort and plan to vote as a citizen of this great country.

There is one office in particular about which we should be concerned, and that is the office of county treasurer. Lesa Crosswhite is the qualified lady to get the job done to meet the guidelines set by our county commissioners, who are the men who take care of the monies received from our county taxes.

As a former student of mine, Lesa was always a responsible person. She took her assignments seriously in high school, had a positive attitude and set high goals for herself. She continued to set and attain challenges in college as well as in the business world, where she has had varied experiences in management, budgeting and keeping accurate financial records.

Lesa and her family are involved in community and school activities. She is a friendly person and will treat the people of Taylor County with respect. Vote Lesa Crosswhite Nov. 3.

GAYLE BAKER

Merkel

Efficient treasurer

I applaud the Abilene Reporter-News for endorsing incumbent Taylor County Treasurer Laura Browder for re-election.

Browder has indeed turned the abandoned office into an efficient, well-managed operation. I deeply respect the determination and perseverance Browder demonstrated in the face of adversity.

She has continually based her decisions and actions on what she felt was the best for the county in the long run, not on public opinion. I believe her decision to convert the office from a land-ledger system to a technologically advanced accounting system has paid off and that the time invested was well worth the result.

I am also confident that the $84,000 in additional interest earned due to the cash management system Browder initiated will save the taxpayers money in the future.

Browder's experience and professional skill as a CPA are critical to the continued success of the treasurer's office. I encourage the voters of Taylor County to join me in voting for Laura Browder on Nov. 3.

ROB CUNNINGHAM

Abilene

Via e-mail

Lesa is qualified

I went to school with Lesa Hart Crosswhite and have known her and her family for many years. Lesa has the support of a loving family and is very involved with her children's lives. She is a very intelligent and dedicated woman who believes in being organized and getting things done on time.

Lesa not only runs a household but in the past owned her own business. She can keep books as well as deal with people. All in all, I think Lesa Crosswhite more than qualifies for the job of treasurer and will do an excellent job if elected.

KATHRYN JAMES

Merkel

Crosswhite helpful

In late 1997 I opened a local business in Taylor County. I was new to the city and did a lot of extra leg work in an attempt to learn about the city of Abilene and Taylor County. After meeting Lesa Crosswhite, I found her help instrumental in maneuvering within the city and county.

I believe because Lesa has been a successful business owner herself, she understands hard work and how to make a commitment to any endeavor she sets her mind to.

Therefore, I strongly believe she will do an outstanding job as Taylor County treasurer.

KYLE WALKER

Abilene

Stenholm's good job

Charlie Stenholm does an excellent job representing our congressional district. He is conservative, has great respect from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and is one of the ranking congressional leaders. He holds important committee positions that cannot be ignored.

With rural health care, farming and oil still important issues, along with the potential for another round of base closures, I can't understand how we could possibly consider changing our congressman who has real clout and experience for someone who could be no more than a trainee for several years with no real voice on our behalf.

During Izzard's last unsuccessful run, Gingrich held a press conference in Big Spring for him. An Abilene TV reporter asked Gingrich how he could justify spending millions to build new facilities at a Georgia Air Force base to support B-1B bombers when we have the facilities in Abilene. Gingrich refused to answer the question and said it had nothing to do with the reason he was here.

I am also disturbed about misinformation Izzard continually releases about Stenholm. Glyn Hammons, Abilene's past Social Security administrator, pointed out Izzard's TV ads about Charlie's position on Social Security couldn't be further from the truth. I have observed other statements by Izzard that are misleading or simply false.

I support Stenholm because I believe he is the best choice and can continue to give the type of leadership we need in Washington.

JAMES ANEFF JR.

Abilene

Stand against porno

Pornography offends against the divine plan for the body and for the intimacy of sexual union. It fixates on certain normal bodily functions in an obsessive way.

By putting on display for others bodily functions normally kept private and also the act of intimacy that belongs properly to the love of a husband and wife, pornography violates the respect due the body, and it robs sexual intimacy of its intrinsic meaning and purpose.

In addition, those who produce pornography, who distribute it or who view it are injured by the harm done to their human dignity. It portrays women, men at times and children as cheap sexual objects. Frequently it encourages violence as a suitable means of gratifying sexual desires and can lead to sexually aggressive actions toward others, especially women.

In short, pornography degrades us as individuals and as a society. Pornography offends against the divine plan for the body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. We, as the Body of Christ, must dedicate ourselves to eradicate this evil from society.

An especially appropriate time for action against pornography is the annual White Ribbon Against Pornography Campaign from Oct. 25-Nov. 1.

The purpose of this campaign is to raise the awareness of the evil of pornography in society and to encourage people to work for effective state and local laws against obscenity. The campaign is an opportunity for people to demonstrate that hard-core pornography does not meet our community standards.

MOST REV. MICHAEL PFEIFER

Bishop,

Roman Catholic Diocese

of San Angelo

Coach endorses

I have known Rudy Izzard since his high school days in San Angelo, and I recruited him as a student-athlete to the University of Texas. I had the pleasure of coaching him while he was there, and he was truly one of the most outstanding young men I have worked with. His family is one of the most respected families in San Angelo, and both his parents are avid supporters of what is right.

I have remained in contact with Rudy through the years and am proud to know him and associate with him. I believe he is a person who could represent us well. Certainly he is a tireless worker, an enthusiastic person and is an overachiever. He is open-minded and a fair man who in my opinion could give your entire area tremendous representation and positive reinforcement.

SPIKE DYKES

Head football coach

Texas Tech University

GOP's bad record

Both Rudy Izzard and Newt Gingrich claim they want to "save Social Security." This sentiment is interesting considering the GOP's record on this issue.

When FDR proposed Social Security, Republicans called him a communist. In fact, the Social Security Act passed in 1935 without a single Republican vote. Republicans opposed all subsequent amendments to the Social Security Act, including Medicaid in 1965, which they dubbed "socialistic." Also they nearly did away with SSI last year.

The original law stipulated all FICA payroll deductions are to go to the trust fund and be used only to pay benefits. Yet Republicans have been illegally diverting Social Security funds to pay for election year income tax cuts for decades. Since none of this money has ever been repaid, this process, euphemistically known as dipping, has depleted the fund by billions.

If no more money is taken, the fund should remain solvent for 30 to 50 years, and with minor changes another 30 years. However, if Republican dips keep dipping, the fund may go bankrupt soon.

Social Security has become immensely popular, even among rank and file Republicans. Congressional right-wing elitists can't safely vote it out of existence. So they are trying to get rid of it by bankrupting the trust fund.

As for the two stooges, Gingrich and Izzard, Republicans despise Social Security because they hate the idea of ordinary people benefiting from government.

RICKY JANNISE

Abilene

Charlie is honest

Anyone who runs a business knows that you can't please everyone all the time - it's impossible. We've all had to make compromises during our life and it's no different on a congressional level.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm has done what he feels is best for his district. He tries hard to weigh the good and bad and do what's best. It won't please everyone all the time, and sometimes it's a no-win situation. But he tries hard to do what's best.

Charlie is an honest, hard worker in a difficult job, and he deserves our vote.

BRENDA SANDERS

Weinert

Just good looks

It has been interesting to watch the lieutenant governor's race develop as it reaches its most heated and final days.

It is unfortunate that some of our most respected citizens (including former President Bush) have felt duty- and party-bound to endorse a candidate who has nothing but good looks and a feverish, boiling pot of persona and party ambition to offer the people of the state.

Each candidate has come out with their own bottles of "snake oil" to cure the ills of Texas. This performance reminds one of the old traveling medicine shows of years past. They would roll into town, put on their show and pass among the audience with a bottle of cure-all that would take care of everything from hemorrhoids to TB.

Dismissing the above, only one of the candidates has a proven record of leadership and bipartisanship. Only one will keep in place a balance in the Texas Legislature. Only one of these candidates, through foresight and innovations, has saved countless tax dollars. One is a pretender, the other is real.

Comparing Perry to John Sharp is analogous to comparing a snow cone to a well-known brand of ice cream - without the topping, that is.

LEO WILLIAMS

Ranger

'Blue chip' stock

Nineteen years ago our district made an investment by electing Charlie Stenholm to represent us in Congress. It has proved to be a very wise investment, and if we are smart, we will continue this partnership. We deserve his years of experience and that of his excellent staff.

Charlie Stenholm has paid his dues and has earned our support. We have a "blue chip" stock paying dividends for us. Why would we want to sell now and invest in unknown "junk bonds"?

I probably vote Republican 90 percent of the time, but if the Republican party in this district wants my vote, then why give us a candidate that his only claim to fame is that he played football!

This contest boils down to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

BILL COWAN

Abilene

Charlie and Bill

Do you remember that while Kenneth Starr was trying to force the Secret Service personnel to testify before the grand jury, the Justice Department and the White House were portraying the Secret Service as composed of absolute paragons of virtue?

We were told they would never, never, never do anything wrong. That like the eunuchs of old they had been castrated and had taken the vow of abstinence so they could devote their entire life to lay down their life for the "king."

Notwithstanding, they were compelled to appear before the grand jury, and they did testify.

And what did we learn from that testimony?

Well, we learned Clinton engaged in trysts with at least six other women in the Oval Office. We further learned the Secret Service became concerned about the computer record of those visits and attempted to purge from the computer records relating to those trysts.

William Jefferson Clinton corrupts everything with which he comes into contact. The shocking stories coming out of schools relating to sexual misconduct on campuses of every kind and character can be attributed to the president and the style of life chosen by him.

Ho-hum, so much for the purity of the White House, Department of Justice and the vaunted Secret Service!

All of this occurred during Charlie Stenholm's watch - without his ever once rising in righteous indignation and proclaiming "enough is enough."

Well, enough is enough! It is time for a change.

BEN SUDDERTH

Blanket

Crosswhite needed

With everyone focused on the president and national politics, I think it is time to consider something local: the office of treasurer of Taylor County.

For the past few years, we have had reports of late and incomplete reports from this office to the commissioners court and the citizens of Taylor County.

I think it is time to elect a responsible person to fill this position.

In my opinion, Lesa Hart Crosswhite is that person.

Lesa has a background of honesty and dedication as she became a part of the Taylor Electric family when her father, Don Hart, was hired as general manager in 1970, retiring in 1997.

Dedication and responsibility came from her mother, Mitzy, a teacher in Merkel and Sweetwater schools.

If elected county treasurer, Lesa will carry out the duties of that office to the very best of her ability and to the satisfaction of the commissioners court and the citizens of Taylor County.

JUSTIN SANDUSKY

Merkel