Sunday, October 25, 1998

Supporting Lesa

I am writing in support of Lesa Hart Crosswhite, candidate for Taylor County treasurer.

I have known this lady since she was a child, and I know her to be a very hard worker. Once she is given a task to do, she goes about the business of getting the job done in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner that makes me know without a doubt that she can handle the job of county treasurer.

Lesa has owned and managed her own business, which has given her much experience in investments, budgeting, management and accounting. These things will be a great help to her and the taxpayers of Taylor County.

Lesa has managed quite successfully to combine her business interests, her involvement with community and school activities and raising a family. This leads me to believe any problems that confront this young lady, she will meet the challenge head-on and will not walk away until the issue is resolved.

As a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration and with her background in the business world, I certainly would ask anyone old enough to vote to vote for Lesa Hart Crosswhite.

DALE HAMMOND

Merkel

Merits of the case

There is a lot of rhetoric at this time of year from both the candidates and their supporters. It seems to me most of the candidates are running on the following platform:

"I'm not as ignorant, dishonest or immoral as my opponent nor do I lie as much."

I wonder if it would be possible for someone to run on their own merits and integrity, and would we elect them if they did?

PAUL COOPER

Abilene

Via e-mail

Not enough sense

For many years I lived in Congressional District 21, served by Republican Lamar Smith, and so did Rudy Izzard for most of his life.

San Angelo is split, with part in District 17 served by Democrat Charlie Stenholm. Izzard was a dentist with a small practice in San Angelo and was on the City Council. The council did a terrible job, and some of its decisions caused some businesses to start moving out of San Angelo. They are still moving out to other towns because of those decisions.

When it was time for Izzard to look for another job, he decided to run for Congress against Stenholm. But to do so he had to move into the 17th District to be qualified. Later, to make it look better, he set up a dental office in Ballinger, which he still has, and even made some motions of being in agriculture.

Now I understand he has set up residence in Abilene. But before the vote-seeking trail got so hot, he was still haunting his old stomping grounds in San Angelo. A residence in Abilene and a dental practice in Ballinger? And where is the agriculture? He even has signs in Lamar Smith's district.

The first time he ran, he ran a very negative theme and then had Newt Gingrich come out and help him. That knocked him out of it. Now he is very negative again, really not knowing what he is talking about.

Take it from this old codger, Rudy Izzard does not have sense enough to be a congressman. If he is elected, he will be nothing but an errand boy for Newt Gingrich.

VERBON RODGERS

San Angelo

Lesa's the candidate

I am writing in support of Lesa Crosswhite for county treasurer. Having observed her in a professional situation, I am confident she would be an outstanding public servant. Lesa is responsible, dependable, professional and has always been willing to help whenever needed.

Lesa has a background in the business world, experience in accounting and budgeting and understands the need of the county. These professional qualities coupled with her personal characteristics make Lesa Crosswhite the candidate I am supporting in this election. Taylor County benefits with people like Lesa serving.

STEVE POST

Abilene

Wilson dedicated

I would like to encourage support for Randy Wilson for judge of the 11th Court of Appeals.

He is a candidate who will work hard and is definitely the most qualified for the position.

Wilson made the choice to be an attorney more than 28 years ago. He began his career at the age of 23 and has been representing people in both civil and criminal matters since that time. I know he devotes long hours and a great deal of himself to every case he works on.

The support for his campaign has come not from big law firms who represent insurance companies and HMOs, or from political action committees who want to influence the outcome of suits brought against their clients, but from individuals from all over the state of Texas who know his integrity and dedication to his career.

He is not a politician who makes hollow campaign promises of "I will do this" or "I will do that" in order to get elected. But he understands the 11th Court of Appeals job consists of reviewing decisions made by lower courts and determining if the law and the rules of procedure have been followed by those courts.

His philosophy is to require all courts to follow the law of the state of Texas and the United States.

Please support Randy Wilson for 11th Court of Appeals on Nov. 3. He is the only qualified candidate.

TRAVIS SEARS

Abilene

Read the platforms

After reading the 1998 state platforms for both the Democrat party and the Republican party, I am proud to be a Democrat, be that liberal or conservative.

The Republican platform calls for the return to the gold standard; abolishing Social Security; repealing the minimum wage law; impeaching federal judges if they should abuse their authority; rescinding no-fault divorces; taking taxpayers money from the schools for home schooling; repealing motor voter laws; opposing global warming theory, etc.

Proudly will I vote the straight Democrat ticket on Nov. 3.

JUNE HICKS

Carbon

Treasurer change

"Since 1997 the office has been in perfect order ... all reports presented in a timely manner and all accounts reconciled monthly." That's how a recent letter describes the county treasurer's performance.

Really! The outside auditor's report to Taylor County commissioners covering 1997 and issued in January 1998 said, "The bank reconciliations were not completed on a timely basis during the year and the County Commissioners did not have accurate, reliable information on which to base financial decisions."

There has been no audit for any of 1998, so who knows if the work is being done this year, either? We need a change. We need a businesswoman to run the Treasurer's office -- Lesa Crosswhite.

APRIL PACE

Abilene

Laura deserves vote

Laura Browder has done an excellent job as treasurer for Taylor County.

A look at her job performance reveals she instituted changes in the county's banking procedures that resulted in more than $80,000 in additional interest earnings for Taylor County's taxpayers.

No one told her to do the research and information gathering required to change the procedures; Laura did it on her own, prompted by her knowledge of current banking technology coupled with her experience as a financial and accounting professional.

Laura assumed an office that was abandoned and in a state of disrepair. She not only brought the treasurer's office back up to the required specifications of auditors, but she also successfully upgraded the capabilities of the office to further enhance its efficiency and performance on behalf of the county's citizens.

Laura Browder is a CPA with almost two decades of experience in accounting, including governmental reporting and regulatory research. She and her husband also own a successful title research business that they have built from the ground up. Laura knows what it means to make a living, raise a family and meet her obligations.

Laura is a 23-year resident of Abilene and Taylor County, and she has done more than her part to make this a better place to live. Please re-elect Laura Browder as treasurer of Taylor County on Nov. 3.

THOM LEMMONS

Abilene

Rights in danger

Responding to a recent article about satellite vs local network affiliates, I must agree with Mr. Garcia. Local TV broadcasting is pathetic, to say the least!

Poor sound, mumbling and inept announcers along with poorly prepared tapes, should allow viewers to watch their favorite programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox via a satellite system.

Alas and alack, it seems a group of pinheaded politicians along with the FCC, want to, and will, decide for us what we must watch -- and how!

Some folks are content to watch the local college quiz games or the silent exciting weather pattern stuck on their screen. Others would rather pay for and watch decent programming.

Better wake up folks because your rights are slowly disappearing.

From TV, too!

HARRY DEVORE

Hawley

Via e-mail

Term-limit stuff

Within the last week, my home has received a phone call and also a mailing from Americans for Limited Terms. This organization's mailing address is located in Spring Green, Wis.

In 1970, Congressman Bill Archer, Republican, went to Washington to represent Texas. In 1978 Phil Gramm, Republican, and Charlie Stenholm, Democrat -- both from Texas -- were elected to Congress, along with Newt Gingrich, Republican. In 1985 Dick Armey, Republican, went to Washington to represent Texas. As of today, all of these senators and congressmen are still representing us.

Americans for Limited Terms states that Stenholm has been in Washington too long, and Rudy Izzard agrees with this. Why don't Izzard and Americans for Limited Terms have a problem with term limits for Archer, Gramm, Gingrich and Armey?

Why is Stenholm being singled out? Should the rules be different for Democrats than for Republicans?

Mr. Izzard, I suggest you get on the telephone, if you can locate the number for Americans for Limited Terms, and tell them to bring Archer, Gramm, Gingrich and Armey home from Washington.

On the outside of the mailing it stated, "Character and integrity don't count." I don't agree with this.

Character and integrity do count!

Congressman Stenholm has both of these fine qualities. These are some of the same qualities I am trying to teach my children.

JAMES RIDDLE

Abilene

Izzard right on U.N.

I heard Charlie Stenholm say on KEAN radio that "I always tell the truth," but I know different.

Last April, I wrote asking him to please help the U.S.A. get out of the United Nations.

He wrote me and said, "Let me assure you that the U.N. does not, and could not in any way, diminish the importance of the U.S. Constitution to our way of life."

That was not a true statement, and he knew it.

Our so-called President Bill Clinton has been and still is forcing our military men and women to serve under the leadership of the foreign United Nations, and that very much is against our Constitution.

Stenholm uses his vote in Congress to help Clinton get everything he asks for, including our Social Security trust fund that senior citizens have paid into all of our lives. And that will never change because they are both Democrats.

Rudy Izzard says he will help us get out of the U.N. and also stop the raid on our Social Security trust fund. Let's give him a chance to see what he can do for us when we go to the voting polls Nov. 3.

OLETA McNARON

Rotan