Change? No thanks
I have known U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm for more than 25 years. He is a man of integrity who has the well-being of the l7th District foremost in his mind and heart. Charlie is a true defender and promoter of Dyess Air Force Base, veterans, health care, rural health care and agricultural concerns.
He has been criticized for accepting speaking engagements all over the country. To me, this means he is so well respected that he is sought after for his expertise and leadership. Who would want a representative who has no influence and is not respected?
One of Charlie's main concerns is preservation of Social Security and guarding against the siphoning off of trust funds. Yet his opponent continues to accuse him of voting to put Social Security at risk and of disregarding the needs of the elderly. To make such a charge against Stenholm is absurd and shows a complete disregard for the truth - the action of a man who would do or say most anything to get elected.
Who would discard an effective, dedicated, respected congressman with the experience of Stenholm and replace him with a rank amateur whose greatest attribute seems to be the distortion of known facts, whose legislative abilities are nonexistent, whose only claim to fame is some clandestine pat on the head and promise of recognition by Newt Gingrich?
Make a change? No thanks. As for me and mine, we will keep the Honorable Charles Stenholm.
GEORGE MULLINO
Rochester
Via e-mail
Just the issues
Numerous advertisements have appeared on local TV and radio stations by both candidates for the 17th District congressional seat. I find it interesting that Charles Stenholm spends more time and money criticizing his opponent than expressing his own opinions and speaking out about how he voted on various measures over the last 20 years.
As the incumbent, Stenholm is in an advantageous position and should be running on his record alone without making false accusations against Mr. Izzard. Such misstatements about Stenholm's opponent make it appear to me as though there must be something in his voting record he chooses to hide.
I personally have spoken to Stenholm on numerous occasions. I can appreciate that a number of people in the district feel supportive of him because he has performed them a personal service or has been of assistance to them. Do these people not realize that these things were done by his staff, paid government employees? Do they not realize that Mr. Izzard will have the same type of staff and be personally available to the people of this district as well? I cannot understand why this race is not about the issues only.
Has anyone taken note as to the source of Stenholm's campaign funds? Most of his funds are coming from PAC's and not from the ordinary voters in the 17th District. What does this mean to you?
ALICE SMITH
Abilene
Asset to county
Soon we will be electing a candidate for the position of Taylor County treasurer.
I have been privileged to have become good friends with Lesa Hart Crosswhite, who is making a bid for the treasurer's position. I believe she has the experience and abilities necessary to become an important asset to the people of Taylor County and the county treasurer's office.
She has successfully managed and operated her own business, which provides very valuable experience and knowledge in conducting the business of county treasurer. She will be responsible, efficient and dedicated to the job.
I would like to ask you for your support of Lesa on Nov. 3. We will greatly appreciate your consideration on election day.
DWAYNE YARBROUGH
Buffalo Gap
Voting for Randy
I grew up and first voted in West Texas. I practice the West Texas custom of voting, in my mind, for the best person for the position.
I remember in my younger days, party didn't matter, we were all Democrats. A newcomer to get on the November ballot would have to run on the other ticket. This became accepted, for we all know that as West Texans we are independent thinkers.
West Texans have that opportunity to exercise that spirit again this November.
Randy Wilson is of West Texas lineage that had the means to send him to college without financial worries. Whether by his own work ethic or that of his family, Randy worked his way through college and law school. Before he was through college he married his wife, Jo Ann (she must have been a mere child).
I respect Randy most because, as he grew professionally, it would have been easy enough for him to grow past his friendship with a firefighter's family. His door is always open to my wife, Theresa, and me.
For a position such as judge, character is important, not the party, and Randy has character. He is a true West Texan with the independence to decide issues of law.
Because I live outside the area, I can't vote for the 11th Court of Appeals. I can, however, ask my friends to vote for Randy Wilson, a West Texan in his spirit and independence.
CARL COLLUM
Bedford
Telling differences
Reading Ricky Jannise's Oct. 22 letter, I noted some odd theories he put forward about the Republicans' "raiding of Social Security."
He claims the Republicans for all these years have been "diverting" these funds to pay for tax cuts. I believe if he checks the record, government spending bills start in the House of Representatives, which until the last few years has been controlled by the Democratic Party. Just so you can tell the difference, the Democrats have Bill Clinton, Barney Frank and Charlie Stenholm.
They have been the party that has controlled the purse strings and have been looting the Social Security trust fund to pay for all the socialist programs of the Democrats, and for the last 19 years Charlie's been helping them.
As for right wing elitists, the Kennedy family has lots of money and are pretty elite. Other people who could be considered elite are those with a $2.5 million government pension.
WILLIAM BARLOW
Abilene
Via e-mail
Aims of liberalism
There are those out there, supporting liberal candidates, especially at the federal level, who should be reminded that:
- Liberals will say and do anything (as evidenced by the present White House situation) to accomplish their agenda.
- "Conservative Democrat" can be called self-contradictory. It is not "conservative" to vote with liberals when the chips are down - voting with the likes of Ted Kennedy, Barney Frank, Gephardt, Conyers, Kerry, Boxer, etc.
- The goals of liberals have always been power and bigger government. We all understand lust for power. Big government is nothing more than the redistribution of wealth - taking from the "haves" and giving, through "super" programs, to the have-nots - totally against the historical fact that an energized, free enterprise system enables a country to soar.
Individual citizens are more likely to prosper with less government control, fewer taxes, greater local control, the unburdening of the free enterprise system and the enhancement of the Christian virtues of the American way of life. But, very probably, these desires will never be met through liberal philosophy.
The great American dream appears to be turning into a nightmare. We should all pray our "government shall be upon His shoulders" and that we once again will become "one nation under God."
BOB McCATHREN
Abilene
Good judgment
I am a staunch Republican voting for Judge Aleta Hacker of the 326th District Court, a Democrat.
One of the candidates for the court proposes "weekend jail therapy" for getting the attention of deadbeat parents without threatening their jobs. Judge Hacker has jailed delinquent parents when the circumstances are appropriate. But she decides each case on its own merits.
All judges want the best decision called for under the facts and allowed for by the law, knowing a parent in jail often means the other parent is on welfare.
Judge Hacker favors making retirement monies and tax refunds subject to seizure, automatic suspension of driver's licenses and sentencing nonsupporters to a restitution center where they must work and pay their obligations and holding people accountable who financially support deadbeat parents.
She would like state and federal lawmakers to give judges options other than jail sentences to persuade payments.
Keep the person with experience, qualifications and good judgment to handle the serious problems of the 326th District Court.
DESA LEE-LAIRD
Abilene
Getting out of U.N.
In 1997 Congressman Ron Paul introduced H.R. 1146, the American Sovereignty Restoration Bill. This bill puts an end to our United Nations membership. It would terminate U.S. participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions and close the U.S. mission to the U.N. No longer would our troops have to fight and die in no-win wars such as Korea and Vietnam.
This bill would repeal the United Nations Participation Act and stop payment of U.S. assessments and voluntary contribution to the United Nations.
More importantly, H.R. 1146 would preserve our Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and our way of life. The Declaration of Independence says that "men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. To secure these rights, Governments are instituted." But the U.N.'s so-called human rights ignore God's existence and declare it grants rights by laws and can be canceled out of existence. This is anti-American and totalitarianism. No, government cannot limit right if it's unalienable.
That's why we need to support H.R. 1146.
Call or write your congressman and urge him to support H.R. 1146.
BILLY LAWRENCE
Abilene
Term limit nonsense
Rudy Izzard would do well to correctly inform the voters of the truth concerning term limits during his campaign against U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm.
It would be hard to find a public issue as little understood among the American people as term limits. The idea of restricting tenure in public office has been around for a long time, but whenever it has been tried, it has failed to deliver a better, more accountable government.
In recent years, proponents have been arguing that it would restore good government by forcing the retirement of "entrenched" incumbents. Under term limit proposals, a candidate could not run if he had already served for a specified number of years.
In his notes on the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison wrote that frequent elections are necessary to preserve the good behavior of rulers and, by preserving that good behavior, that they also tend to give permanency to government. Of the 39 signers of the U.S. Constitution, 26 has served in the nation's first Congress established under the Articles of Confederation, where all elective terms were limited. They knew from experience the faults of limited terms.
There is no better way to get rid of an unaccountable politician than through the efforts of a vigilant electorate. Term limitation would actually take power out of the hands of the people, where it belongs, by limiting their choices at the ballot box.
Term limits are already in place. It's called a vote.
RAY HIGHTOWER JR.
Snyder
Protecting Dyess
Who can best protect Dyess Air Force Base? The Base Closure Commission will meet in two to four years to consider which military bases are next to be shut down. For those who do not believe U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm's years of experience and influence matter, consider the following.
When Rep. Omar Burleson announced his retirement, the Air Force decided to close Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring. When Rep. Jim Wright resigned as speaker of the House, the Air Force announced it would close Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. Do you see a pattern here?
Charlie Stenholm has a proven track record of behalf of Dyess and has demonstrated time and again that he can deliver. Rudy Izzard signed a pledge not to serve more than six years. This means he would be in or near his last term by the time Dyess came up for consideration.
Who do you think Washington will listen to - someone who is preparing to retire or someone with seniority and experience?
Dyess adds more than $250 million to the local economy each year. Abilene can't afford to lose that. There are estimates that Abilene would shrink by a third if Dyess closes. What will that do to small businesses or property values?
We cannot possibly know whether Dyess will be safe in the next round of base closures. Don't put Dyess at risk by voting for Izzard. Protect the future of Dyess. Vote Stenholm.
EDWARD ROSE
Abilene
Farmer's value
The 17th District is predominately a farming and ranching district. I know not every voter is a farmer, but stop and think about the economics of this district. If you lose the farmer, you will have a chain reaction that will devastate the economy by killing small towns throughout the district, and this will affect all the businesses in larger towns.
It doesn't matter what job you have. You eat, wear clothes and depend on the farmer in some way. My vote is for the man with the agricultural background. Charles Stenholm is that man.
THURMON STOUT
Weinert
Not enough voters
If you haven't voted in the last few elections, you won't like my comments. If you are contented with the chaos that exists in much of our country, or you don't mind the amount of taxes you pay, or if you think that the lack of ethics in Washington doesn't affect you, then don't read any further.
We have become a population with a lot of takers, people who whine about their "entitlements" but won't bother to understand the facts and prepare to exercise their unique right and responsibility to vote.
I am disgusted with Bill Clinton occupying the White House with less than 25 percent of the eligible vote. I can't believe we have so many in Congress who don't have the guts to defend the Constitution and are willing to mislead and even lie to maintain their comfortable salaries and pensions.
I don't care how much good Charles Stenholm has done for our little part of the U.S.A. Representatives who boast of the "pork" they bring home do not recognize that someone's taxes are greasing the wheels. No one can live in that ivory tower for 20 years and really understand what his constituents want or think.
I don't know Rudy Izzard very well. But I do know we need new blood in Congress, and we can start by retiring Stenholm. Stenholm will retire with a pension that we can only dream of.
Whatever you may decide on Nov. 3, please decide that you do have a stake in our political process and your one vote will count.
WES ALLEN
Ballinger
Yard sign counting
One last observation before the election. If yard signs in the neighborhood are any indication, Charlie's neighbors like him a lot more than Rudy's neighbors like him.
DAVID WIER
Abilene
Via e-mail
Appeal for Wilson
One of the best ways to know who to vote for is by hearing about first-hand experiences people have had with these candidates. I am one of the people who have had this experience with 11th Court of Appeals candidate Randy Wilson.
He has been an attorney in our community for more than 27 years and knows what it is going to take to be an appeals judge. He represented me not knowing who I was, but he believed in me. My case has lasted more than 11/2 years, and I have seen that Randy Wilson is a fair and just man. He has given more than what was expected of him, asking for no more in return.
I feel he would make an honest effort in any kind of case needed for appeals. I'm voting for Randy, even though I would be losing a great attorney.
It doesn't bother me, though, because it would be for a great cause, our community.
LISA PRESCOTT
Abilene
Criminal class
I love this time of year. All the politicians are calling each other names.
The incumbents are promising to do the things they should have done in the last two or three years. The challengers are promising big changes, including term limits.
Personally, I think Mark Twain said it best: "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class - except Congress."
JOHN SNELL
Abilene