Letters To The Editor

Suburbs would have little representation

In your Oct. 24 editorial “Merger would give power to the people,” it is stated of the 13-member council that suburbs such as the Valley and North Side could form coalitions, perhaps including rural areas, to fight more effectively for their needs. The question is why should they have to? Because in practicality this is not an ideal unification. Certain players will naturally have to compete.

As far as being representative, imagine yourself as a citizen trying to address your “representative” 13-member council. Once you state your name and address for the record, how many members of the 13 do you think will find a compulsion to listen to you? And even should your one elected representative wish to help you, how effective do you think he or she will be unless he or she belongs to a favored coalition?

There is of course the one key executive position which is elected at large. But according to your editorial: “…at large representation … hears big interests better than small ones.” So who do you suppose this person will be listening to? Jim Guyor Spokane

Vera within rights to extend water service

This is in reference to your article regarding Vera Water and Power extending water service to the Ranch Park area (Valley Voice, Oct. 21).

To begin with, land use is the responsibility of the county, not the serving utility. As long as building permits are being issued, it is appropriate for Vera to serve these homes as opposed to them having no fire protection or being served by individual wells which have a greater exposure to contamination.

This is a typical politician’s ploy to dump responsibility on someone else. Commissioner Steve Hasson should crank up enough courage to do his job properly instead of accusing others of being stupid. Small wonder the people are interested in a change in government. Joe Custer Spokane

Vote Hawkins for restraint, and common sense at CV

School board elections are Nov. 7. If you live in the Central Valley district, I urge you to vote for Matt Hawkins.

Tired of going to school board meetings and wondering if you are invisible? Do you believe that it is your right as a parent to direct the education of your child and that your permission should be sought before decisions are made regarding your child?

Do you wonder why teachers are expected to conserve on copy cost, paper usage, etc., and textbooks are in short supply and yet our present school board approved a $30,000 consultant fee to help find a new superintendent? There are plenty of local resources and talent in order to accomplish this task. Yet, instead the community must play the superintendent search game. We share with the consultant our dream of a superintendent and then they magically come up with a match.

It is time for fiscal restraint, common sense, utilizing local, resources and using schools dollars to take care of needed repairs, books, and computers, etc.

Vote for Matt Hawkins, a fiscal conservative with strong family values, a successful businessman and family man with five children. He will work for local control of our schools, and will make it a priority that our children be challenged academically and will stand behind teachers with high academic standards.

It is time to vote for someone who understands the value of hard-earned dollars and the reality of limited resources. Vote for Matt Hawkins. Mary Pollard Greenacres