Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Consider system change with care

Idealistically, Steve Eugster’s proposal for a strong mayor for Spokane sounds beneficial. However, before voting in favor of it, one should consider the following points, among many others:

How many of the several appointees the mayor will be allowed will be appointed for the sole purpose of furthering the mayor’s political career?

How many of the actions of a district-elected council member will be of benefit to that district alone and not to Spokane as a whole, and to ensure re-election? Kenneth R. Anderson Spokane

OK strong mayor, then pay attention

I see a problem, but not with the strong-mayor plan itself, which gives us a highly accountable, representative City Council along with the strong mayor. I’m just not sure that enough of us are ready to invest the time and effort that self-government requires. That is, more time and effort than voting on election days.

We have - or more accurately, had - a representative national government. We let that one slip out of our control and turned it over to special interest groups by our inattention and disinterest. Do we really think we would do any better on the local level? We just might, as a strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving our individual freedoms.

If you are ready to reclaim your lost freedoms, a yes vote for the strong mayor plan is a good place to start. Jon J. Tuning Spokane

Why are streets so damage prone?

Before we pass the bond issue for street improvements, we should see what happened to the last one.

If you drive Freya Street, from Sixth to 29th, you will find approximately 175 patch repairs. Some of them are as long as a block. Why all this damage in just seven years? Was it caused by a cold winter, heavy traffic, poor construction?

I hope our city planners look into these things, or is our money being thrown at the street problems, with no long-term solutions? Ted Propst Spokane

Reasons against deny the realities

As coordinator of the Yes for Better Streets Committee, I’ve read with interest letters outlining reasons why we should oppose the proposed street bond. They’ve run the gamut from “taxes are too high” to “local gasoline taxes should be used” to “just take the funds out of existing revenues.”

There is some merit in each of these positions. Likewise, no one should argue that it’s not all citizens’ collective responsibility to fix our streets. Everyone is dependent upon the city street system in some manner. The problem is that each argument against the bond fails to recognize the reality of the situation. We simply have run out of alternatives.

State and federal funds are not keeping up with our street needs. In fact, we are getting less funding from them than in the past.

Anyone who believes that if we just re-prioritize the city budget we would magically have the funds necessary for street restoration doesn’t understand the city’s budgetary needs and the magnitude of the street problem.

Spokane County tried a local option gas tax. It failed at the ballot box. This county also proposed a vehicle license fee of $15 per year. It was withdrawn in the face of strong opposition. A street utility fee option was found invalid by our state Supreme Court.

We need to get serious about our street system and work with the options available to us. Support the street bond issue on Sept. 17. Great cities deserve good transportation. Dale F. Stedman Spokane

THE JUDICIARY

Moe is a fine attorney - I know

Thanks to The Spokesman-Review for the recent valuable article relative to the judicial races. I am prompted to add my own observations about Court Commissioner Royce Moe.

My experience with this fine judicial officer dates from 1979 when, as a young at attorney, he was named guardian ad litem for a seriously injured relative who was in need of a court-appointed guardian. His visit to the injured person was marked both by compassion and by efficiency.

The proceeding before the court was not an adversarial one, so when my own lawyer failed to appear at the proper time, Moe took the matter into his own very capable hands and made it possible to complete the necessary procedure without further delay.

Sometime thereafter, I consulted him again, in a civil matter with which he was not immediately familiar. Instead of making any pretense, he indicated his lack of information and assured me that he would take steps to inform himself and get back to me. Again, I was impressed and more than satisfied with the result. Commissioner Moe has served the people of Spokane County very well indeed, as the “superior” rating indicates. As a Superior Court judge he will continue and expand that same high quality of service to the laws of Washington and to the people of the county. Donald M. Barnes Spokane

Cozza experienced, prepared

Let me offer some reasons why Judge Sam Cozza is the best choice for Superior Court judge.

First, he has already served as a Spokane County District Court judge for six years. Secondly, he not only has presided over hundreds of jury trials, he was trial attorney for nine years as a deputy prosecuting attorney. Thirdly, he has made groundbreaking decisions that have been adopted by the Supreme Court.

Cozza received a vote of confidence from the citizens and the bar association when he was re-elected without opposition in 1994. He will need no warmup time or training before he starts hearing cases. We need his dedication and devotion to justice on the Superior Court. Floyd J. McDowell Spokane

Cozza ready for higher court

We were saddened to learn that the Honorable Thomas E. Merryman will retire from his position on the Spokane County Superior Court bench at the end of this year. His shoes will be hard to fill. We believe, however, that Judge Sam F. Cozza is the best person to do so.

We have known Cozza for over 20 years. We know him to be a dedicated, hard-working attorney and jurist. After Cozza graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, he started working with the Spokane County Prosecutor’s office. During his tenure as a young deputy prosecutor, he worked his way from handling misdemeanors to juvenile crimes and eventually on to major crimes. He carried out his duties admirably.

In 1990, Cozza was elected to the Spokane County District Court bench. He was re-elected without opposition in 1994. During his first term he was selected as the presiding judge for District Court - the youngest person to be so chosen in Washington.

As a District Court judge, Cozza has heard hundreds of criminal and civil matters. He treats every person with respect and dignity and is known to be fair and just. He’s certainly ready and seasoned to move on to the Superior Court bench. As a friend, Cozza is kind and compassionate. He is involved in many volunteer community organizations and his church. He is committed to making Spokane a better place to live. Arthur and Lynda Hayashi Spokane

3RD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Gombosky dedicated to helping others

As a third-grade teacher, I am particularly interested in seeing people represent me who are committed to improving the education and lives of the children in Spokane. Jeff Gombosky is such a person.

Gombosky is employed at the Northeast Community Center, where his No. 1 priority is to improve the standard of living for people in our community. As program director for the Institute for Neighborhood Leadership, he organizes community leaders from local universities, businesses and government to train volunteers to participate in community service.

He was recently recognized by Leadership Spokane for his commitment to the community. In addition to his paid position, Gombosky volunteers on numerous committees dedicated to improving education, safety and economic conditions in our area. As a teacher, I know how important this work is.

Please send Gombosky to Olympia to speak for children and working families. Debbie Rose Spokane

Smith blends compassion, realism

Val Smith, candidate for the 3rd Legislative District, has made the bumpy road of politics easier to travel.

Smith speaks to the people and their concerns so well that you can’t help but realize the wonderful potential that creative problem solving and common sense can bring to the political arena.

Running on a platform of helping kids become productive adults, smart spending, personal responsibility and economic growth with good-paying jobs, Smith is a politically atypical mix of compassion and realism. With the federal government shifting responsibility to the states to care for children, the elderly and struggling families, Smith’s overall experience and knowledge will be invaluable. Her 25-year history as an in-the-trenches social worker gives her a perspective second to none.

Clearly, Smith’s life history demonstrates she cannot be intimidated or bought off, and that she has the courage to do what is right. Timothy Ormsby Spokane

6TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Blessed with two fine candidates

Voters in the 6th Legislative District have struck it rich. Seldom have they had such a wealth of quality, conscientious citizens seeking to serve.

Judy Personett is running for the Democratic nomination for state representative. Jerry Hopkins is running for the Democratic nomination in the district’s other state representative race.

Personett’s experience in health care and her firm grasp of important people issues make her the clear choice in her race. Voters who invest their trust in Personett will find her unafraid to confront and help resolve issues important to the district’s men, women and children.

Hopkins has already served the Spokane public well as a respected educator and member of the city Park Board, guarding the future of Spokane parks. He will be the statesman to help break legislative gridlock.

Vote for Personett. Vote for Hopkins. Vote for superior representation. Hugh Davis Spokane

Support Hopkins and Personett

As we approach the state primaries of this election year, Spokane citizens have the responsibility and obligation to select the best public servants to represent our legislative district and communities.

Two outstanding candidates are running for legislative positions in the 6th District. Democrats Judy Personett and Jerry Hopkins possess excellent credentials. Personett has a long career in the nursing field and holds a Ph.D. degree in education. Hopkins recently retired after 30 years as a teacher and social studies department chairman at North Central High School. He was president of the Spokane Education Association for the past year.

Both Personett and Hopkins, because of their education and professional background, are leaders who listen to everyone. They are leaders who advocate collaboration with all sectors and groups in our community to make laws in the best interest of our city and state.

I encourage everyone to support Hopkins and Personett for legislative positions. Ken Pelo Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Kaun a proven friend of workers

I am a 61-year-old former electrical worker who had to take early retirement from Modern Electric Water Co. I’d been on long-term disability made possible because of Sue Kaun’s compassion for workers. If it hadn’t been for her, my wife and I might have been forced to sell our home.

Kaun was interim manager at Modern Electric in 1992 when she negotiated a precedent-setting contract between the company and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77 that brought our wages and benefits up to the levels of other electrical workers in the area. She insisted that workers be given a pension plan that gives credit from date of hire, not from 1992, as the board of directors demanded.

After she left Modern Electric, the board tried to renege on that portion of the contract, but Kaun came back, on her own time, and argued that the contract had been accepted in good faith by both parties and must be honored. Modern Electric backed off and the contract stands as it was written. Kaun has proven that she is a friend of labor.

I know of a young couple who couldn’t pay their power bill, and Modern Electric pulled their meter. Kaun ordered that the power be restored and paid the bill herself. This shows the character of the woman who wishes to serve us in Congress.

Kaun takes on injustices and projects with a passion seldom seen in officeholders or managers, and she has been both. Working people will betray a true friend if they fail to vote for her. Billy White Spokane

Olson smart, honest and constructive

I encourage you to vote for Judy Olson, Democratic candidate for Congress. Olson understands, as a farmer and small businessperson, the needs of working families in Eastern Washington.

As a mother of three, she’s committed to creating an economy that provides jobs which support an adequate standard of living. As a farmer and household manager, she understands how to manage a budget and is committed to eliminating the budget deficit as quickly as possible.

She knows that the true way to provide additional money to working families and businesses in need of credit is to reduce interest charges by reducing the amount of money borrowed by the federal government, and eventually working to repay the debt owed by us, our children and grandchildren.

She’s also smart enough to know that promising both deficit reduction and huge tax relief is dishonest.

We need to elect people who have the courage to make the decisions necessary to bring this about and not promise whatever it takes to get elected. Olson is that kind of person.

Olson’s biggest attribute is her approach to problem solving and consensus building. In this era of partisan bickering, it’s refreshing to have an individual who is committed to working with people of all views to solve the problems that face us. Olson has shown as a community leader and volunteer, as well as an officer in state and national agricultural organizations, that she has the ability and intelligence to work with others to build the consensus to resolve problems. Michael C. Ormsby Spokane

Cutting from the wrong end

Lower the wages to stretch flood relief money? Why is it always the wage of the worker doing the tough physical work? Why not trim the $100,000-plus salaries of senators and representatives who also get retirements the working taxpayers only dream about?

If there is not enough federal taxpayer money for flood relief, let’s cut the fat where the fatsos are. Mark DePreker Cocolalla, Idaho

Correction

Contrary to the incorrect pronoun used in a Sept. 11 letter, 6th District legislative candidate Kerry Luciani is a man.