Letters To The Editor

Sat., June 27, 1998

SPOKANE MATTERS

Guest teams idea stinks

As a Hoopfest fan and supporter (our boys have played for six years), I have to write in regard to the article “National powers join lineup” (June 22).

It’s beyond me what the point is in bringing in two so-called guest teams, at Hoopfest expense. How this is supposed to keep the tournament fresh is hard to understand.

What I do understand is there are a lot of men who have scraped together the registration fee of $116. How do you justify paying airfare and room and board for these guest teams? Better yet was announcing their addition to the brackets five days before the games begin, when fees were already collected. These guys are brought in, at no expense to them, to possibly (we hope not) knock the paying players out of their brackets. That is supposed to be “fresh” and “fun” and “new”. Maybe they should have made this announcement before everyone paid their fees.

Hoopfest is trying to justify spending $2,000 on these guys by saying they would have spent that amount on some other promotional things. Have they lost sight of what Hoopfest promos and fund raising is advertised to be?

Having these two teams does not even compare to having a celebrity endorse this event. It is of a whole different scope. If it’s a choice between two guest teams or a celebrity, I say bring back the celebrity and let’s do some true advertisements for Hoopfest. Sonja C. Clyne St. Maries

Finke’s interest is being good sheriff

Serious voters should compare the qualifications of Sheriff’s Lt. Jim Finke and Spokane cop Mark Sterk.

Sterk is a police officer who wants a better job. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 1994 and was appointed to the Washington State Legislature by a county commission that overrode the first choice of the Republicans. He was elected to the Legislature in 1996 and has consistently voted for issues that are harmful to working men and women. Now, he wants to be sheriff and, if successful, I’m sure he will try for a national office. He’s a hungry young man and will never rest easily in the office he holds

Finke has been with the sheriff’s department for 24 years, since shortly after he graduated from University High School in the Spokane Valley. He has risen through the ranks to the responsible position he now holds.

If the sheriff’s department was a college, Finke would have a master’s degree in law enforcement. He has management certification through the Criminal Justice Training Commission and is the only candidate who has attended the prestigious FBI National Academy, graduating in March with a 3.9 grade-point average.

Sheriff John Goldman endorses Finke as his most qualified successor.

Finke wants nothing more than to be our best sheriff. He is committed to community development in law enforcement. A principle in the development of SCOPE, it’s unlikely that he would dismantle this program. Finke is the best-qualified candidate for sheriff. Lois Meadows Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

West outburst childish, wrong

Tom Selleck is quoted in Time Magazine as saying, “A person of character does the right thing for the right reasons, but it is difficult for kids to do the right thing when they don’t know what the right thing is.”

Opinion editor John Webster defends Sen. Jim West’s statement, “You son of a bitch, you better get me, ‘cause if you don’t, you’re dead.” This shows no character and is not the right thing.

Webster wrote, “Those who profess shock at West’s remarks pretend to believe politicians ought to converse like Sunday school teachers.” I don’t pretend at all. I have followed political discourse over 50 years and have attended Sunday school classes. I’m shocked Webster defends West’s threats as just angry bluster.

Staff writer Jamie Tobias Neely has it right: “West’s intimidating words were way out of line.”

I urge people to vote for Judy Personett, Ph.D. Ed., retired Department of Veterans Affairs registered nurse, mother and grandmother, to replace West in the state Senate. She has character and will do the right thing. Scott Rohwer Spokane

West outburst bolsters incivility

The behavior of Sen. Jim West was inappropriate for a member of our Legislature. He should be a role model and should be able to make his point without making threats.

There are too many people who threaten violence in our society and our lawmakers should not add to the perception that this behavior is acceptable. Joan A. Rivers Spokane

Death threat a firing offense

Sen. Jim West’s death threats are unprofessional and totally inappropriate. If we, as a society, continue to take comments like West’s as not meaning anything, we will continue to have incidents like the Springfield, Ore., and Moses Lake school shootings.

I ask myself what is wrong with our society and I find the answer in the mirror. We must accept our responsibility as adult role models and conduct ourselves accordingly. I am proud to say that I would be fired from my job if I made a threat such as West made.

I hope the adults of this district will fire West. This will move us one step closer to a more sane and reasonable society. Sheryl Blake Spokane

Attitude about women revealed

Jim West should be held to the same, if not a higher, standard for students and airline passengers who threaten death. West’s sexual stereotyping and disrespectful consignment of Tom McCabe’s mother to nonhuman status reveals to all Washington women the true character of this “influential” member of our Legislature.

West owes Mrs. McCabe and the women of Washington an apology. Esther Larsen Spokane

Elect Personett and rehabilitate West

Staff writer Jamie Tobias Neely has it correct (Opinion, June 19) - to prosecute Sen. Jim West for his intimidating death threat to lobbyist Tom McCabe.

Death threats are an increasingly common story today and teenagers and road ragers are carrying them out all too often. It can’t be allowed. It’s an embarrassment that such a high official who works for us 6th District voters is behaving thus.

When my son wanted a job with the fire department as a computer technician, he had to take a psychological exam. West has failed his exam miserably. He has held the rights and good of the western part of the state and Puget Sound area above the well-being of our eastern Spokane area. He is biting the hand that feeds him when he threatens death to a lobbyist.

West needs to be prosecuted and made an example for all. Also, he needs to be turned out of office and take anger management classes. A fine would be in order, with community service.

That’s why I’m voting for Judy Personett, to be a level-headed representative for Spokane. We need a true voice to be heard and our fair share of tax dollars from Olympia. Adonna H. Yuse Spokane

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