Letters To The Editor

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Reierson will serve community well

Voters of Spokane County, you have an opportunity to elect a District Court judge who will really work for you. I have worked with Jim Reierson for two and a half years, and I have not seen anyone who has more integrity and a genuine desire to see that justice is served.

I have been a victim advocate for the victims of domestic violence for the past six years, and I can tell you that Reierson cares about this issue. If elected as your judge, he will not only take a strong position in holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable, he will listen to the victims.

Reierson will serve your community well. I urge you to vote for him in November. Candy S. Harding Walla Walla

Harold Clark III deserves vote

What should we want in a judge? Ideally, isn’t it a person who is not only learned and fair, but also compassionate, considerate and hard working? Harold Clarke III possesses these qualities. That is why most lawyers and judges in Spokane are supporting him for District Court judge.

Clarke’s opponent would like the electorate to believe that because the legal community supports Clark for District Court judge, John Q. Public should not. This is ridiculous. When you need a medical specialist, don’t you ask your family doctor? When you need a good electrician, don’t you ask your friend the contractor?

The argument propounded by Clarke’s opponent that Clarke will be beholding to the attorneys who practice before him is without merit. If Clark has the support of all the lawyers in Spokane, doesn’t it stand to reason that at least half the time he’ll be ruling against clients represented by the same lawyers who supported him?

It has been suggested that we shouldn’t vote for Clarke because he’s capitalizing on his father’s successful career as a very popular and well-respected Spokane County Superior Court judge. The reality is that Harold Clarke III has distinguished himself on his own in this community. However, let me suggest that in this situation the old saying, “the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree,” is right on point. Given the opportunity, Harold Clarke III has the capacity to be the same fair-minded, compassionate judge that his father proved to be. He deserves your vote. Frank R. Hoover Colbert

INITIATIVE 694

I-694 won’t outlaw abortion

Who’s the doctor giving out wrong information in the television ad about Initiative 694, sponsored by Planned Parenthood and the League of Women Voters?

I-694 will not outlaw all abortion. Abortion is the termination of an unborn baby’s life inside the mother’s womb.

I-694 is about partial-birth infanticide which is the “termination of a fetus’ life during the process of birth” (exact wording from the Washington Voters Pamphlet). Infanticide is when the baby’s body is fully delivered except for the head, which is pierced with scissors and then a tube is inserted to suck out the baby’s brains. I-694 will stop this barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion (infanticide).

Don’t listen to the lies from the pro-abortion people. Vote yes on I-694. Diane N. Brown Veradale

I-694 would allow government in

Some proponents of Initiative 694 have misled voters with their statements on the American Medical Association’s position on this initiative.

The AMA issued a letter on Oct. 21 stating that the organization does not support I-694. Moreover, the AMA would not support the measure for the following reasons:

The initiative does not protect a physician, intending to perform a delivery, who encounters an emergency circumstance that in his or her judgment requires the use of the procedure to protect the mother. If I-694 took effect, such a physician could face criminal charges even if he or she did not deliberately initiate the delivery for the purpose of performing the proscribed procedure.

I-694 does not permit a physician to perform the procedure if, in his or her discretion, alternative procedures would pose a materially greater risk to the woman. Rather, the initiative criminalizes the procedure unless the physician can demonstrate that “no other procedure, including the induction of labor or Cesarean section, would suffice to prevent the death of the mother.”

I-694 does not provide an accused physician with the opportunity to have his or her conduct reviewed by the state medical board before any criminal trial commences.

I-694 is opposed by the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians and Group Health Cooperative because it would allow unacceptable government interference in critical medical decisions. George H. Rice, M.D. past president, Washington State Medical Association, Spokane

Vote yes to stop gruesome procedure

Vote yes on Initiative 694, to stop partial-birth infanticide. This gruesome and painful procedure is no more than the murder of an innocent child.

Although the Supreme Court has declared a right to terminate a pregnancy, it has never declared a right to terminate the lives of helpless children who are in the process of being born. Murder in this country is still considered a punishable crime, whether the victim is 90 seconds or 90 years old.

Let’s stop this grisly and painful procedure once and for all by voting yes on I-694. Judith L. Jordan Spokane

INITIATIVE 200

Defeat I-200 for good of state

There are many factors in our society that help create a lack of respect and tolerance for diversity. Humankind has struggled with the concepts of tolerance and diversity since the beginning of time. The reason our society has struggled with this issue for so long has to do with the concept of miseducation. Helen Keller once wrote that the highest result of education is tolerance.

When it comes to Initiative 200, it appears that the majority of our citizens have not reached the highest result of education. The late author James Baldwin reminded us that our history is each other. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that all life is interrelated and that we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.

If I-200 passes, the citizens of Washington will send a message that this is not a tolerant state, and we the people of Washington repudiate and despise ourselves. If I-200 is defeated, we will send a message to the rest of nation that our state promotes an inclusive environment for people from all diverse backgrounds. Further, we will continue to foster an appreciation of the need for diversity, tolerance and unity.

Let’s vote against hate, ignorance and intolerance. Vote no on I-200. James H. Williams Spokane

Read up on Initiative 200

Initiative 200 is a destructive proposal. It takes away freedom of choice. It forbids even considering race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin as one factor in public employment and education. For example, if all fifth- and sixth-grade teachers in an elementary school are females, and the school would like to hire a qualified male teacher as a role model for the male students, I-200 forbids using gender as a criteria, even if it’s only one of many factors being considered.

I-200 would have a negative impact on other educational programs. It would limit colleges and universities in deciding the qualities and qualifications they look for when admitting new students. It could eliminate job training programs aimed at helping people move from welfare to work.

No one wants unqualified employees or students, but it should be up to the employers and educational institutions to make decisions about qualifications. It appears that I-200 supporters have proposed this law because they are concerned about possible earlier abuses of affirmative action. But Washington state now has laws to protect institutions from such abuses. For example, quota systems were a concern at one time. Current state laws prohibit any sort of quota system.

Please read your Voters Pamphlet for a detailed discussion on the issue, or contact the No200 website: www.no200.org. James A. and Gretchen H. McDevitt Spokane

SPOKANE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Reid cares about people, ideas

I first met Kathy Reid in December 1992, when we were both sworn in to serve as Spokane County freeholders. My first impression of her was that she was tenacious, direct and occasionally blunt in the delivery of her message. Not negative qualities, but frequently misjudged.

Approximately 30 months of interaction with the other freeholders provided enlightened insight into everyone’s personality. Yes, Reid is tenacious. You can count on her to stand behind her stated positions. She does not waiver. Yes, Reid is direct and sometimes blunt. She researches an issue and will present her findings in no-nonsense terms. Additionally, Reid is honest and not self-serving. She cares about people and their ideas.

It is these qualities that make me glad to call Reid a friend. It is these qualities that made me willing and ready to serve as Reid’s campaign treasurer. These qualities will make Reid a great Spokane County commissioner. Kathleen P. Nuffer Deer Park

Reid strong neighborhood voice

It’s time to elect a county commissioner who’s had a strong voice in our neighborhoods. That voice is Kathy Reid.

She has proven her leadership and advocacy through her numerous accomplishments. She paved the way for the HUD program and citizen participation regarding the decisions to be made. She made plans for developing not just one community center, but three. She increased the number of parks for our children and opened up council meetings to the public by holding them in the evening with a one on public forum. She did all this and so much more.

No, she didn’t do this alone. She had help, neighborhood help. Let’s give her that kind of help once more with your vote on Nov. 3. Lucy J. Reiner Spokane

GOVERNMENT/WASHINGTON STATE

Peterson a leader with vision

I have been observing Craig Peterson as he campaigns for state representative, 6th District, Position 2, and I have been very impressed. To understand the needs and concerns of his district, Peterson has walked the neighborhoods, visiting thousands of homes to talk with the voters.

Peterson is a leader who has a vision of an Eastern Washington that doesn’t live in the shadow of the Puget Sound area in receiving funding for public projects. His vision is fiscally responsible. He understands public funds are limited; all the more reason to be sure Eastern Washington gets back its fair share of tax dollars.

In a recent debate over Initiative 200, Peterson was impressive in his conviction to his beliefs, yet, more than offering rhetoric, he thoroughly researches facts to back his beliefs in persuasive arguments.

Peterson recognizes that our society is not perfect, and he is prepared with enthusiasm and energy to challenge Washington’s leadership to improve life for all citizens.

The Spokesman-Review editorial board endorsed Peterson’s opponent solely on his history as a foot soldier to the Senate leadership. Wouldn’t it be preferable that all our representatives demonstrate leadership abilities, and are able to think for themselves?

I urge you to vote for a candidate on the strength of his leadership, character and enthusiasm. Vote for Craig Peterson for state representative, 6th District. David B. Moore Spokane

Gombosky has compassion, integrity

Jeff Gombosky has earned my vote again. He has chosen to spend his youth working with energy and enthusiasm to improve the living standards of all of us who live in the 3rd District. He has run a clean, positive campaign based on the issues. He has compassion for those in need of a helping hand and he possesses a degree of integrity rarely found in the world of politics.

In the other 3rd District race, there is a different story. Cheryl Steele has chosen to run a negative campaign, attacking her opponent Alex Wood as an “angry, confrontational talk show host.” While Wood was on the air, he distinguished himself for his fairness, objectivity and broad knowledge. His skills included a willingness to listen and to explore all sides of an issue.

Steele continues to take all the credit for the success of the COPS shops. Those COPS shops were built by the hard work and generous donations of thousands of Spokane citizens. When Steele obtained the high-paying job of overseeing the COPS shops, once again it was the unpaid volunteers working with police officers who ran the programs while Steele and former Police Chief Mangan were busy collecting recognition all over the United States. Steele won’t get my vote. Mary C. Gaddy Spokane

Kenck more than just talk

Larry Kenck, candidate for District 2 state Senate seat, is a citizen who has done more than just talk about making our state a safe and better place to live. He has attended at least four of the public meetings held to examine the impact of Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s proposal to build a fuel station and diesel tank storage farm over the site of our aquifer.

Kenck not only attended the meetings, but also spoke out, on at least two occasions to hundreds of listeners, his continued support of clean and safe drinking water. His opponent was one of the legislators who welcomed BNSF’s proposal with open arms, before they even made application with the county commissioners.

Besides verbal support, Kenck has also given a very generous contribution to the Friends of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie group to assist in their opposition to this unwise project.

Putting out a welcome mat to BNSF before doing extensive background check was a bad call on Clyde Boatright’s part. This Tuesday, remember to vote for people who show, by their words and actions, that our health and safety come first! R. Wayne Bailey Post Falls

Kammerzell would provide balance

Our government was designed to work best when operating with checks and balances, critical questioning and public accountability. For the past few years, the government in Whitman County has been functioning without these principles at work, resulting in an ineffective and inefficient administration. In fact, the lack of healthy, constructive criticism concerning budget decisions has left our county and its finances in a weakened condition.

We need a commissioner with a fresh approach. As Whitman County commissioner, Tom Kammerzell would think independently, work collaboratively, listen thoughtfully, question critically and make fiscally responsible decisions. Kammerzell can provide the balanced prospective that our county so desperately needs. I urge you to vote for him on Tuesday. Herbert H. Hill Pullman

West uses far-thinking approach

Over the past 20 years I have met with countless legislators about the needs of people with disabilities and cost effective ways to help them lead productive lives in our community. I have developed substantial respect for the knowledgable, far-thinking approach that Sen. Jim West uses in carrying out his role as chairmen of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. West is constantly looking for better ways to get the best services possible to citizens of our state in need in ways that delivers the best value for our hard working taxpayers.

Neither my cause or even those who have tried to intimidate him with full-page advertising campaigns get everything we want. What we do get are decisions that are based on years of in-depth understanding of how our government works, what our citizens really need and sense of fair play in investing our tax dollars wisely. If that’s the kind of approach you want to managing our state’s budget, then vote for West. As a bonus, we can keep Eastern Washington in the driver’s seat in developing our state’s budget. Stephen L. Start Spokane