Letters To The Editor

Spokane matters

We can do better with Powers

I’m voting for John Powers because he can lead Spokane into the future. He has demonstrated his leadership ability through his volunteer activities for his community and his profession. He has coached youths and served his profession in local and statewide leadership positions. He listens to people and will work with people to move Spokane forward.

Powers has reached out to all of Spokane; his supporters come from all parts of the city and from across the political spectrum.

Mayor John Talbott is mired in the past. During this last year in office he has voted with members of the City Council who are pursuing their personal vendettas rather than making decisions in the best interest of the city.

Talbott is either unwilling or unable to lead city government. He is supported by a group of people who hide behind political action committees and attack candidates with half truths and false innuendo. When criticized about the attack ads, he first claimed he had no connection to the ads, even though he attended their fund raiser. Now he supports their tactics.

The choice is very easy. Vote for Powers, for a mayor we can be proud of. Laurie Connelly Spokane

Talbott, Corker deserve dismissal

It seems there is nothing Councilman Steve Corker, Mayor John Talbott and their wealthy backers won’t do to keep themselves in office.

We citizens are the ones paying for their latest legal garbage, already thrown out of one court. It’s costing hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have gone for our roads, etc. - money they are making us use to pay the legal bills to friends of theirs. They even voted to raise the salary of the positions they’re running for.

We are the laughingstock of the state. I urge you to vote for Councilman Rob Higgins and John Powers. Milaine McGoldrick Spokane

Higgins’ record one to vote against

Voters will be asked to pick a City Council president in addition to a mayor. Steve Corker supports Spokane Neighborhood Councils being made a permanent addition to the City Charter. This addition will ensure that the City Council listens to residents’ major concerns throughout Spokane.

Opponent Rob Higgins thumbed his nose at Spokanites a decade ago when they voted to require voter approval of major projects like the trash plant. He continued to be the trash plant’s strongest supporter even after the citizens’ initiative was passed. Higgins’ vote helped give up the No. 1 ranking in the state for the amount of cancer-causing dioxin being produced at the trash plant (Spokesman-Review).

Corker and John Talbott get my vote! Dennis Horlacher Spokane

Vote for Burke and Roskelley

If Spokane County is to become what it is capable of being we need leaders of vision. Commissioner John Roskelley has proven he has such vision, making him unpopular with those who want unbridled development. His opponent is an unknown, supported by those developers.

Bill Burke is definitely a man of uncommon vision. He has used it for the past 20 years by bringing entertaining, (Pig Out In The Park) and uplifting (Fourth of July music festival) programs to Spokane and by serving on boards of many community-minded organizations. Burke is passionate in his love of Spokane.

Burke’s opponent is a capable office manager who sees her job as keeping Spokane County as it is. If we want more jobs, improved education, arts, youth activities, crime reduction and a better place to raise our children, “as it is” is not enough. We must have leaders with vision and courage.

Burke and Roskelley are such leaders and we are fortunate to have them. Ed Meadows Spokane

Roskelley balanced, experienced

There’s a sense of desperation on the campaign trail to defeat County Commissioner John Roskelley. Sheriff Mark Sterk’s tirade was a new low in county politics. Challenger Karl Wilkinson continues his unfounded accusations regarding Roskelley’s tenure.

Meanwhile, Roskelley stands firm for a well-balanced planning program and fiscal responsibility. He acknowledges the importance of progress but holds quality of life for citizens is just as important. His detractors lack this balanced view. Their desire, apparently, is progress at any cost, with little consideration for the future. Many companies consider quality of life a first priority in deciding where to locate.

Wilkinson plans to make it easier and quicker for developers to obtain building permits. He continues to expound the myth that Roskelley is against building. Drive along the corridors on Pines, Sullivan or Argonne; you’ll notice no shortage of businesses. There is hardly a place, including the Valley Mall area, where you don’t see construction. Even realtors announced recently in The Spokesman-Review that there’s an excess of new homes and apartments.

We have a clear choice. Re-elect Roskelley, who has a fine, proven record and answers only to the citizens. Or elect Wilkinson, with less than hopeful promises, who could be taking orders from special interests. Joseph Collins Spokane

This bean counter’s a keeper

Can I believe what I’m reading in the paper? Kate McCaslin, candidate for county commissioner, is being criticized by her opponents for being fiscally careful and responsible. She is part of a team which has held down county spending and built an ample financial reserve. In particular, she is guilty of scrutinizing expenditures to be sure the public’s tax dollars are not squandered or wasted.

Does she receive high praise for her commendable actions? No, instead she is condemned for being a bean counter.

This year the county’s tax levy rate not only did not increase, it actually went down - an extraordinary event. If this is the work of a bean counter, may their numbers increase. Louise H. Nelson Spokane

Wilkinson has broad union support

Why do 10 unions that represent safety for our loved ones endorse Karl Wilkinson for commissioner? Spokane Airport, Cheney, Medical Lake and Spokane police all support Wilkinson. The Spokane County Deputy Sheriffs Association and Sheriff Mark Sterk support Wilkinson. Area firefighter unions, including Spokane, Spokane Airport, Valleyford and Spokane County Districts 8 and 9, all support Wilkinson for commissioner. Why is Firefighters Local 876 the only public safety association to endorse the incumbent? Why are the Spokane County Employees Union and the Spokane County Supervisors Association not endorsing Commissioner John Roskelley? These are the people who work for Roskelley and know him best.

Please ask someone who works for Spokane County. Ask Spokane County Engineers local 17 and Spokane County Road Department Local 1135 why they support Wilkinson.

Wilkinson is recognized for his ability to bring people together. He has acquired a broad base support from many organizations, associations and unions. Help Wilkinson become Spokane County’s next commissioner. Glen A. MacPhee campaign chairman for Karl Wilkinson

Builders’ choice? No thanks

“Rush toward land-use plan draws flak” (Oct. 25) stated that Karl Wilkinson and Bill Burke have the support of builders and developers who are working to get incumbent Commissioners Kate McCaslin and John Roskelley voted out of office. I can’t think of a better reason to vote for McCaslin and Roskelley. They both have faithfully exhibited balanced viewpoints on all issues, governed by a sense of civic duty. McCaslin and Roskelley are a breath of fresh air in the stale air of special-interest politics. Vote for them on Tuesday. They have proven they care about us. Chris G. Bowers Liberty Lake

5th Congressional District

Congressional Republican-grade mud

Seattle’s one time mayor, Charles Royer, had an assistant named Tom Keefe who was approached by a reporter who had a record of twisting statements. She criticized the mayor for proclaiming “Pickle Week.”. Keefe brushed her off, but she returned and demanded to know why pickles deserved to have week named for them. She was told that Nalley, a pickle processor and large employer in Seattle, might like the idea.

The reporter persisted. “Is there anything the mayor would not name a week for?” she asked. Keefe, by this time, had had enough. “Well, I doubt if we would have a `Holocaust Appreciation Week’ or a `Turn a Jew into a Lampshade Week;’ `’ he snapped - an unfortunate response to this person.

Within hours her newspaper blasted Keefe as an anti-Semite.

Keefe’s friends and co-workers knew this was not true, and he went on to serve the public for many more years. Now, the National Republican Congressional Committee has dredged up the accusation and rewritten it in a slick, expensive obscene mailing.

People who know Keefe ( including, I suspect, George Nethercutt), know he is no bigot - especially his Native American wife and children. The expensive piece says Keefe is “divisive and mean-spirited,” when he is actually inclusive and kind.

Of course, desperation often brings out the worst in politics. Georgia Olson Spokane

Nethercutt is responsive

Recently I wrote a letter to Rep. George Nethercutt concerning the cost of prescription medications. He sent a detailed report about what is going on in Congress regarding this issue. He also wrote a personal greeting, even with his very busy schedule. He cares for us in Eastern Washington. Lila M. Wieber Spokane

Nethercutt drug cost help pathetic

I recently received a flyer from George Nethercutt, writing as my representative, not as a candidate. The mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense. Evidently, he wanted me to know that he had been thinking about drug coverage for seniors and had come up with suggestions.

If seniors were not in such serious circumstances, the suggestions would be laughable: “shop around,” “ask for senior discounts,” “consider buying by mail,” “check the Internet.” Does Nethercutt really think these are new ideas for seniors? Perhaps the most demeaning suggestion is that we tell our pharmacists and our physicians that we have “trouble affording” our prescriptions. I would prefer to see an explanation of why we have trouble, why Congress has not addressed this situation before now. A final suggestion was that we call his Washington, D.C., office (not a toll-free number).

It’s clear to me that Nethercutt is taking the easy way out with a few platitudes and a few obvious suggestions in a thinly disguised campaign piece. Seniors deserve better. Jan Polek Spokane

Drug companies back their man well

Rep. George Nethercutt proclaims to represent Eastern Washington. However, drug companies have spent at least $846,000 on television ads to re-elect Nethercutt. These are the same drug companies gouging our community’s seniors with outrageous prices for prescription medicine. These drug companies are happy with the status quo and they will spend whatever it takes to keep their pal Nethercutt in Congress voting against our seniors. Joe Duris Pullman

Keefe-bashing marks a new low

Our recent mail has contained material which represents the lowest kind of political mud-slinging. These publications came from the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C. The anonymous authors have chosen the ugliest words and pictures to demonize Democrat candidate Tom Keefe.

If “character counts,”’ as the leaflet stated, Republican candidate George Nethercutt should put a stop to this kind of lurid and defamatory material. We are in our 80s and this is the worst we’ve ever seen. Pete and Ruth Peterson Spokane

Nethercutt the farmers’ friend?

On May 10, the House of Representatives voted on a series of amendments to the fiscal year 2001 appropriations bill affecting the Department of Agriculture. Among measures voted down were ones to fight anti-competitive marketing practices in agriculture, lift agriculture and medical supply sanctions against some countries, a measure to prevent and eradicate plant and animal diseases, an emergency appropriation for crop loss assistance to farmers, aid in establishing farmer-owned cooperatives, rural business opportunity and enterprise grants, and one for egg inspections. Contrary to his television image, Rep. George Nethercutt voted against all these measures except for the third, when he didn’t vote. Thomas Watson Spookane