Letters To The Editor

Washington state

Ahern will serve 6th District well

I support John Ahern, candidate for 6th District state representative. Ahern’s educational background, including a business degree and time in law school followed by years of experience as a successful businessman and community activist, has prepared him well for the job.

He understands the important issues - keeping sexual offenders out of Spokane, bringing good jobs to the community and returning to us our fair share of road maintenance dollars. As a former neighbor, close friend and business associate, I know him well. He is a man of action and success.

Along with his experiences, Ahern’s positive attitude, intelligence, ability to lead and professional attitude make him the best choice to represent the 6th District. Ahern is ready and eager to give something back to the community. He is committed to work on behalf of us. He will represent us well. A vote for Ahern is a vote for progress and prosperity for Spokane. Paul Rayburn Spokane

Free market all that’s needed

The Sept. 5 guest column by Rodney L. Trytko and David Bunting pointed out the decline in health insurance availability in Washington. Much of the problem was caused by an insurance commissioner who felt she knew better than the rest of us what insurance we should be able to buy. Her decisions chased most of the medical insurers out of the state.

There is certainly no shortage of espresso stands but what do you think would happen if some Washington bureaucrat dictated what flavors could be sold, what the serving sizes should be and the prices to be charged?

What we do not need is more government restrictions and programs to “fix” the problems caused by government.

We do not live in Utopia. There will always be shortages of medical care and people having to do without, just as there are shortages of food, energy and every other consumer good. The best thing the government can do for us, and to minimize shortages, is to get out of the way and allow companies to offer whatever insurance policies people want, and allow people to choose their own coverage.

An insurance policy is a contract, just like a contract to buy a car or have a home repaired. The government should enforce the contract as needed to ensure all parties fulfill the obligations they have agreed to. No more interference is required. David Wordinger Medical Lake

The judiciary

Elect Chambers to Supreme Court

I endorse Tom Chambers as a Washington State Supreme Court justice.

Chambers believes in equal access to justice, preservation of the jury system and fair and just sentences for those found guilty of violating the law. He is a strong proponent for personal accountability.

Additionally, Chambers has been recognized by his peers as an outstanding lawyer whose primary obligation is to his clients and preservation of the justice system. It is for this reason he has been highly recognized by the Washington State Bar Association, as well as the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.

His work on the boards of United Way and Providence Hospital Foundation exemplify his community service.

It is not surprising that professionals across the state would endorse him. These include the Washington Troopers Association. I hope Spokane-area citizens will join me in voting for Chambers. Daniel P. Harbaugh Spokane

Bridge is held in highest regard

I urge you to vote for Bobbe J. Bridge for Supreme Court Position 7. I have known her well as a fellow Superior Court judge. Her recent appointment to fill a Supreme Court vacancy has been universally applauded. She is held in the very highest regard by attorneys, both plaintiff and defense, and by trial and appellate court judges.

Hers is an easy name to remember. Vote for Bridge! Wallis W. Friel Whitman County Superior Court judge, Colfax

Frazier honest, deliberative

I support Judge David Frazier for Whitman County Superior Court.

We need a judge who will listen to both sides of a dispute and give a calm, well-reasoned opinion. Frazier has been doing exactly that for 18 years. Win or lose, people leave his courtroom feeling they’ve had their say and been treated fairly.

On a personal level, I know Frazier to be an honest and caring person who is deeply committed to his community. He and his wife have raised two children here and instilled in them the values that we all hope our children learn. Perhaps that is the best recommendation that a candidate for office can have. JoAnn Tracy Pullman

Savage well suited to be judge

Whitman County residents should be aware that the Sept. 19 primary is critical in selecting Whitman County’s next Superior Court judge. In fact, it will choose the next presiding judge for the county’s most important court.

Retiring Superior Court Judge Wallis Friel has served the county wisely and well. It is important to all of us that his successor be equally qualified and committed to fairness and justice.

We are fortunate that David Savage is a candidate for Superior Court judge. He has a distinguished record of 27 years of service in all types of cases that appear before the Superior Court. As a longtime resident, he knows the Washington State University community and the entire county very well. His skills as a mediator and arbitrator are much sought after by lawyers, as well as clients. He will serve with integrity and fairness to all.

Please vote and help to elect Savage. James Short professor of sociology emeritus, WSU, Pullman

Spokane matters

Powers has wisdom, judgment

John Powers should be our choice for strong mayor. It is time that we, the silent majority, come together at the polls and elect the man who has the ability, wisdom and vision to put together the pieces of our fractured Spokane government.

Powers’ background and accomplishments are well documented but that’s not all there is to know about him. You must hear him speak and talk with him in person to get the full impact of the civility and judgment he would bring to the mayor’s office.

My years of involvement with state and local officeholders makes me rank Powers near the top of the selection of a new mayor who, in effect, can determine the direction of Spokane for the next four years.

Powers is the man. Please vote on Tuesday. R.E. “Tiny” Jorgensen Spokane

I will gladly vote for West

My vote for Spokane’s next mayor goes unquestionably to Jim West, a true leader and man of integrity. He has the record of experience and community involvement needed to move Spokane out of its current mess of ineffectiveness.

I met West 25 years ago and shortly thereafter convinced him to be my successor as the scoutmaster of my son’s Boy Scout troop. West immediately showed his ability to lead and organize, evident in the numerous activities such as campouts, hikes and other events that he headed. As director of Camp Cowles, he camped a record number of boys and no doubt gained their respect and esteem as a result.

As Spokane’s leader, West will surely bring those same leadership skills to bear. His sympathy and receptivity to youth organizations will have the utmost importance in the community. His positive influence on young people has often galvanized the parents to be involved as well. The Scouts’ credo of duty to self, active citizenship and character building will show through in West’s presence in City Hall. Jim Hutsinpiller Spokane

Un-elect McCaslin, Roskelley

The county commissioner’s campaign in the Valley is getting hot. Commissioner Kate McCaslin has gone negative in her ads against Sylvia Riddle. Hopefully, Riddle or Bill Burke will defeat McCaslin and Cliff Cameron or Karl Wilkinson defeats John Roskelley.

If we want better-paying jobs in our area we need better leadership that will forge a new direction in the planning and building codes department. That begins with a new director. Then, we need more large industrial zones with infrastructure in other areas besides the West Plains. Moses Lake has a port district. Some states supply property and sales tax relief to a new concern relocating. We do not have city or county leadership with a vision. The city will. The county must.

Changes in attitude of who works for who begin with elimination of McCaslin and Roskelley. Nathan Narrance Colbert

Riddle’s charge misleading

I have noticed campaign signs for Sylvia Riddle that infer Spokane County is being overrun by 1,500 sex offenders, obviously hoping to scare and alarm the public. Riddle would like the public to believe County Commissioner Kate McCaslin is responsible for this happening. Not only is this unfair to McCaslin, it is misleading and irresponsible.

I recently handled the case of Larry Best, who had sexually molested two young girls. Although I recommended a 10-year prison sentence, First District Judge John Luster exercised his discretion and imposed a 20-year sentence. Idaho allows judges more discretion than Washington does.

Having also previously prosecuted cases in Washington, I am familiar with the sentence limits for sex offenses, and that is the problem. All too many sex offenders in Washington are released after serving short prison sentences. What can be done? Get the Legislature in Olympia to increase sentence ranges for sex crimes.

Under Washington’s current system, sex offenders can live where they want, but must register as a sex offender or risk being charged with another felony. Both the Spokane police and sheriff’s departments do an outstanding job in keeping tabs on these released criminals, causing many to relocate. Steve Tucker’s Office actively prosecutes those who fail to register. Thus, all is not doom and gloom, as Riddle wants us to believe. Public safety is essential! Lobby all state legislators on this issue. Let’s act responsibly and not engage in demagoguery.

I urge Riddle to remove those signs. Jim Reierson deputy prosecutor for Kootenai County, Coeur d’Alene

Government and politics

Bush approach preferable

It’s almost time to make a choice. Let’s see, Vice President Al Gore’s fundamental approach is to create entitlements and demonize law-abiding, productive Americans involved in pharmaceuticals, oil, tobacco, HMOs, logging, mining, the NRA, the rich and the Boy Scouts. (Did he ever denounce the booing of the Scouts at the convention?). Of course these are the evil special interests. Whose interests aren’t special? At least he is leaving lawyers off the list.

Gov. George Bush wants to include everyone in the goals of improving education, restoring morale and readiness of the military, saving Social Security and reducing taxes for everyone who pays taxes. The record confirms both these fellows have been effective in their respective approaches.

OK, it’s us against them’ or us together.’ Tough decision! Betsy E. Sears Coeur d’Alene

Replace Gorton with effective senator

I find it odd that special interest groups have hit our airwaves trying to convince us our representatives have been working on prescription drug cost and health care issues all the while.

Our senior senator has been in Washington, D.C., for more than 20 years and appears to have made some good friends who want to help create an image of him as a hard worker on issues like prescription drug cost and the escalating cost of health care. It must be nice to have special interest money from insurance companies helping sell you to the voters.

Don’t let special interest dollars and Hollywood commercials convince you our current senator has been burning the midnight oil to fix the above-mentioned issues. He has had his chance for the last 20 years and we can’t afford another 20 years of campaign year promises and then be left with Washington, D.C., status quo and a voting record that protects special interest.

It’s time for change and we are lucky to have former state representative and congresswoman Maria Cantwell as a choice for U.S. senator. Vote for a new voice, one committed to reining-in health care costs - unless you can afford to wait another six years as the pharmaceutical companies and HMOs continue to work with our current representatives to draft their own standards and rate scales. James C. Berry Spokane

Demand more-inclusive debates

A democratic, open and free society requires democratic, open and free debate. Yet, in a disgusting display of collusion, the Commission on Presidential Debates and the major television networks are excluding third party presidential candidates Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan from the upcoming televised presidential debates.

The CPD is run by representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties, and is subsidized largely by major corporations. It allows only candidates showing 15 percent or more in public opinion polls - triple the 5 percent of the vote necessary to receive matching federal funds.

It’s time to let voters hear the entire array of candidates and ideas, so they can make thoughtful, informed choices. Call Janet Brown, director of the CPD, at (202) 872-1020 and urge her to open the debates to candidates who earn 5 percent in the polls. Lupito Flores Kettle Range Conservation Group, Spokane

Libertarian offers a real alternative

As I read through the Voter’s Guide and saw Libertarian candidate after Libertarian candidate, I realized there were 15 Libertarian candidates listed and only three other minor party candidates. There is really only one third party in America - the Libertarian Party. And with candidates like Greg Holmes running for Congress against Rep. George Nethercutt, the Libertarian Party will only continue its amazing growth.

If you want less government, then a vote for Holmes is the only vote that won’t be wasted because no Republican or Democrat will fight for less government, only for various rates of growth - vast growth or truly vast growth. Ron Lahr Spokane

Veep choice can be a life saver

Al Gore has again demonstrated his similarity to Bill Clinton. In the 1992 presidential race, Bill Clinton, plagued by scandal and rumors of philandering, selected Al Gore, a squeaky clean running mate, to give the ticket a facade of morality and respectability.

It worked, and this year that squeaky clean politician, now just an Attorney General Janet Reno away from having his very own special prosecutor, needed a similar moral air freshener to conceal the stench of his fund raising misdeeds and serial prevarications. He selected Sen. Joseph Lieberman, whose most notable accomplishment to date was denouncing Gore’s sleazy boss.

The apparent hope is that this will be perceived by the befuddled masses as a repudiation by Gore of the corrupt leadership he has so enthusiastically and unapologetically supported for the past eight years. If this works, I think I can get Charley Manson into the White House - if I can find a Mother Teresa to share the ticket. Jerry A. Bartholomew Coeur d’Alene