Letters to the Editor for Friday, October 23, 2009

LU and its role in local politics

LU voters and Valentine
In recent years many people in Lynchburg have been concerned about the growing political power of Liberty’s University, Jerry Falwell Jr. and the possibility that they could control Lynchburg city government. This year will bring the acid test of that possibility.

In a recent publication, Jerry Falwell Jr. strongly urged all Liberty students to register and vote in the upcoming elections. He also stated that if enough students registered to vote, classes would be canceled on Election Day. Presumably buses would be available to take the students to the polls as they did in the last election.

In any discussion about Liberty, it must be emphasized that the university is, in a variety of important ways, a great asset to our community. But, acknowledging the fact with gratitude, the question arises, do we want them to control our wonderful city?

Lest there be any question about his motives, Falwell is quoted in this letter, “the students have the power to dominate in local elections.” He is exactly right about that. I think this is a prospect that many Republicans, ndependents and Democrats will find very disturbing.

I do hope there will be an overwhelming turnout of voters for Del. Shannon Valentine to offset what we expect will be a massive turnout of Liberty University students who will be voting for her opponent. Please vote for Valentine on Election Day.
ELLIOT SCHEWEL
Lynchburg
Editor’s note: Schewel, a Democrat, represented Lynchburg in the state Senate from 1975 until his retirement in 1996.

Students and taxes
As an LU student, I would like to add to the debate on Liberty University’s voter registration drive.

Many people are complaining that LU is tainting the voting pool in Lynchburg. As an LU student, and a Lynchburg native, I think that the students need to vote in Lynchburg.

We are being sucked of funds by the city. I guess that would be OK if the money were going somewhere that can help the student body that is giving all the money to the city. Liberty does not own Wards Road, nor is it our duty to build a student walkway across it, but it is falling to us. The city will not do anything about the problem. Instead, they find it more important to build a roundabout on Fifth Street.

Why do we need a roundabout on a street that most of the city didn’t know was even being revamped? Why is the city pouring millions of dollars into the Craddock-Terry hotel when it isn’t making any money? The author of a recent letter to the editor pointed out that downtown Lynchburg is much poorer and needs more money than Wards.

I would point out that the money is not going into anything constructive. We at LU are not trying to stack the City Council with our cronies. We want the council to represent the people that are being taxed; 11,900 of those people are at Liberty. We simply want the council to remember that large group.
DANIEL THOMPSON
Lynchburg

Continue the dream
Recent letters negating LU and its position in the community have prompted me to respond.

I came to Liberty University in 1976 as a faculty member who embraced the vision of the late Jerry Falwell Sr. I had the privilege of teaching for 18 years before retiring. There was hostility 30 years ago toward LU. In fact, it was so great that Falwell was considering moving the campus to another state at the invitation of a benefactor.

My daughter attended LCA and LU, where she met her husband. Both graduated and went on and were accepted to graduate schools in their chosen profession. As a father, I am thankful for their successes, which I attribute to their years at Liberty.

There is a perception that if you attend a Christian university, you are not qualified to compete academically. I found this out personally when I debated on secular college campuses. Our graduates have been successful in the fields of medicine, law, business, journalism, athletics and others. The academic training at LU has laid the foundation for their successful careers.

Recent letters have revealed a very strong resentment to LU. The great Christian philosopher of the 20th century, Francis Schaffer, said it best: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

In other words, your core belief will come out in what you write and speak.

I wish to encourage the Rev. Jonathan Falwell and Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. to continue the vision of their father as it certainly is needed in these days and is still bearing fruit.
JAMES L. HALL
Lynchburg

A misrepresentation
I am not one to write letters to the editor, but I am compelled to do so now.

I am very disappointed and disturbed that Scott Garrett is conducting a campaign full of misleading information and untruths.

In a weekend mailing, and again at Monday night’s debate, he made what turns out to be a completely fabricated and false claim that Del. Shannon Valentine has a “secret” plan to raise $1 billion in taxes for transportation. As “proof,” he cited her answers to the questionnaire of Virginia FREE, a well-known and respected pro-business organization (www.virginiafree.com).

I was curious, so I called Virginia FREE Executive Director Clayton Roberts, and I found him to be quite upset by the untruthful use of his questionnaire. I then read the complete questionnaire and Valentine’s responses. There is no way anyone can conclude that her answers show she has a plan to raise taxes, secret or otherwise.

As a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, I have worked closely with Del. Valentine over the last four years. She is open and has an impressive command of the issues, and is clearly motivated to serve for the right reasons.

Republican and Democratic leaders alike agree that Virginia needs an additional $1 billion for transportation (e.g., more than 1,700 structurally deficient bridges; Lynchburg’s urban allocation has dropped from $3.5 million to zero). The discussion now centers around how to fund the need. Valentine has responsibly engaged in that very important discussion, and we should expect nothing less of her as our delegate.

Scott Garrett should be ashamed of himself.
KENNETH S. WHITE
Commonwealth Transportation Board
Lynchburg

For Garrett
Scott Garrett impressed me with his kindness and skills when he was an active surgeon. He has spent his life caring for others, and that lends itself well to caring for us as our delegate to the General Assembly.

I’ll feel safer and better with him watching over our government in Richmond.
ELIZABETH SMOOT
Lynchburg

Fed up with negativity
My mailbox has been filled with brochures stating Del. Shannon Valentine wants to raise taxes! How stupid do out politicians think we are?

I have been a conservative Republican for more than 60 years and have voted that way almost every election. The Scott Garrett sign in my yard is now in my garage! I am astounded that Garrett would approve such trash! I will donate $100 to any group that will start an organization to combat such trash that is put out by both Republicans and Democrats.

Mr. Garrett, you just lost a dedicated Republican vote.
CURTIS W. McCORMICK Sr.
Lynchburg