Letters to the Editor for Tuesday, October 27, 2009

State, local races in spotlight

For Garrett
Here in the 23rd District, we are fortunate to have two excellent, well-qualified candidates vying for the position of our representative in the House of Delegates.

We personally know both candidates well, and realize that both are caring, family-oriented individuals who have our community’s best interest at heart. We’re glad that this election has created so much interest and realize that the choice between candidates is a difficult one. Consequently, we would like to offer voters more information and another perspective regarding Scott Garrett and why he is the better choice.

During his years as a general surgeon, he ran a very successful, fiscally responsible solo practice with only two employees.

Having a solo practice is very difficult as a medical doctor, and very rare. It is rare due to the physical strains on the individual, as well as the difficulties associated with running a small business such as a medical practice with economic success.

He was able to accomplish this through a great deal of hard work, good decisions and frugality. In fact, he had done this so well that when he was faced with the decision to retire early, even with such a young family, he was able to do so with ease. His fiscally sound decisions and smart savings regarding his future enabled this early retirement.

In this next phase of his life, he has admirably decided to give back to the community by representing us and helping us to make sound decisions for our community’s future. We need people like Garrett, especially during this time of rampant spending and pet projects. he will work for us to continue the philosophy of our founding fathers by limiting government and keeping taxes low.

Please join us in voting for Scott Garrett for delegate Nov. 3. He is the better choice.
HEIDI and GAUTHAM GONDI
Lynchburg

For Deeds, et. al.
The team of Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon is particularly well positioned to continue the policies of Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. After the disaster of Gov. Jim Gilmore, they have made Virginia “the best managed state,” “the best state to do business” and “the best state to raise families.”

Deeds is plain-spoken with an abundance of common sense behind him.

He has had years of experience in state government and clearly understands the central issues facing Virginia today. He is a centrist, able to foster compromise between both parties to get results.

Wagner’s experience as state treasurer and secretary of finance will serve us well as we navigate these difficult budgetary times.

Shannon has prosecutorial experience as well as legislative experience, both of that will be a tremendous asset in the office of attorney general.

Together they make a formidable team which will keep Virginia on a sound track for the next four years.
PHYLLIS W. CONRAD
Moneta

For Valentine
I write this letter as a Lynchburg citizen, as a Christian and as a 1997 graduate of Liberty University. I applaud the university for urging students to register to vote and become actively involved in local politics. For a lot of the students, this will be their first experience at being involved in such an activity.

That being said, particularly with the upcoming election closing in, I hope that LU affords its students the ability to have equal access to both candidates and their point of view. LU certainly has many avenues to allow both candidates to be heard, however to the best of my knowledge there has been no open forum on campus to allow these candidates to speak.

I know that there has been a lot of talk about the candidates on the campus and in campus publications, particularly one candidate without allowing her to directly address the students and deliver her point of view. This philosophy goes against our great nation and the principles of democracy it was built on. As an institute of higher learning complete with a law school and replica of the Supreme Court, one would think that teaching students to think critically and allowing them to come to their own conclusions after hearing both sides of an argument would be important.

Therefore as a Liberty alumnus, I must say that I am supporting Shannon Valentine for re-election to the House of Delegates based on what she has done for the city of Lynchburg. I urge all my fellow Liberty alumni and current students to look past the fabrications and fallacies created by the other candidate.

Once you see her for who she really is you will find an intelligent, caring, family-oriented candidate who has refrained from stooping to level of her opposition. You will see a candidate who actually has a platform to run on instead of a survey to keep falling back on. You will see a candidate with experience, which is what this city needs.
ROBBIE PRICE
Lynchburg

The best candidates
My wife and I have both lived and worked in Lynchburg our entire lives, and care very much for our hometown. We both have always voted for the person we feel is the best candidate for our area —regardless of the party affiliation. In addition we feel frustration towards those who only vote for a party representative regardless of his/her qualifications.

We encourage our friends and associates to support the following in this year’s election: Bob McDonnell for governor; Bill Bolling for lieutenant governor; Steve Shannon for attorney general; and Shannon Valentine as our representative to the House of Delegates. We especially appreciate all that Del. Valentine has done for our city and state, and hope that she will be rewarded with another term.

Join us in electing the best leaders for our region and the state of Virginia.
J.P. VAUGHAN
Lynchburg

For Valentine
I have been watching and measuring the response to last year’s historic presidential election. So much of what I’ve seen and heard has been remarkable. However, none of what I’ve experienced has prepared me for for the kind of campaign Scott Garrett has run against Shannon Valentine.

I’ve known Scott Garrett for some time, but during these past few months he has disappointed me. Not only has he run a negative campaign filled with untruths and innuendos, but he’s consistently voted against newer, more attractive housing for lower-income residents of our city, voted against repairing the D Street bridge, voted against occupational program funding for the Jubilee Center, voted against having a bus route to help the Daniels Hill residents get to and from their jobs or to shop and back. Lastly, at the public forum held at Court Street Baptist Church last month, he stated firmly and without pause, that he is against restoring the rights of men and women who, although were previously incarcerated, have now paid their debt to society.

I’m voting for Shannon Valentine not because she is a Democrat, but because she has done a marvelous job as our delegate for the last two years. She is fair, honest, accountable and courageous, and she respects and works for all of the citizens of our district, not just the elite. Above all, in the face of untruths and innuendos launched by Garrett and his campaign, she has remained cool and undaunted, focusing on the issues. The kind of person who I am proud to have represent me.
DANNY McCAIN
President
Lynchburg Voters League