4A
| October 19, 2016
Viewpoint
ou r op i n i on
ThE mineR
l e tt e r s po l i c y We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Letters should be typed and submitted to The Miner office no later than 5 p.m. Friday for publication the following Wednesday. No letter will be published unless it is signed by at least one individual, even if the letter represents the view of a group. The letter must include a telephone number and address for authentication. The Miner reserves the right to edit letters. Political letters will not be published the last issue before an election. Letters will be printed as space allows.
So many letters
T
his is a contentious political season for sure. We received a possible record breaking number of letters to the editor this week, so we’re sacrificing our opinion section to hear from our readers. A majority of the letters this week are about the various candidates running for office in both Bonner and Pend Oreille counties. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Remember to vote.
w e b comm e nts We welcome comment on select stories on our web site. You may comment anonymously. We will review comments before posting and we reserve the right to omit or edit comments. If you want to comment only to our writers and editors, let us know that you do not want your comment published.
-MCN
you r op i n i on Vote for Kate McAlister
No proof of harassment
To the editor, I have heard about Kate McAlister for years – about her great work with the Chamber of Commerce, her passion for great education, serving on the board of the Forest Bird Charter School, and her work with Angels Over Sandpoint. Every person I talked with had great words for Kate’s involvement in our community. When I finally had the chance to meet her, I found her to be everything I had heard about her, and more. She is the mother of a son serving in our Armed Forces – a man who fights for our country, with a mother who supports him. Kate is a strong supporter of our military, our vets, our seniors and our county and state. She will represent our district for our children, and is a strong supporter of our Constitution. A vote for Kate McAlister, as District I, Seat A Idaho State Representative in the upcoming election, is a vote for all of us who live in this beautiful county and state. -Jeanine Pipella Sagle
To the editor, Write in candidate Terry Ford violates the basic principle of law in his letter. (‘Failed leadership in the Sheriff’s Office,’ 1019 Miner). First he admits the accusation against Rep. Scott is shaky with his statement the “alleged harassment” since there is absolutely not a shred of proof. Ford then takes off on a tirade against Sheriff Wheeler and his deputies and uses the approach that in spite of the fact the deputy was “alleged” to have said, with no proof, “Democrats were not a protected class….” It happened and thusly the Sheriff’s Department lacked leadership and engaged in “unlawful behavior.” It is you Mr. Ford that lacks the integrity and leadership to be the Sheriff. Vote Darrell Wheeler for Sheriff. -John Weyant Priest River
Newport Ambulance served community To the editor, In regards to the closing of Newport Ambulance I would hope that the citizens of this county would remember a few things. Steve and Michelle Groom as owners of Newport Ambulance are our neighbors and members of this community. They are our friends. Most of us have been transported by Newport Ambulance or have a family member who was transported by this service. I suspect there are thousands of transports out there made by Newport Ambulance to individuals with no insurance and no means of paying for the life saving service provided to them by Newport Ambulance. I doubt that any of this debt has been paid. I do not know what the future holds for Newport Ambulance but I do know the good that Newport Ambulance has provided to the citizens of Pend Oreille County. I have been there to see how professionally and well the people of this county were served by Newport Ambulance and its management and staff. -Janet Reed Newport
McMorris Rodgers supports Trump over family To the editor, He mocked a disabled reporter, yet her son, Cole, has a disability. He demeans and sexually assaults women; Cathy has daughters Gracie and Brynn Catherine. Most of us draw the line on someone’s speech and actions when it harms our family, but not Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She supports Donald Trump’s words and actions, even above her family. Last May she stated, “In the months ahead he will have to earn the presidency by demonstrating that he has the temperament for the job. I would like to ask him some questions about some of the statements he’s made.” It’s five months later and CMR has not asked him questions. She supports his statements: “When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia;” “I would bring back waterboarding and I’d bring a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding;” “I go up and grab and I can do this.” If she will not represent and stand up for herself or her children, she has no intention of standing up for the people of the 5th District. Other Republicans are disavowing Trump, but not Cathy. Vote her out of office this November. -Pat Bates Clarkston, Wash.
Vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers, Chilocott To the editor, Nov. 8 is a very important day for the future of our country and our Idaho legislative districts 1 and 7. If you believe in and support public education, vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers and Chilocott. If you believe in and support public infrastructure, vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers and Chilocott. If you believe in and support affordable health care for all, vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers and Chilocott. If you believe in and support creating a vibrant economic climate, vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers and Chilocott. And finally, if you believe in and support the right of all to vote without fear or intimidation, vote McAlister, Howlett, Meyers and Chilocott. -Carrie Logan Sandpoint
Eugene best candidate for evaluating science To the editor, Since we moved back to Pend Oreille County in the 1980s, we have had a number of remarkable county commissioners. Some were Democrat and some Republicans. But during all that time I don’t think we’ve ever had a candidate more qualified for the job than Bob Eugene. Bob has a BS degree in electrical engineering and a masters degree in engineering management, but more importantly, a lifetime of work experience in public safety and service. In the next couple of years, our commissioners will be looking at whether we should be taking over our federal lands, and whether we should welcome a silicone smelter here. I can think of no one in our county more
qualified to evaluate these scientifically complex issues and no one more likely to shine the light of transparency on these questions. Given that our current crop of commissioners has shown an embarrassing lack of transparency, I feel that Bob is our best choice for Commissioner, Position 1. -William L. Betz Newport
Supports Skoog because she’s prepared To the editor, I would like express my support for Commissioner Karen Skoog. I have had the privilege of working with Commissioner Skoog in many different meetings. Karen has always attended the meetings with her research done and represented the citizens of Pend Oreille County with strong and knowledgeable information. Commissioner Skoog has been extremely devoted to the job of commissioner and can be counted on when it is crunch time. Pend Oreille County is well represented by Commissioner Karen Skoog. -Mike Blankenship Kettle Falls
Scott fighting against big government To the editor, Heather Scott is the perfect choice for north Idaho – hands down, she is the one candidate running for District 1-A Representative, who is not allowing big government to push her (or north Idaho) around. She is Endorsed by: Idaho Farm Bureau; NRA; Idaho Second Amendment Alliance; Idaho Republican Liberty Caucus, Idaho Chooses Life, National Federation of Independent Business NFIB/Idaho SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise). Please, pay attention to your candidates and what they stand (or do not stand) for. Heather
r e ad e r ’ s po l l Visit The Miner Online to answer our readers’ poll question through Monday afternoon. Find it on the right-hand side of the page at www.PendOreilleRiverValley.com. The results will be printed next week on this page. You need not be a subscriber to participate. If you have any ideas for future readers’ poll questions, submit them at minernews@povn. com.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been telling people that the presidential election is rigged against him. Do you think the presidential election votes will be honestly counted? Yes No
Scott is fighting for your rights and freedoms-and it is a battle. Call her or go meet her in person, I dare you. Know the truth – vote right. -Rebecca J. Huseby/ Spirit Wings Music Bonners Ferry
Wyman best for Secretary of State To the editor, In the midst of the angry world of politics, which seems uglier by the day, we should all be grateful that Washington’s elections are trustworthy, accurate, and run by Secretary of State Kim Wyman. She’s a leader who has kept Washington’s edge in voter registration, turnout, and ballot security. Washington is consistently ranked at or near the top of the nation in voter turnout, number of voters registered, and election innovations. On top of that, Washington has made strides to keep our voting secure, ensuring that while it is easy for eligible voters to vote, we maintain the integrity of elections. Secretary Wyman led us to these accomplishments. Unfortunately, Secretary Wyman’s opponent has not shown such concern for our elections. Her partisan and misleading attacks betray her lack of understanding of the office and her inexperience. Her call to unlawfully cancel our May Presidential Primary after voting had already begun would have suppressed over 1.4 million votes. We cannot afford to hand this office off to a hyper-partisan and grossly unqualified politician. It is clear that Secretary Wyman is the best person for this job. The vast majority of current county election directors and auditors endorse her, including elections leaders like Ferry County Auditor Diana Galvan, Lincoln County Auditor Shelly Johnston, and Pend
Oreille County Auditor Marianne Nichols. Republican, Democratic, and non-partisan officials endorse Kim Wyman because she’s the only candidate in the race with the qualifications and commitment to run our elections in a nonpartisan and trustworthy manner. All election administrators must be committed to the ideal of impartial and non-partisan administration of elections. We urge all voters to re-elect Secretary of State Kim Wyman, and keep Washington a national leader in voting. -Sam Reed, Ralph Munro, Bruce Chapman Former Washington Secretaries of State Olympia
Jamestown was an experiment To the editor, On Christmas day in 1607, more than two thirds of the first colonists in Jamestown were dead. A hundred starving people desperately ate their milk cows, plow horses and pet dogs. For seven years the plan for this first English colony was repeated. Leadership would divide the men into three groups. One to start the farm, two to build the fort, and three to head off into the woods and find gold. But, everyone slipped away to go hunt for gold. The farm and fort were neglected. This experiment of Communalism was a pure disaster – socialism in action. Then, in 1614, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Jamestown and found the colonists to be unmotivated and lazy. He initiated a program that gave three acres of land to each household. They would then contribute two barrels of corn at harvest time. The colonists hurried about clearing their land, See letters, 5A
r e ad e r ’ s po l l r e su lts Do you pay attention to local candidates’ races? I pay attention to local, state and federal politics
Yes
40%
46% 14%
Total Votes: 29
No