A4
SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2015
OUR VIEW
GOVERNMENT CONTACT STATE REP. DAVID STEVENS, DISTRICT 14 • MAIL: Arizona House of Representatives, Capitol Complex, Room 116, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix AZ 85007-2890 • TELEPHONE: (602) 926-4321 • FAX: (602) 417-3146 • EMAIL: dstevens@azleg.gov
Years in the making still worth the result
Opinion
Opinion Editor: Eric Petermann, 515-4610, eric.petermann@svherald.com
T
he wheels of government grind deliberately and slowly. Any doubt in the validity of that statement was erased earlier this week at a meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the group primarily responsible for transportation planning in the Greater Sierra Vista area. Members of the MPO board learned that efforts are underway to change the west end of Sierra Vista, both the entrance to the city and North Garden Avenue. Someday in the future, council members may look at plans to narrow the roadway, add a bike lane and make the area more “pedestrian-friendly.” At this juncture a more exact cost for the project is being studied, after which affected property and business owners will be asked for their input. If the stars align, people don’t object, and the money can be found — renovation of North Garden Avenue might be the start of something special on the city’s west end. Those are all big “ifs.” As we witnessed with the Buffalo Soldier Trail plan, it doesn’t take much to knock a development plan off the “to do” list. At the same meeting, MPO board members learned that the BST extension — once planned to connect Highway 92 and Moson Road — is on indefinite hold. That project was moved to the back burner when two members of the board — Mayor Rick Mueller and County Supervisor Richard Searle — objected to the use of eminent domain to claim the private property needed to complete the road extension. The objections followed vocal opposition from several property owners affected by the proposed project. It’s good to hear that the city and the MPO are beginning to focus on what can be done to improve the appearance and attractiveness of the West End, even if the results may be years away. Making it easier and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to access the businesses in that neighborhood will provide a living example of the good outcomes that can result from making a public investment to encourage another form of economic development.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • Letters of general interest should be limited to no more than 400 words. Longer letters may be allowed and will likely be edited for length. Also, turnaround time for a longer letter may be greater. • We will not publish letters that are unsigned or letters that requested the name of the author to be withheld. We also will not publish letters that are libelous or slanderous in any way. • The Herald/Review reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, taste, typographical errors and reserves the right to withhold letters from publication. • To write us, send your letters to: Letter to the Editor, Sierra Vista Herald, 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635. Letters also can be faxed to (520) 459-0120 or e-mailed to eric. petermann@svherald.com.
T
Waiting in the wings
he Republicans have the largest candidate field for president in memory. The Democrats, on the other hand, may end up with only three serious contenders: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Vice President Joe Biden. And a Biden run is only speculation at this point. Leading in the New Hampshire polls for Democrats is Hillary Clinton. Her advisers need to continue to keep foremost in their minds that this is 2016, not 1996, when her husband, Bill Clinton, was last elected. This is going to be an election, not a coronation. So far, Hillary Clinton’s campaign seems to have a hard time getting any positive news. But if anyone on Hillary’s team is even thinking of ignoring the Democratic primary voters and running a general election campaign, then her campaign is heading for a train wreck. By running a general election campaign this early, she would fuel momentum for Sanders, a long-shot insurgent who is doing surprisingly well against her. Hillary has to stiff-arm Sanders’ candidacy while embracing his progressive followers, a move requiring enormous political flexibility. Hillary (and serious contenders in both parties) needs to address President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union challenge: How to ensure that all Americans share in the economic recovery. Some interpreted his address as a challenge to the Clintons, but Obama implicitly praised Bill Clinton’s record by citing 1999 as the best year for the economy in recent memory. Voters have short-term political memories. It’s political professionals, like myself, who recall the daily assaults on Obama’s recovery efforts as “job killers” and the false claims that his stimulus produced “zero jobs.” Clinton needs to stay on course,
and continue to insist that all Americans share in the recovery. The Republican policies that put millions of American families on a personal austerity budget of hot dogs and chili OMMENTARY are waiting in the DONNA BRAZILE wings. Also waiting in the wings are Hillary’s opponents, both Democratic and Republican, who hope to capitalize on an issue, any issue, that will knock her out of contention. Many hope that particular issue is Clinton’s use of a private computer server, and private emails, while secretary of state. It isn’t the actual facts about the emails that are important to the politicians. Most voters do not know the details of her private server emails. Rather, what is being sold is the perception that something wrong was done. Combating a shadow is the hardest job for a candidate. Right now, Hillary is boxing her own shadow, albeit a shadow that is gleefully distorted by her opponents’ spotlights. Neither that shadow, nor the polls (which show some Clinton slippage), are her problem. We are 15 months from Election Day in November 2016. Today polls are entertaining snapshots of a race that is far from being in focus. This far out, they are literally useless in predicting a winner. No, Clinton’s current troubles come from being the frontrunner of 20-plus candidates, each one gunning for her. No other candidate has two House committees acting in tandem with the sole purpose of shooting down her candidacy. Congressional Republicans are using every lever of government that they control to try and see to it that their party controls the White House after this election. The House select committee
C
on Benghazi has morphed from Middle-East terrorism into the “Hillary Email Committee.” Its chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy, is a Republican politician who protests that he’s just seeking truth — yet permits leaks of parts of closeddoor testimony that distorts what was actually said, and every week labels Clinton news statements as “false,” when they are either demonstrably true or accurate within context. Yet, for those who hope to spring traps for Hillary, hope springs eternal. If voters believed Harry Reid’s false 2012 claim that Romney didn’t pay taxes for 10 years, others will believe Gowdy. But here’s the key: For a rumor, or a charge, to be believable, there has to be a kernel of credibility somewhere among all the husk layers. Reid’s charge was believed because Romney flatly refused to reveal his tax returns. Charges that Clinton has not been fully forthcoming about her emails stem from her natural desire for privacy. Resisting press inquiries is an ingrained, longstanding habit for Hillary. For instance, although Clinton published all her public-business emails, 50 percent of her emails were considered private and deleted. That allows opponents to endlessly speculate about what was in them. Clinton’s only recourse is to vigorously confront the hypocrisy of the Benghazi probe, both over the emails and the response to the terrorist attack. That will keep her in fighting form right up into the thick of the race. Maybe getting her dander up is the biggest campaign boost Gowdy can gift Clinton. Right now, let’s see what happens during the debates. Someone is always lurking in the shadows — waiting in the wings. DONNA BRAZILE is a senior Democratic strategist, a political commentator and contributor to CNN and ABC News.
Class o’ 2019, we know ye by these names So last year, ‘girls ruled’ (i.e., Dear Mrs. C: slightly more girls than boys Please hurry and let in the freshmen class). This us know the make-up of year, as if right now, boys rule! Buena’s freshmen class! The current freshmen class That is our favorite “Ask size of 555 students, is made Mrs. C” article every year. up of 280 boys, and 275 girls. Our ‘Waldo’ is an incoming Close! freshman at Buena, and he This is an obviously heavenly can’t believe he will finally class — first names include: become a Buena Colt — SK RS Joseph and Maria, Matthew, class of 2019! See you at the Destiny, Faith, Trinity, games! ELAINE CARLSON Luke, Emmanuel, Christian, Signed: Proud Parents and Gabriel. Also, wellDear PPs: travelled: London, Boston, Sydney, Rightfully so! Your Waldo is in for Austin,Jordan, Cheyenne, Madison, the best four years of his life! With supportive and encouraging parents Savannah, Juneau, Kiev, and Dakota. And historical: Genesis, like you, I’m sure your ‘almost Abraham, Isaiah, Gideon, Daniel. Colt” will choose come clubs and/ Not to mention floral: Rose, and or sports to get involved in. That Jasmine. makes such a difference — when Rhyming names: Chloe/Zoe, students take advantage of the many Tara/Mara, Kane/Zayne, Staci/ opportunities here in the hallowed Kacey, Regina/Angelina. halls. Most popular names? The class of 2019. Time flies!
A M .C
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Girls: Four of these: Hailey/Haylee/ Hailee/Hailie; Abigail/Abigayle/ Abigale; Victoria. Three of these: Jasmine, Destiny, Madison, Rachel For Boys, Seven of these: Nicolas/Nicholas. Five of these: Matthew. Four of these: Jacob, Joseph. Three of these: Christian,
Christopher, Daniel, David, Jonathan, Robert, Jordan. Exciting days ahead! Make sure to tell your Waldo that Buena awaits and welcomes him! — Mrs. C ELAINE CARLSON is a Buena High School counselor. Questions can be sent to her at elaine.carlson@svps.k12.az.us.
MALLARD FILLMORE
Publisher Emeritus: Robert J. Wick Publisher Emeritus: Walter M. Wick Publisher: Francis Wick SIERRA VISTA
Assistant General Manager: Patricia Wick Editor: Eric Petermann Advertising Director: Becky Bjork Send letters to the editor by mail to 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635, or by e-mail to svhnews@svherald.com.
Business Manager: Joan Hancock Circulation Manager: Jeremy Feldman
B I S B E E D A I LY