Vote the career politicians out
I sure hope when everyone goes to the polls this year they will remember every promise made to them by our previously elected politicians. Remember as taxpayers how you had to endure trash everywhere and could not even get rid of your own. Remember no cleanups, no one to voice your complaints to. Remember every promise not kept. Remember every pothole, every ditch, every problem you have had to endure these past few years.
This is surely something new, but let's give it a try. This year, vote for the name you do not know -- yes, that you do not know.
These politicians for years have been telling us that they are giving us a voice to address our problems. Well, what a crock. And frankly, aren't you really getting sick of hearing the same old political joke? We have called them office jumpers, seat dusters, wannabes and, the best one, that they must carry their name plates in their back pockets. Don't vote the name anymore.
Huntington has a new chance to have a new start and to hopefully succeed with talented, responsible and knowable people who can make that difference. Again, vote for the new guy. Vote the name you do not know. It is most definitely way past time for a change.
Teresa Woodall
Huntington
Jackson fights for citizens' interests
So many times elected officials sit back and crow about what they have done while in office when most of us never see what they are crowing about.
They are supposed to be protectors of our tax dollars. They all claim they are doing just that, but again, I don't see it.
We have seen over the past half year people running for office at city council meetings coming to the aid of the Parking Authority director claiming there was some sort of witch hunt. I merely saw it as responsible questioning, documenting and pertinent investigation on behalf of one council member: Frances Jackson.
Ms. Jackson brought to the attention of the public questionable purchases for furniture, athletic equipment, no-bid contracts, no advertising for bids and circumventing prevailing wage laws in contracts at the Parking Authority.
I watched special meetings where this information came out, but again, the same candidates come running to her aid, calling it a witch hunt of this fine lady. Even the administration publicly defended this director until the evidence was just overwhelming.
Maybe these candidates better re-assess why they want to be elected to the city council. It's sure not to protect our tax dollars but to make brownie points with city directors.
Frances Jackson has proven to the citizens she is right for this job.
Tim Millne
Huntington
Saunders will be fair magistrate
I would like to say a few words about Opal Sanders. I have known her for years. She is a very good person and an honest person. I feel if you elect her for magistrate for Cabell County she will do the job in a fair and in a honest way.
So remember, vote for Opal Sanders for Cabell County magistrate and you won't go wrong. Every vote counts. So, please cast your vote for an honest and a good woman. Thank you very much.
She is Number 7, so don't forget to press 7.
Martena Cremeans
Huntington
Simmons will advocate for youth of Huntington
A lot of time during elections, no one lets the young people of this town know that they have a candidate who is a proven voice and advocate for issues that affect them. I was in the Cabell County Young Democrats when Richard "Rick" Simmons was president of the organization, and not a moment went by that he was not working at helping them have a voice in the issues that affected them.
While living in Indiana, Rick was the vice president for his son's high school football team's support group. The teams had low morale and weren't winning many games. Rick implemented several programs that helped build community support, added positive role models and improved player/coach relations, not to mention causing morale to soar. He instigated fundraisers that put more than $20,000 in the bank to buy needed equipment. They won the regional championship.
Richard "Rick" Simmons is running for Huntington City Council in District 9. The voters in that district have the opportunity to have that same proven voice for young people in their district. No, I take that back -- that same proven voice for the entire city of Huntington.
Young people, tell your parents and grandparents to vote for Richard "Rick" Simmons for City Council District 9. You won't be sorry, that I guarantee.
Tracey Cornwell
Huntington
McCallister will be a good magistrate
I am writing to urge everyone to vote for Johnny McCallister for magistrate. Johnny goes above and beyond the call of duty in volunteer services for the community and has been honored by many organizations for his help. The Democratic Party selected him Democrat of the Year in 2006 for that type of hands-on work that is needed for good community projects.
Johnny has the integrity and work ethic that make him a good magistrate. He has the education and experience that we need in our local offices.
Voting for him is a good choice for us in Cabell County.
Braley J. Berry
Huntington
Hensley has judgment needed to be magistrate
What do I expect of a county magistrate? I expect him to be trustworthy and fair and to execute good judgment in implementing the law. That is why I am casting my vote for Ralph Hensley for Cabell County magistrate.
In the many years that I have known Ralph, I have found him to be very trustworthy. I believe he will be a fair magistrate. I also believe he will use excellent judgment when implementing the law.
Please join me and cast your vote for Ralph Hensley.
Michael Stephens
Glenwood
Farrell's experience will make him a great judge
It is not often we get the opportunity to elect a person with such excellent qualifications as Paul Farrell to serve the people of Cabell County as one of our circuit judges.
He is a Huntington native who was educated in our local schools and earned his graduate degree from the West Virginia University College of Law. In addition, take a look at the wide range of his working experience, including the West Virginia attorney general's office and also as counsel in the State Senate. Paul Farrell's vast array of experience also includes a bank trust officer, instructor in the criminal justice program at Marshall University and as a principal attorney in private practice. His experience as an assistant Cabell County prosecuting attorney and federal drug prosecutor for the Southern District of West Virginia will prove invaluable in performing the complex duties required of a circuit judge.
Obviously, his resume is unparalleled and certainly speaks for itself, but his values and integrity have proven to be his biggest assets. Paul Farrell offers fairness and efficiency in the courtroom and will deliver a clear message to drug dealers that a zero tolerance policy is the standard in Cabell County.
We all now have the chance to help reduce our local crime problem. Do not miss out on this opportunity to elect Paul Farrell as Circuit Judge.
Jack A. Patrick
Huntington
Bias' experience makes him qualified for sheriff
The Cabell County Sheriff's Department needs an administrator as well as a law enforcement officer. There is no one running for that position that is as qualified as Scott Bias. I have seen what a great job he has done as a county commissioner. With firsthand knowledge of his hard work for Salt Rock and surrounding communities, there is no doubt he would make a great sheriff, and my vote goes to him.
In my opinion, the best sense would be to make Scott Bias sheriff and one of our law enforcement officers as a chief deputy. I run a machine shop business, and as a supervisor, I know just because you are a good or great machinist does not necessarily make you a good supervisor, the same way as some of our former law enforcement officers might have been a good officer but that does not mean they will be a good sheriff.
We need a good administrator, and Scott Bias will do a great job as our sheriff. I encourage everyone to vote for Mr. Bias.
David M. Thompson
Salt Rock
Hustead is a committed advocate for justice
Jane Hustead has been my friend for many years. I know her to be a committed advocate for justice for all citizens of Cabell County.
She would be impartial in her judgments regardless of wealth, poverty or race of any person appearing before her as judge.
She has rejected any contributions from any source, including lawyers or any special interest groups, and is financing her campaign from her own funds. I think that makes her a special candidate. Vote for Jane Hustead.
Sheila McOwens
Huntington
McComas has qualities to be excellent sheriff
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege to attend a gun safety course that was instructed by Lt. Tom McComas of the Cabell County Sheriff's Department. Lt. McComas was an excellent instructor. He was very thorough and informative. At the gun range, there were several people who had never fired a weapon. Lt. McComas worked with those individuals to make them feel very comfortable with the gun. They at no time ever felt inadequate for their inexperience.
While observing Lt. McComas, I found that he possessed the personality, leadership qualities and experience to be an excellent sheriff. Let's elect a sheriff with law enforcement experience.
Donna Stephens
Glenwood
Send Craig, Morgan back to the Legislature
The voters of your county are fortunate to be able to vote to re-elect Delegates Kevin Craig and Jim Morgan to the West Virginia Legislature in the upcoming general election.
Over the years, I have lobbied the Legislature about payday lending, about predatory mortgage lending and other consumer issues, about improvements in divorce courts and laws, about funding for domestic violence programs, about oil and gas surface owners' rights and so on. I have even worked as a lawyer drafting bills for the Legislature.
I have said it before, and I say it again. I have had the privilege of working with Craig and Morgan on many of these issues since they have been elected to the Legislature from your county. They listen hard, think hard, make their own decisions and then work very, very hard to do what is best for the citizens of their district and West Virginia. What they say and do can influence other legislators, they are so well thought of.
Our state and our state government have problems. We have those problems because there are not enough legislators like Kevin Craig and Jim Morgan in the Legislature from other parts of West Virginia.
I urge your readers to vote in the upcoming election to send Kevin Craig and Jim Morgan back to the Legislature.
David B. McMahon
Charleston
Sheriff description doesn't specify law enforcement
Many candidates for sheriff extol their ability to serve as the "county law enforcement officer" for areas within Cabell County outside the city of Huntington. A computerized search of the state Constitution and statutes for the term "sheriff" discloses that the legal duties imposed upon the sheriff are primarily jailer; county treasurer and tax collector; administrator of trusts and estates when none is otherwise appointed; legal process server; issuer of gun permits; and other similar tasks. Nowhere is the job designated as law enforcement officer of the county.
Candidates who assert that the sheriff's job is primarily law enforcement not only have no constitutional or statutory authority, but impact the sheriff's budget.
To create equality for all county residents:
- The sheriff should abide by the constitution and statutes and let the State Police do their job, or
- The sheriff should provide an equal amount of law enforcement to residents in the city as provided to those residents outside the city.
I write not in support of any candidate for sheriff, but as a reminder that we city dwellers may be tiring of paying twice for police protection through both county taxes and municipal service fees and the like.
Jim St. Clair
Huntington
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