Recall has ramifications
Monday, March 3, 2008 5:35 AM PST
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E-mail this articleRecall has ramifications
The citizens of the Rainier School District should carefully examine the current recall effort of the school board. Is the recall an effort by a small number of citizens who are focused on a single, personal issue?
The ramifications of a recall are significant. A successful recall vote in May would leave the district to be managed by current administrators and the ESD board until a November general election. No ESD members reside within the school district. A November 2008 election of a new board is temporary until May of 2009. A person elected in November would then have to be a candidate in the regular election cycle in May 2009.
May 2009 has five current board members up for re-election. Citizens would have an opportunity to vote on five of seven board members at that time. The school district would in effect be paying for the cost of three elections in one year in the recall scenario. This money will have to come from the school's general fund. I urge the citizens of Rainier to fully understand the agenda of the recall effort and then decide the course to follow.
Byron Rickert
Rainier
It's because of her husband
Carl Woodard asked why ladies aren't supporting Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Although I can't speak for all the other people, I will tell you why many, including myself, won't support her. It's because we don't want her husband to be the first "ladies man" in the White House again.
If she couldn't get him to respect her, how could we expect her to get the respect of other world leaders and lead our country?
Nancy Murphy
Castle Rock
What happened, ladies?
In his Feb. 25 letter, Carl Woodward asked, "With both of the ones running, a lady and a man, and both thinking they could do a good job of running the country, how come the ladies didn't vote for the lady?"
The not-so-subtle implication here seems to be that even we women know ourselves to be unfit for world leadership positions, which is why more of us haven't voted for one of "our kind." I suspect that, in reality, this trend has more to do with women voting based on their candidates' politics, rather than their gender. What a novel idea.
Caitlin Nolan
Longview
Country needs to unite
I'm sure there are numerous "ladies" in our community who would go along with me in saying Carl Woodward's letter of Feb. 25 makes him sound like a gender-biased male. He starts by saying "ladies should have been given the right to vote sooner." I think most would agree with him on that point, but I think his statement is camouflage for his next faux pas - when he stated he "was wondering just when they would find another of their kind ...."
Just for his information, the other Democrat vying for the presidency is not "Mister O.B." but rather Mister B.O., if he must use initials rather that spell out Barack Obama's name. Obama just happened to win votes, from both men and women in numerous states, not just the south.
The attitude expressed in Carl Woodward's letter is exactly why this country would prosper from either a woman or a black man in the presidency. Our United States is not so united right now. We need to work hard to be a tolerant, caring society that fosters close relationships without bias. Maybe then America will be a country where gender and color are respected by all.
I have high hopes of seeing a woman president. I know Hillary Clinton has many women voting for her, as well as men. Obama is a man of fine character also. No matter which Democrat is nominated at the convention, either would be an improvement over the blundering of the Executive Branch during the past seven years.
Penny Lightfoot
Longview
Happiness defined
"Happiness is a Guy Named Joe" is the title of an old song. We at Parents' Place think it's an apt name for Joe Sloan of Sloan's Floor Coverings and his able workers. Joe donated all new vinyl, laminate and carpet for our whole building.
First, we had to clear everything out of the building. Men in the Promise Keeper's group hauled it all out and put it in a large trailer van supplied by Gary Strock.
Then Joe sent over his best crew of Mark Hernon and Josh Mann to install the hard surface stuff. Next he sent a very capable carpet crew. Joe also made sure that we have new molding around the edges.
Thanks to Don Sturdivant who appeared with his paint brushes to spiff up our interior. At the end of the week it was time to return files and furniture to the offices. Whitney's friends came to the rescue.
Every time we walk in to Parents' Place and are greeted by this clean and bright atmosphere, we say "thank you" to Gina at Stewart Title who began this saga. And we are reminded that indeed, "Happiness if a Guy Named Joe." Thanks to all who helped so much.
Judy Bailey, Director
Parents' Place
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