10/29/2006

Letters to the Editor

At Issue: Elections

Expensive land grab

They say the upcoming "Long Lake Land Grab" is going to cost the average homeowner only an additional $17, or $34 dollars a year, for 20 years. Well 20 years at $34 is $680. To me, that's a pretty expensive walk in the park!

I don't like this idea any better then I did their library plan. Stop taking our money for your pet projects and do something with the property we already own, like let people know we own it and inform us how we can utilize it with our families.

Patrick McCarren
Traverse City

Vote them all out

The Bush administration's lies, incompetence, disastrous deficits, prisoner torture, corporate pandering, invasion of privacy and constitutional mangling have all been supported by a complicit Republican Congress with its own litany of scandal, graft and corruption.

In Michigan, Gov. Granholm has had to struggle with a similar inheritance from Republican extremists — who are more interested in promoting special interests than in serving the common good.

Now it's our turn to determine America's course. On Nov. 7 I invite you to join me in sending an unmistakable message for change and accountability, by voting against every Republican on the ballot.

Ralph Sorensen
Traverse City

The right qualifications

John Nelson serves our country proudly. As a young Naval officer, John flew resupply missions to Marine bases in Vietnam, he taught in public schools for 28 years, served as an elected official for 17 years in Freeport, Maine.

John continues to serve proudly as the Grand Traverse baykeeper, sits on the board of directors for The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council and serves on the Garfield Township Planning Commission.

For this former Marine and retired police officer, John Nelson epitomizes the ideal candidate to represent the citizens of Grand Traverse County.

Daniel Solano
Traverse City

Don't throw away votes

Don't throw your vote away by "giving" it to Mr. DeVos. He could not even conduct himself appreciably during the debates. All that DeVos could do was to whine and complain about the tables being turned back onto him with the political ads about his "record."

Gov. Granholm is making a positive and powerful difference for us. Gov. Granhom is very intelligent and loves Michigan. She is putting the "we" back into Michigan, Michi-we-gans.

Vote Democratic to enhance, not give away, your future.

Jackolyn M. Brundige
Hastings
The writer is a former
resident of Traverse City.

Protect scenic vistas

I am jealous that I am not a Leelanau County resident and cannot vote to tax myself to protect farmland and, subsequently, unsullied vistas and wildlife habitat from being gutted by developers.

Hilltops, woodlots and open fields are being pimped out for housing developments and all the while farmers are having to pay taxes on their agricultural land at rates commensurate with its developmental potential.

It's time to give the farmers that want to conserve their land a break and keep the area from looking totally like a suburb of Detroit.

Nate Winkler
Interlochen

Don't cut 4-H programs

One of the programs potentially affected by our upcoming election is 4-H. Having been a member of 4-H for five years, I see the great potential this program gives to young people.

4-H offers a place to build relationships, learn to work with others and supplies kids with a positive after-school activity. Without this vast program at hand I would not have developed the valuable skills I have today.

My hope and prayer is that others will see the significance in this unique program that has been around for over 100 years.

Ashley Rubritius
Lake Leelanau

Enough is enough

As a person who spent countless hours in the dead of winter collecting signatures to get the dove issue on the ballot, I want to commend the Record-Eagle for the insightful and passionate editorial rejecting the idea of hunting doves. My wife and I appreciate it.

And so do a lot of mourning doves which are in jeopardy of dying and suffering for the amusement of hunters, like the dozens of other species already classified as fair game. Enough is enough. We hope everyone reads your editorial, and will takes its wise advice to heart.

Lance and Donna Aldrich
Lake Leelanau

Let's quit bashing

I am a Granholm supporter. But what is it with Republicans bashing Granholm and Democrats bashing DeVos? We both have opinions on who is better, but can we both just write letters like Democrats telling us the good things that Granholm has done and the Republicans telling us the good things DeVos has done.

Bashing the other party is not the way to go.

On Nov. 7 I am going to vote for Granholm. I could write a letter bashing DeVos but that is not the way I like to be.

See you at the polls.

Anne Kosloskey
Traverse City

Recall is overdue

As a longtime Blair Township resident, an eight-year member of the planning board and a former township board trustee of six years, I firmly support the recall of treasurer Kathy Nowak.

Township board minutes throughout treasurer Nowak's tenure continuously reflect her inadequacy to perform her duties competently and completely. Blair Township Treasurer Kathy Nowak's termination is long overdue.

Vote "yes" to recall.

Roger Zeits
Grawn

How they voted

When going to the polls in a few short days, remember your senators, Levin and Stabenow, who voted on Sept. 29 to allow your minor daughter to be taken across state lines without your knowledge for the purposes of obtaining an abortion.

Apparently parental rights don't count in the case of killing our unborn babies, but you can still be prosecuted under truancy laws if they skip school.

Pete VanBerlo
Williamsburg

Invest in the future

On Nov. 7, Leelanau voters will vote on two millages that illustrate two very different approaches to our county's future.

The operational millage was made necessary by the decision to build an oversized jail and to move the county seat to M-204. This overbuilding promoted by the growth-at-any-cost lobby in Leelanau County is costing us dearly today.

The other for Farmland Preservation represents a prudent and conservative approach to preserving what is best about Leelanau. Preventing the higher taxes that come with sprawl makes good sense for taxpayers.

Investing in the future vs. "tax and spend." It pays to preserve.

Pei-shan Van Zoeren
Cedar

Vote to preserve the land

One of the primary reasons I returned to Leelanau County after my education in cities was for the lifestyle that is a little closer to the land. As a taxpayer I don't mind paying the modest amount proposed by the Farmland Preservation initiative to help maintain the rural character of this place.

The more we sprawl and the more our fields are consumed by hasty development, the harder it will be to reclaim that which makes this place home — the land.

Vote "yes" to save a little of the real Leelanau for future generations.

Holly Wren Spaulding
Cedar

More than target practice

I appreciate the Record-Eagle for encouraging a "no" vote on Proposal 3 ("No reason for a season on mourning dove," Oct. 13). There is absolutely no good reason to shoot doves.

Doves are not overpopulated and cause no damage to crops or property. In fact, they are beneficial for crops because they eat the seeds of weeds, which is why Michigan's oldest agricultural organization is endorsing a no vote.

Shooters don't even eat the birds they kill. Most birds are left to die from their wounds. The bird of peace is more than target practice.

Please vote no on Proposal 3.

Michele Wolf
Traverse City

The common good

Do those urging a "no" vote on farmland preservation also want to preserve farmland, only without tax money? If so, what is their plan B? Do they think local private revenue will fill the void? It hasn't so far!

May I remind all voters that the farmland preservation proposal will cost households approximately $28 per year, on average. The cost to all of us if the proposal is defeated — incalculable. The cost of preserving the character and beauty of this peninsula for generations to come — priceless! Remember the common good when voting Nov. 7.

Mildred Clemeson
Glen Arbor

A better man

The Record-Eagle has made a terrible mistake by endorsing Palsrok for state representative. He is largely responsible for the continued flow of out-of-state trash into Michigan. He's a former lobbyist who continues the influence of special interests in Lansing. He has no understanding of the environmental problems faced in this district.

Dan Scripps is the better man by far.

George Ball
Leland

Proposal is limiting

Limiting the educational opportunities of many of our citizens is surely not the way to attract businesses looking for a diverse and educated work force.

The passage of Proposal 2 could eliminate the following programs: policies that enable universities to attract a diverse student population; summer and after-school classes targeted to boys, girls or children in a particular ethnic group; scholarships that take into consideration gender, race or ethnicity; and outreach programs to attract a variety of students to math, science and technology programs.

Vote "no" on Proposal 2 and save Michigan from yet another economic roadblock.

Jill Webb
Maple City

Off the mark

The Record-Eagle's endorsement of Mr. Palsrok for the 101st House District seems off the mark.

He has not been endorsed by any environmental group. Dan Scripps has been endorsed by several.

Mr. Palsrok was lambasted down in Manistee for getting in bed with the developer of the heavily rejected power plant. This was opposed by Dan Scripps.

All Mr. Palsrok can point to is an award as chair of the House Committee for Environmental Affairs. This is the only award he can claim, to my knowledge.

Palsrok is a zero to every environmental group I know of.

Robert E. Marshall
Lake Leelanau

Integrity, responsibility

A majority of Americans no longer support President Bush's incompetent, untruthful, scandal-ridden administration. It's time to hold Republican Congressman David Camp, who supports Bush right down the line, accountable.

Mike "Huck" Huckleberry, a businessman from Greenville who saw his community devastated when Electrolux moved to Mexico, opposes Mr. Camp. "Huck" supports ending the Iraq war, universal health care, fair trade, clean elections, protecting the environment. He will bring integrity, responsibility and a willingness to work with both parties to effect the change of direction we desperately need.

We need Democrat Mike Huckleberry in Congress.

Mary M. Easthope
Lake Leelanau

Support farm community

As an Old Mission resident, I urge Leelanau voters to vote "yes," as we did, to fund farmland preservation.

After seeing it work, voters in Peninsula Township have made their feelings clear by renewing their Farmland Preservation millage in 2002, and with a higher margin than the first time around in 1994.

It's clear that the purchase of development rights program in Peninsula Township has helped to maintain a vibrant and long-term business environment for agriculture in the township. The result is permanent preservation of much of the farmland eligible for preservation.

Support the farm community.

Bob Dean
Peninsula Township
The writer is a former board member
of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.

Questionable ethics

As Blair Township trustee, I urge voters to vote no on the recall of Pat Pahl, supervisor. The statements in the recall petition are false and verifiable; look at www.patpahl.us. Pat has done an excellent job.

I urge a yes vote to recall Kathy Nowak as treasurer. There is a long list of irresponsible and questionable ethics. A small sample of that list:

Costing township interest money on bad investments; illegal bank account; treasurer reports four to six weeks late that don't balance; failure to follow board directives.

We can't afford to keep Kathy; vote yes to recall!

Larry B. Fleis
Grawn

Experience counts

John Daugherty is the person for Benzie's expanded probate judge position.

Daugherty has experience in 99 percent of what the job will be, not just 5 percent. We need someone that will meet the demands and carry out the responsibilities of probate judge. With the additional work load, we need a person that's able to make educated decisions and act on those decisions in a timely manner.

Daugherty will be prepared for hearings and trials, punctual, organized and respectful of the time of others. Daugherty will control the courtroom, be decisive and won't be intimidated by parties or their attorney.

Linda Wilcox
Interlochen

A clear choice

The expanded Benzie probate judge position is a perfect fit for John Daugherty. With 17 years in general practice, he has experience in nearly every type of case that will come before the probate judge. It's what he does now. He has handled estates, guardianship/conservatorships, and mental commitments in the Probate Court plus criminal, civil, small claims and real estate matters in District Court.

He's also handled divorce, custody, juvenile delinquency, abuse/neglect, adoption and personal protection orders in the Family Court.

His exemplary education and extensive exoperience make his the clear choice for probate judge. Vote Daugherty Nov. 7.

Jane Tonn
Beulah