Sunday, May 19, 2013
Comment Archives: stories: Columns: Letters
Re: “Letters”
I realize this is probably preaching to the (Indy) choir, but Mr Haley is right - if you can't vote independent for congress, then leave it blank
Posted by
gregR
on 10/31/2012 at 6:28 PM
Re: “Letters”
Related to the thoughts expressed by Ms. Milligan, Bob Schieffer on last Sunday's Face the Nation program indicated he felt it would be helpful if there were MORE televised debates in national elections - - rather than LESS. His rationale being that the electronic world often gives us the only real face to face insight on the candidates.
That might also hold true for in-person local debates between local candidates - not only in venues as Stargazers - but having arrangements made so they could also be made available on TV live. Do we really know who has done what and who has not in the local arena or - is just voting the party candidate/ticket the accepted norm? Even as we fall further and further behind cities whose candidates are keeping their process fresh and moving forward?
From what I have observed, local incumbents running for re-election - - and who have no real track record - are quite hesitant to stand up in public and debate/defend their failure with those who might come forth with better ideas and policies?
And as a local incumbent, have I done things I would prefer not to have to defend?
Posted by
Donna Knight
on 10/31/2012 at 9:24 AM
Re: “Letters”
There are 'binders full of women" in the Springs.
Many with the actual education, background and work experience to be of great value in a role as 'public servants' ie: elected officials.
They may yet someday run for office. Once the amateur 'politicians' are voted out.
Posted by
Richard D.Wehner
on 10/26/2012 at 8:00 AM
Re: “Letters”
And yes, I do agree with your statement:
"Want some improvements and change, let the ladies start handling things. only then you'll see results."
The key, and one we may begin working on:
Finding some to run for office who are truly QUALIFIED. I spent a good number of years working with some of the most interesting, professional, and competent women in their respective fields; I found them almost intimidating, my daughters included! (OK,so they got that from their mother!) I know, some locally and meet with them often. They are not at the county level, by any means. Hopefully we can convince them to run for office.
Blessings.
Posted by
Richard D.Wehner
on 10/24/2012 at 7:07 PM
Re: “Letters”
And Lisa, I stand by that comment. You are uniquely positioned to be that key player who can see the overall picture.
When you are on your hands and knees looking at the ground, you see about three square feet. You get up on the roof - you see the entire yard and part of the street. Get up on Pikes Peak, you can see to Kansas. Sallie and crew can see three feet. Someone as Isaac can see the front yard. A person as Kazmierski can see all the way to Lake Tahoe.
For those of us who have been to Pikes Peak - - we see the past 20 years, and particularly the past 12 – as among the most contentious.
My complaint is that we have taken a short term approach to so many things we now are close to running out of fuel.
We either find the way to survive through extreme loss of services – or exceptionally well-planned consolidation – or a tax increase.
One key answer for each of us will be how the funding issues turn out in 12 days.
Either PPRTA and the AmyTerryTax will both pass. Or, they could both Fail.
PPRTA could pass and ATT fail. Or, ATT might pass and PPRTA will not.
If we lose revenue, through failure of either of these measures, we all lose – if PPRTA fails – it will set city county relations back – farther than I would care to see!
This is but one example of having those in office without the commitment to long term planning that makes me call for one central planning entity – totally non-political, that can help bridge the gap between the city – the county – and the civic groups.
I am no more impressed with the Mayor than you are. But if you do not like the pilot on your trip to Paris – you have to keep him in the cockpit at least until you can land!
I personally do not want Clark, Lathen, Hisey or Littleton driving my damned airplane!
I can deal with you in the co-pilot seat for a while! As long as we get to some destination. I think we are fighting for the same things – just disagree on who should be driving. Now, I must go find where I placed my 'psychotropic drugs'!
Posted by
Richard D.Wehner
on 10/24/2012 at 6:39 PM
Re: “Letters”
wait a minute Richard, today on Facebook under one of Chacon's posts you just said the following "Richard D. Wehner Lisa - you have leadership skills and I would say ethics and integrity not to be questioned yet swimming in a sea of those who do not. To have a region with the assets of the Pikes Peak region falling behind areas with far less assets is a great cause of concern. We have had almost 50 years of good city leadership and as many of poor leadership at the county - for which we are all now paying. Have you noticed the number of companies who have chosen to leave the region? Have you met with any local bankers or out of area venture capital fund groups and ask why they are not investing capital in El Paso but do in Boulder and Longmont?"
This proud housewife has good relationships with all county commissioners as well as all my council colleagues. The friction I may cause is calling certain Council members out on their inconsistencies or how their voting and principles seems to vary depending whom is doing the asking. Kind of like your above statements. I have advocated and worked towards a regional cooperative relationship unlike some members of Council and certainly the Mayor whom seems to work with no one unless they agree with him. Sallie Clark, Amy Lathen, Peggy Littleton, Dennis Hisey, and Darryl Glenn have never denied answering an email, returning a phone call, or agreeing to a meeting to discuss any issue. The last meeting between the two entities were cancelled by Council disappointingly. The only communication the Mayor has with Council is once monthly at his "Mayor Counsel" meetings when media is present. I believe despite a year and a half of taking shots at CSU up until last week, Steve Bach has refused every meeting with Jerry Forte and even then only Chris Melcher was present and did most of the talking. Regional cooperation is being hampered but not by the County. Want some improvements and change, let the ladies start handling things. only then youll see results.
Posted by
lisaczelatdko
on 10/24/2012 at 5:51 PM
Re: “Letters”
Sorry: the links to the information on "county debt" and 'county discord' do not appear to have attached correctly. However, you can download from our site - and also, if interested, can register your thoughts on how you feel the Presidential Election will turn out and select local races and issues. Particularly the critical race for County Commissioner District 3. Go to Election Poll.
http://www.springsunigroup.org/index.html
Posted by
Donna Knight
on 10/24/2012 at 5:27 AM
Re: “Letters”
I like to check things out.
The statement from Patricia Mullen appears to be quite true. Check out the 'debt' through "Certificates of Participation" (COP Column) on page 9 of the report below and consider this is only through the year 2007. Does not include the facility with attendant cost over-runs for the Intel acquisition:
http://tax.i2i.org/files/2011/02/IP_5_2010…
The statements by former state Representative Michael Merrifield. Check out the date on the article below and ask how long the region has been fighting "The Monster We Created" - it makes me ask: "Can we solve our problems by keeping those in office who created the problems? Does it make sense to re-elect them? Or to allow them to move on to Denver and create problems on a larger scale?
http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/the-…
Posted by
Donna Knight
on 10/24/2012 at 4:52 AM
Re: “Letters”
There is no doubt that Sallie Clark has worked hard as a county commissioner and put in unimaginably long hours. And Mr. Clark has been a tireless worker in support of community projects, and in support of - - - Mrs. Clark.
The endorsement of Mrs. Clark by the newly formed ‘Regional Business Alliance’ is noteworthy. Primarily due to this endorsement being from a group basing their preference on business. An area they have proven rather feckless in creating.
Business we do not have coming to the region. No new businesses in a volume able to provide work for the 32,000 unemployed. A group which has been unable to draft an image of the city more positive than the one it has with the national business community and one that has failed to draw any venture capital to the region in over four years.
What needs to be considered in this election are the results of Mrs.Clark’s tenure as a commissioner and her role in creating distrust and doubt in the competence of local leadership. With a population having a high propensity to turn down any and all tax measures designed to enhance civic improvements – and economic development, 24 out of 26 measures have been turned down. Those with the highest percentage of failure coming during the two terms of Sallie Clark. How much of this has to do with ‘trust’?
We cannot forget that the citizens do have the right to ‘petition government as a means to have redress for grievances’. A serious right granted to the people as a means to place a check on out-of-control politicians. A right Mrs. Clark tried for seven months to deny to the voters of El Paso County! Welling Clark may not view his Constitutional rights being denied by his wife as a threat, but many of us do – and many of us see the threat to our future and the region by the triad of Sallie Clark, Amy Lathen and Lisa Czelatdko remaining in office beyond their current terms. If not, we may see them all in Denver. Or worse, Washington D.C.
This region has long been characterized as a ’highly polarized, fractured and divided community'. The distrust created among many voters by Mrs. Clark, the tackless and offensive behavior of Mrs. Lathen in not considering regional needs in throwing an ill-timed tax measure on the ballot – and the friction created by Mrs. Czelatdko within city council: Do we need to see this friction continue? Jobs and Revenue. Not friction.
Let’s work to see that we have people in office that can create the unity, harmony and effective joint collaboration needed to begin solving regional issues. John Morris will be a good start. John Morris will be an excellent new beginning toward civility and level headed thinking aimed at improving our community. He works well with others.
And. He is grown up.
Posted by
Richard D.Wehner
on 10/24/2012 at 3:37 AM
Re: “Letters”
smartestman, I could not help laughing out loud when I read your sage advice to Doug Roman--telling a birther that the left cannot handle facts and logic!
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/19/2012 at 10:16 AM
Re: “Letters”
Since Gary Hassig is not online and no one will speak for him, allow me to follow up. To say the Pharisees wanted Jesus dead is like saying the Republicans want to see Obama dead. The conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees were heated and political in nature, just like today's presidential election, but let's not read anything into the situation that is not explicitly there in the scriptures.
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/19/2012 at 10:06 AM
Re: “Letters”
I would like to know where Gary Hassig gets the idea that the Pharisees "wanted Jesus dead."
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/17/2012 at 6:03 PM
Re: “Letters”
Everyone knows who they are going to vote for so who cares about who says what? Elections being bought? You gotta be rich to run right?! No matter who is President nothing changes so what is the fuss anyway?! If you want change then start telling your 2 US Senators. The Senate has the power, not the President. The Senators work for you but I think they forgot that so please remind them, often. It is easy to do too, they have web sites. No envelope needed, no stamp, no searching for their address as in days of old. When they respond with a "form-email" contact them again and say "Not good enough"! Come on, do it! I do...
Posted by
Robert Wyman
on 10/13/2012 at 8:13 PM
Re: “Letters”
smartestman, if Willy, the compulsive liar, manages to buy the election, you can be sure that he will disqualify anyone who is not both anti-abortion and homophobic. Furthermore, the successful candidate must be a misogynist.
By the way, are you aware when he relinquished the governorship of Massachusetts, Willy the magician left the good citizens with more debt per capita than any other state in the union?
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/10/2012 at 10:45 PM
Re: “Letters”
According to the latest news reports, Republican operatives have already registered all the "dead people, illegals and comic strip characters," so if they do manage to cast votes we will all know (except for know-nothing smartestman) who to blame.
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/10/2012 at 4:51 PM
Re: “Letters”
It seems to me that Dan Marvin was advocating ABW, "Anybody But Willard." No one expects Obama to nominate anti-abortion homophobes to the Supreme Court.
Posted by
Mr. K--
on 10/10/2012 at 10:34 AM
Re: “Letters”
and Dan, I am "very afraid as well and I know you will join me in voting ABO (anybody but Obama).
Posted by
smartestman
on 10/10/2012 at 6:50 AM
Re: “Letters”
Although I question the "... general liberalization of society..." comment, unless you were speaking of strides made from the Victorian Period, I applaud your letter, Mattie.
It seems to me, the people screaming the loudest about wanting more are the same folks that have never given a thing. Bravo! Margaret "Mattie" Albert, you are the hero of the day.
Posted by
smartestman
on 10/10/2012 at 6:46 AM
Re: “Letters”
I appreciated participating in both the commissioner district 3 candidate survey from Citizens Project and the Stargazers forum sponsored by the Indy and CP. As one of several Republicans who returned the questions posed by CP, I feel it's important to reach out to all constituents and have always held that philosophy throughout my years of public service. Thanks to Kristy Milligan for providing the opportunity to share my views and project priorities to get things done in El Paso County. -Sallie Clark www.ElectClark.com