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Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

I am a lifelong Democrat and one of the few former City Council women. I am writing in support of the best candidate to be Winchester's next commissioner of the revenue.
Today, Winchester is facing a very difficult financial time for the our citizens. For this reason, I have decided to vote for the independent candidate, Rick Brown, to our next the commissioner of the revenue.

I know all three candidates for the job of commissioner of the revenue. I know that Rick Brown is the most qualified to get the job done.

There were several factors that played in to my decision to back Rick Brown. That Rick has a good knowledge of finance was a major factor. Also Rick has strong ties to the past two governors of Virginia. He also has a good working relationship with our current U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. Rick worked for Gov. Warner in Richmond on the Virginia State Financial Board. This could be to Rick's advantage in the job of commissioner of the revenue.

Rick has contributed to a lot of local organizations such as the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity and Winchester Day Nursery. Rick is the current treasurer of the United Way. He also served for eight years on the Lord Fairfax Community College Board.

For these reasons, I will be voting for Rick Brown on Nov. 3 to be our next commissioner of the revenue.

MARIE G. KELLER
23 E. Whitlock Ave.
Winchester
Oct. 19, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

I have been a local businessman for the past 33 years. Since 1980 I have endured the Republican mantra that their party is pro-business. The GOP has called for lax government regulation, tax policies that redistributed wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich, accounting for gross national income that ignored the economic cost of the degradation of the environment and ignoring fiscal deficits during times of prosperity when the nation could have produced budge surpluses. For 30 years their paid political propagandists, who had the audacity to call themselves "conservative," dominated the mindset of our public policy culture.

I believe Republican policies are bad for business. I submit as evidence the economic train wreck that occurred in 2008. Creating a housing bubble by ignoring sound banking practices, causing a sea of foreclosures and wiping out nearly everyone's real estate equity, is not good for business. Creating a financial superhighway with no state police in our securities industry, causing a crash of the stock market requiring massive government bailout of banks, is not good for business. Creating the conditions for double-digit unemployment, loss or retirement savings for millions and a period of general deflation is not good for business.

Yet the Chamber of Commerce to this day maintains that it is pro-business and government protection of the consumer is bad for business and the Republicans in Congress are using that argument to obstruct the policies of the Democrats.

Hell is where each is alone and trying to feed only himself. Heaven is where people live in a community and they feed each other. The Republican policies, with their laissez-faire, hands-off, public-be-damned policies, create a jungle of self-interest, leading us each to our own demise. The Democrats, while not perfect, at least attempt to develop policies that encourage citizens to freely use their talents and resources to nourish one another.

As a local businessman, I recommend you vote for the Democratic candidates, Creigh Deeds for governor, Jody Wagner for lieutenant governor and Steve Shannon for attorney general.

WARREN D. GOLIGHTLY
874 Carpers Valley Road
Winchester
Oct. 18, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Over the last few weeks Todd Gilbert has tried to convince voters that his opponent, John Lesinski, is trying to avoid answering questions about his platform. Gilbert needs to check his facts.

I've never seen a more accessible candidate for public office than John Lesinski. He has appeared in numerous parades, two fairs and countless community events. I've also seen him in the local news dozens of times talking about different issues. This is not to mention the fact that he has been going door-to-door throughout the 15th District.

On Oct. 6, Lesinski appeared on WSVA for what was supposed to be a radio debate with his opponent, Todd Gilbert. When Gilbert didn't show up for the debate, Lesinski spent a whole hour answering questions from people who called in.

He addressed a wide variety of issues during this program. The ones I remember from that show are: He believes marriage should be between a man and a woman; he wants to leave all options on the table (including oil and coal) for establishing energy-independence; and he's a staunch defender of the Second Amendment.
I happen to disagree with his perspectives on these issues, but it's insane to suggest that he's avoiding the subjects.

Although I don't agree with Lesinski on some issues, as a small business owner, I believe he's the best candidate to bring jobs back into the Valley. He is very accessible and always willing to hear my thoughts and concerns -- even when we disagree.

I will be happy to cast my vote for John Lesinski, and I urge you to do the same.

Natalie Zuckerman
1695 Judy Lane Extended
Stanley
Oct. 21, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

My reasons for supporting Creigh Deeds for governor, Jody Wagner for lieutenant governor and Steve Shannon for attorney general are summed up by the slogan, "Keep Virginia moving forward." I strongly believe election of any of the McDonnell-Bolling-Cuccinelli ticket would be a major step backward.

Mark Warner as governor inherited from Republican predecessors a state in fiscal disarray and turned Virginia into one of the best managed states in the country. Creigh Deeds helped pass that agenda, which included increased funding for education and public safety. Creigh also wrote legislation saving and creating jobs.

Bob McDonnell opposed those initiatives and now talks about jobs and education, despite his voting history.

Bill Bolling likewise talks up education, while having the same history of voting "no." Neither has coherent plans to fund education going forward. In fact, they propose taking money away from schools and public safety to spend on roads.

Bolling's opponent, Jody Wagner, was Mark Warner's state treasurer and Tim Kaine's secretary of finance. She was one of the keys to Virginia's becoming best managed state, best for business and best for raising children.

Like McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli is a far-right ideologue -- only he doesn't try to hide it. They are both anti-choice even in cases of rape and incest and against stem-cell research. Cuccinelli does not believe in climate change, will sue the federal government if it restricts carbon emissions and calls environmentalists "watermelons": green on the outside, red (communist) on the inside. As attorney general, he won't defend state laws he doesn't agree with.

Democratic candidate Steve Shannon is a former prosecutor committed to keeping families safe. He founded Virginia's Amber Alert program, has prosecuted hundreds of drunk drivers and child molesters and has a record of combating gang violence and environmental lawbreakers.

Deeds, Wagner and Shannon are all proven, centrist, practical public servants who will do what is best for all Virginians. Don't be fooled by election year repackaging. Vote Democratic Nov. 3.

ERIC OLSON
1571 Blue Mountain Road
Front Royal
Oct. 21, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

It seems pretty clear to me:

• If you want your Virginia 15th District delegate to be single-focused on unenforceable gun-control regulations and tweaks to laws around illegal drug manufacturing, vote for Todd Gilbert.

• If you want your Virginia 15th District delegate to be multiple-focused on addressing all of the pressing issues facing the Shenandoah Valley and all of Virginia, vote for John Lesinski.

• If you want a delegate with lawyer talk, "huff-and-puff" self-importance and some local legal experience, vote for Todd Gilbert.

• If you want a delegate with decades of military and business experience who can make an informed decision, vote for John Lesinski.

• If you want a delegate who toes the party line and votes 95 percent of the time with his party without compromise or meaningful discussions with anyone of the opposite party, vote for Todd Gilbert.

• If you want a delegate who will listen to both sides, help work out acceptable and sensible laws and make up his own mind, vote for John Lesinski.

• If you want a delegate who has not had an original idea in four years, vote for Todd Gilbert.

• If you want a delegate who has already proposed his own new ideas for transportation in Virginia (along with how to fund those initiatives), vote for John Lesinski.

It seems very clear to me that John Lesinski is the candidate for the 15th District.

Lee Jette
2765 Saumsville Road
Maurertown
Oct. 26, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

On Oct. 14, we attended the candidates forum at the Toms Brook Fire Hall. While Mark Prince is a very successful and accomplished businessman with his solar air-conditioning unit, he is at a loss for contributing to his community or the economics of this county.

Prince was very quick to tell the crowd that he has several patents, both established and pending, and I commend him on that, but why send his business out to China? He stated that it was too costly for him to build his solar air-conditioning units in this country and building them in China was a cheaper alternative for him. Could he have not in some fashion created jobs in this county with this business?

With the entire country looking at "going green" in our manufacturing of products, why send anything to be manufactured in China as they right now are the biggest polluters of our environment? You had an article last week on the effects on some towns in China from the pollution being carelessly dumped too near towns, water supplies and not disposed of properly. Is Prince OK with this careless waste to our environment?

Dennis Morris has been a supervisor for many years, but he does work for the people in District 5. He is available to listen if you have a question or problem that he can help with. Dennis does not have patents, pending or otherwise. He doesn't have a business in China. Dennis is a farmer by trade, grew up here in Shenandoah County and knows the meaning of a long day's work on a tractor. Dennis is a hard-working man like the rest of us, getting up early and going to bed late and much work in between. Dennis has worked hard at listening to his constitutes and being the best representative that he can be for us.

In closing, we would encourage all in District 5 to come out on Nov. 3 and vote. We hope your vote will be for someone whose interests are here in Shenandoah County and not adding to the Chinese economy.

Ralph J. Sine
Rebecca O. Sine
2341 Brook Creek Road
Toms Brook
Oct. 25, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

There is a song in the "Music Man" in which Robert Preston, in speaking with a fledgling salesman, extols the virtues of knowing the territory. John Lesinski doesn't know the territory, but something tells me that he understands the relationship between commercial real estate development and state government.

Perhaps that is just the paranoia that the present administration in D.C. has visited on me. Apparently Lesinski understands "freebies" when he supports taking federal dollars for the state use. Federal money always comes with strings attached or favors to be repaid. With the current federal administration, these strings are more likely to take the form of tentacles that one will never be able to shake loose.

If the state is worried about funding unemployment insurance, health care and unfunded mandates, maybe it can borrow the money directly from the personal bank accounts of those who created this mess. Did you know that in 10 years the national debt will equal our GDP. That is if we don't lose any more jobs or businesses.

I think I will vote for the man who puts the bad guys in jail.

I do not know Alice Richmond, but I do know that she has a problem with the truth. If your alter-ego is leading a life with which you feel comfortable, why would you deny it? If stress is a precipitating factor in whether you 'fess up or not, doesn't that bring into question your ability to perform honestly under pressure?

I also know that we haven't had a lot of success finding leaders from Ivy League schools and that goes for both sides of the aisle. Maybe it is the "elitism" that they carry with them when they leave the ivy-covered walls. Frankly, I would rather support a graduate of Winona State University with both feet on the ground who also works for a living.

JOHN W. LACAVA
23 Murchison Lane
Luray
Oct. 22, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Recent disclosures in area newspapers (see The Free Press, Sept. 24, and Daily editorial, Oct. 10) have detailed an inappropriate relationship between Shenandoah County Supervisor Dennis Morris and a local developer and their attempts to dispose of one of the developer's properties. All of the sales scenarios would have resulted in significant expenditures of taxpayer dollars.

This was not the first of Morris' ethical lapses, but it certainly is one of the most completely documented. The revelation of the facts underlying the various schemes to sell this property are the result of the tireless efforts of Mark Prince, Morris' opponent in the upcoming election.

Virginia laws concerning conflict of interest are extremely broad. Short of physical theft by the elected official or a clear-cut case of bribery, the law depends on an alert and informed electorate to remove via the election process elected officials who engage in chicanery of this sort. Re-election of the misbehaving official means concurrence with his actions. Investigation of conflict of interest allegations is typically delegated to a commonwealth's attorney who at best is a political animal.

During Morris' long tenure on the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors, he has participated and in many cases led in the dramatic expansion of the Shenandoah County government to include a vastly expanded workforce and many capital improvement projects that will have to be paid for many years into the future.

We are mortgaging our future. Those of you who have received your real estate tax reassessments should readily be able to see how the Board of Supervisors intends to pay all of the increased costs.

I have no idea how many instances of cronyism to the detriment of taxpayers have occurred that were not uncovered by an alert watchdog such as Mark Prince.
If, knowing the above facts, you are satisfied with Morris' stewardship of the Shenandoah County taxpayers' dollars, you should be willing to store your cattle feed in his barn.

Vote for Mark Prince for Shenandoah County supervisor on Nov. 3. A change is definitely needed.

JOHN FRAVEL REILEY
608 Fox Den Road
Strasburg
Oct. 22, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

I am writing to endorse a life-long resident of Winchester to be our next commissioner of the revenue. I feel that Rick Brown is the right man for the job at a time when the city of Winchester needs strong leadership in the commissioner's office.

The city of Winchester will face many financial hardships in the future and that is why it is so important that we have strong financial leadership to work to hold the line on tax increases.

Rick Brown has been active in the business community for many years and has given his time and financial support to many local charities. He has served for eight years on the college advisory board of Lord Fairfax Community College. He served under both Gov. Jim Gilmore and Gov. Mark Warner on the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority as one of the 10 board members.

Due to Rick Brown's experience in business and finance at the regional and state levels, I feel strongly that this has helped to make him truly qualified for the job of the city's next commissioner of the revenue.

As a school teacher with more than 30 years' experience, the last 22 in the Frederick County school system, I have had the opportunity to see many young people, including Rick Brown, develop into solid, contributing members of society.

I am asking every voter to take a stand and vote for a positive change on Nov. 3, by voting for Rick Brown for the commissioner of the revenue.

KRISTIN MARTIN
107 Frontier Fort Lane
Strasburg
Oct. 23, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Serving as a Shenandoah County supervisor involves far more than a single issue.

Sharon Baroncelli capably represents District 4, not only at the twice-monthly meetings of the board but also as a member of the Finance Committee and the Property and Public Works Committee and as the chairwoman of the Economic Development Committee. In addition, she represents the board on the County Planning Commission, the County Library Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Shenandoah Valley Regional Partnership.

Beyond those official duties, she is consistently available to her constituents to discuss an issue, to help negotiate the county political process or to pitch in and volunteer.

As a resident of Fort Valley, I am aware of Sharon's faithful participation in the famous ham and oyster suppers served by the auxiliary of the Fort Valley Fire Department. As a member of Narrow Passage Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the chapter and I were beneficiaries of her wise advice during the enhancement of court square, which might have resulted in the removal of our cherished bust of Peter Muhlenberg, but didn't.

Sharon examines the facts and then she makes a decision. On any particular issue, it might be a decision you would agree with, or it might not. What would you expect? Like everyone else, county supervisors are subject to the law that you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Sharon Baroncelli has effectively represented District 4 for the past four years, and the county will be well served if she continues in that position for the next four.

That is why I am casting my vote on Nov. 3 for Sharon Baroncelli for District 4 supervisor.

Ann A. Hunter
9293 Fort Valley Road
Fort Valley
Oct. 27, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

The candidacy of Karen Whetzel for the District 1 seat on the Shenandoah County School Board offers the opportunity for District 1 to have a highly qualified representative.

I have known Ms. Whetzel for 15 years and am very impressed with her dedication and commitment to the students. She will bring to the board 38 years experience as an educator in the Shenandoah County schools. During these years she was a teacher, principal and administrator.

Ms. Whetzel has the front-line experience and knowledge of how the system functions at all levels. She is articulate and will be a terrific advocate for the students, ensuring that appropriate attention is given to the education that takes place inside the buildings, not just the construction of the buildings and athletic facilities.

We need to make the most of this opportunity and elect an experienced, dedicated and articulate educator to the School Board for District 1.

Harold Fossett
P.O. Box 1156
New Market
Oct. 27, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

As an independent voter with a conservative preference, I found myself voting mostly Republican.

The governor's race has the Democrat as a more conservative candidate. Bob McDonnell has opposed or voted anti-gun the majority of the time. However, he has recently flip-flopped somewhat lately. Moreover, he is being praised by animal rights activists who want hunting phased out, and he has concurred with their thinking.

McDonnell is not well versed on rural Virginians' culture and ways of life -- maybe he doesn't care.

His liberal views are not what are needed in Virginia at this time.

A.L. JENKINS
3617 Guard Hill Road
Front Royal
Oct. 26, 2009

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

It seems in the last four to five weeks The Northern Virginia Daily has published a number of letters attacking the character of John Lesinski, candidate for House of Delegates.

One letter suggested that John Lesinski did not have the "values" of Valley people.
Since when, when you serve your country for 26 years and retire from the United States Marines as a colonel, is that not consistent with Valley values? Since when, when you are born into modest circumstances (his parents were both educators -- his father a high school teacher) and you work hard as John has to afford a better way of life, to own a nice home and to send his two kids to college, inconsistent with "Valley values?"

Since when, when John suggests that 1.5 million square feet of existing unused commercial space be used to create jobs for the unemployed of the Valley, is that inconsistent with "Valley values?"

Another letter praised John Lesinski's opponent for having the "courage" to vote no on both federal stimulus packages earmarked for Virginia.

How much courage did it take for his opponent to say "no" to the stimulus? Not much. He holds two government jobs, both paid by the taxpayers of Virginia. He, Mr. Gilbert, is feeling no pain.

Another letter attacked Lesinski for wanting Virginia to accept the federal stimulus money.

The point is that the stimulus money is Virginia taxpayers' money and by turning down the second stimulus Virginia taxpayers' money went to other states. How stupid!

I urge everyone to vote for John Lesinski. Unlike his opponent, he has empathy for hard-working people who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs. Col. John Lesinski will work hard and across the aisle to represent the citizens of the 15th District, and he will bring energy and intelligence to the job of delegate.

Henry Gorfein
8 Rush River Lane
Washington, Va.
Oct. 27, 2009
Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

I am writing in support of Dennis Morris in his run to continue as supervisor representing the 5th District, Shenandoah County.

I met Morris many years ago on my way to the polling booth in Mt. Olive on Election Day. He introduced himself to me and said, "I am running unopposed for supervisor, but I want you to know that I am dedicated to my service in that role and I would welcome comment or contact from you any time that there are issues you feel are important." He gave me his card and I thanked him and then looked at my watch. The polls had just opened.

Since that time I have come to know that Morris is exactly that: accessible and dedicated. He really appears to love his role as supervisor, and he obviously loves getting to know the people he represents. He is a kind man who makes friends wherever he goes, and I've never seen him show less than a cheerful, optimistic disposition.

I am one of those who cannot imagine why anyone would actually want to serve in politics. He is exactly the type of individual I want representing me. I appreciate his service and thank him for accepting the challenge and opportunity to re-up for another term on our district's behalf.

Marc Jaccard
1206 Jadwyn Road
Maurertown
Oct. 27, 2009