Pending Elections inspires locals to write

Dear Editor;

The war on women rages on in this year’s election for Virginia’s governor. I got a call yesterday, October 15, from Michelle, paid for by the Democratic Party of Virginia, communicating her “concern” that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has left his pro-life principles “just to get elected”. She alerted me to the “fact” that Ken supports tax payer funds for abortion in cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother. They need pro-lifers to help elect fundraiser Terry because Ken can’t be trusted. Is Terry??? is he pro-life? NOT! I asked my pro-life friends and they got the call too! REALLY!

We see here that if the truth doesn’t scare the voters into supporting you then lies will do just fine. Terry and the Democratic Party of Virginia must be frightened because they are asking me, a pro-lifer, not vote for the Republican candidate who I know is pro-life. They must think I don’t have a computer and therefore left to the mercy of learning the “facts” from them. Or, they think I’m too busy watching Duck Dynasty to care about Virginia politics. RUDE!!!

FACT: Ken’s comments were made last week regarding Medicaid funding for abortions, in which he acknowledged he would abide by the current federal law that requires such funding for cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. Right now this is the law, and is only relevant to the annual question of Medicaid funding.

Being pro-life is not a bad thing for women. Just ask Auburn’s 100th Homecoming Queen Molly Anne Dutton. She was conceived through the act of rape but because of the courage of her birth mother and her adoptive parents she stands today, 22 years later, as a beacon of hope for women scared and sometimes alone. Molly and people like her want to embrace a culture of life and that is NOT what the Democratic Party of Virginia stands for. As a woman I support Ken Cuccinelli and leaders like him who fight to protect the natural law that all human life is precious. I appreciate the work he and leaders like him have done to bring BACK common sense regulations for the Abortion Industry to follow (like clean exam tables). I believe Michelle and her party are despicable for twisting Ken’s words for their desperate desire to impact this election. Virginia Democrats need to be ashamed of their leadership for using these phone calls to try to win this election by using their enemies.

Thank you,

Kathy Tran

Rice, Virginia

Dear Editor,

The 2013-2014 Virginia game guide booklet dedicated an entire page this year expounding on the evils of feeding and baiting deer. The game guide has a picture from Michigan showing a bait site with many 55-gallon drums in a condensed feeding spot with what looks like a spider web of deer trails through the snow going between the (feed) drums. The Va. Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has injected this photo to strike fear. Truth is, no rational hunter with a working man’s budget could set up or maintain a baited area as is pictured.  It would be equally appalling to have a photo of 100 deer dogs being unleashed into the woods at one time as well. Such extremes of bait (or dogs) are possible but highly improbable. Every state that adjoins Virginia allows the feeding/baiting of deer and to no ill effect. This point alone casts shadows of doubt on what the Va. DGIF claims. The DGIF does allow the planting of “Food Plots” with no restriction on size. It is legal to grow anything up to or beyond a 1000 acres of grains or corn and leave every bite of it to the deer. The DGIF takes no exception toward this method of feeding/”baiting”.  Ironically however, any argument the DGIF advances against feeding/baiting of deer (from a bag) could just as well apply against the legal “Food Plot” due to identical responses by deer.

The next DGIF argument against deer feeding/baiting is, “Deer Behavior” alleging feeding/baiting “alters the natural home ranges and distribution of deer on a landscape.”  Legal “Food plots” or crops do exactly the same. The next myth the DGIF advances against deer feeding/baiting is disease. Once again, I point to other states that allow feeding. Where is the evidence of epidemic there? If baiting/feeding can (indeed) spread disease by concentrating the herd, then the “legal” food plot will do the same. Deer could be feed by broadcasting over a wide area to align with how food plots are but the DGIF is not open to that simple solution. The DGIF has documented cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) west of the Blue Ridge. Food of any type is harder to come by out there making deer prone to disease.  The DGIF solution for that is to outlaw feeding altogether in those counties all but sure to compound the problem of a starving, sick/malnourished deer population.

The DGIF says the majority of Virginia’s deer hunters and non-hunters oppose hunting over bait. When was this poll taken? If we can use the “Hunting channel” on TV as the “yard stick” to measure ethical hunting, one will see over and over the hunting of deer over bait.  On the other hand, one will never see a single deer killed on the Hunting Channel using dogs with broadcasters rightfully fearing an ”unethical” uproar from viewers.  Who in Va. defined “ethical hunting” by allowing packs of dogs to be turned loose on deer bedded in thickets to be driven out of these places of rest and refuge? How does this type of hunting promote the methods of “scouting” and ”identifying deer sign” stated vitally important to the DGIF?  When did “Napoleonic linier-line” tactics of killing deer stampeded in to gun range by packs of dogs get defined as “ethical” and bait hunts as “unethical”?

I’ve hunted deer in a variety of states for 45 years. I think ”outside the box” after living/hunting outside the box for decades in Maryland. The deer bait method of hunting there works well for deer and hunter alike. It’s a far safer method of hunting not being rushed and driven to make hurried and reckless shots. Impulsive deer shooting is far more apt to occur here in Virginia as is borne out by the number of hunters wounded or killed in this state as opposed to Maryland. Hunting with bait for deer also offers better opportunities for the very young or the very old hunter as well as the disabled. It levels the playing field between the rich and poor hunter and would increase state revenues if out of state hunters knew Virginia was as good for deer sighting opportunities as their home state. If a person does not have extensive experience as a hunter, I consider them unqualified to make command decisions that relate to hunting laws.  The DGIF has made this high profile “anti feed/bait” presentation in the game guide book this year but, (most importantly), they defeat their own anti bait arguments by allowing deer feeds/baits to be set out (legally) for 8 months out of the year in most counties. How is making it illegal to feed deer for 4 months out of the year going to offset the (alleged) “ills” of legal feeding for 8 months? I don’t see well thought out deer management in this state, I see the desperate superficial ramblings of those who enact laws who simply don’t have a, “hands-on” understanding of hunting.

Karl Schmidt

Farmville, VA

Editor:

I am giving my endorsement to Bob Timmons for County Supervisor for Buffalo District, Prince Edward County.

Many of you already know or have met Bob Timmons and know him to be an honorable Christian man of high integrity, a family man, and a good neighbor. As important as these attributes are, we also need a supervisor who is qualified based on his business experience and knowledge. Bob Timmons is that person.

Bob began his working career as State Trooper in the state of Florida. This five-year opportunity provided him with valuable experience that has benefited him throughout his working career.

After graduating with an Associate’s Degree, Bob worked for five years in construction for Pullman Power Products at the Hatch Nuclear Power Plant located in south Georgia, also with United Engineers and Constructors. He had a 21-year career working with J.A. Jones Construction Company based in Charlotte, N.C. and subsidiaries, William A. Crow Construction Company and Metric Constructors in various management positions. He was an on-site Project Manager for several large projects including numerous power plants, an IBM semiconductor facility, water treatment facilities and various large industrial facilities. These projects ranged in value from several million dollars to over 350 million dollars. He also worked with marketing groups to identify potential opportunities for future work.

In 1999, Bob joined a construction claims consulting firm as a partner, located in Charlotte, N.C. This company provided clients with litigation support, expert witness opinions, testimony, general management advice and other specific services. In 2007 Bob began his own business, Timmons Consulting Services, providing the same type of consulting services and additionally working with developers and financial institutions to facilitate new developments.

Bob has built his career on helping others and problem solving. That’s why I feel that he has a background that will benefit the people of Prince Edward County. We need to look to the future. We need someone that has experience to resolve issues and make tough decisions. We need a change.

Please join me in supporting Bob Timmons as Supervisor for the Buffalo District.

Joe Huddleston

Buffalo District Resident

Editor:

It is time for a change in the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors. For more than ten years, some supervisors, along with the office of the County Administrator and the Office of Economic Development, have supported the expenditures of large amounts of county taxpayer money on activities which have often produced very limited or no return. One example of this was the millions of dollars spent preparing to develop a county water system when there was an extremely small number of potential customers. Of course, the project was never built. Then there was the more than four million dollars in state and local money spent to build Granite Falls Boulevard, sometimes called the “Road to Nowhere,” and as we all know, the hotel project for which the road was built and named has now been cancelled. Then there was more than two million of county money sent to buy water lines to the Manor (Poplar Hill) golf course development. Of course, there are few, if any, customers at the property and the property is expected to be sold soon for failure to meet its debt obligations.

I believe that both of the candidates running for supervisor in the Buffalo District are men of integrity. However, only one candidate, Bob Timmons, has the background and experience to work with the other supervisors to put Prince Edward County back on a firm financial basis. He has significant experience in general and construction contracting, water and waste water treatment plants, consulting to developers, builders, and financial institutions, labor productivity, cost and schedule analysis, and management advising services. No one else in Prince Edward County government has this background on issues voted on by Prince Edward Supervisors in the last few years. Although he works very well with others, he is not obligated to any Board member or Prince Edward developer, and will vote independently for the citizens of the Buffalo District and the County. For the good of the entire county, if you live in the Buffalo District, please join me in voting for Bob Timmons on November 5.

Mike Gibbs

Buffalo District Resident

Dear Editor;

New York Democrat Senator Charlie Schumer is trying to undermine our civil rights once again with introduction of S.374 the ‘Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013’ which, according to one report, “would criminalize virtually all private firearm sales, even temporary transfers”. It has the potential to make every honest gun owning citizen a common criminal should we decide to sell or loan a weapon to a friend or family member.

What Schumer and other Democrats don’t understand is that the ‘Bill of Rights’ are unchangeable. Among them is the Second Amendment right for honest citizens to possess firearms. Schumer will likely have willing allies in Virginia Senators Warner and Kaine. Nevertheless, we should all contact their offices and let them know we oppose S.374.

Another willing Virginia-based ally for the New Yorker is Democrat Terry McAuliffe (a native New Yorker now living in the DC-metro area) who intends to promote an anti-Second Amendment agenda if he gets elected Governor. He supports limiting lawful gun purchases by honest citizens to one a month, bans on certain firearms and other restrictions on the individual liberties of honest citizens. He’s a Democrat and these are National Democrat political objectives. He’s also getting a $1.1 million advertising push by anti-Second Amendment New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. That was his tradeoff for traveling to New York to kiss the Mayor’s….ring.

Do we really want New York Democrats dictating and trying to take away the civil liberties of Virginians? I don’t think so. Think about that before you vote.

Sincerely,

Greg Eanes

Crewe, Va

Editor:

This letter is in response to a recent letter sent to your paper by Don Gantt, the current member of the Board of Supervisors from Leigh District, Prince Edward County regarding a school board appointment for Prince Edward County.

There were problems with the selection process for a recent school board appointment that resulted in a tie vote for two candidates. The candidate selection was finally decided by a coin flip.

My opinion is that to use a selection process that depends on a coin flip for something as important as a School Board position is ludicrous. Most counties in Virginia have elected school boards. I think it is time to go to elected school boards in Prince Edward County.

Mr. Gantt made a mistake when he stated that Mr. Wilck had voted for the 2 million dollar Sandy River Water Plant engineering study and he (Mr. Gantt) had voted against it.

The facts are that Mr. Gantt or Mr. Wilck did not vote either way for this project expenditure. This vote was made at the Board of Supervisors meeting of December 2009 before either of them was on the board. The minutes from the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors from the December 2009 meeting show that the vote was made at that meeting to enter in to the “Interim Agreement between the County of Prince Edward, Virginia an Crowder Construction Company for Design and Construction of the Sandy River Reservoir Water Treatment and Distribution Project.” Supervisors Fore, Gillifan, Jones, McKay, Moore, Simpson, and Wiley voted for this project and Supervisor Ward of Prospect Voted against it.

My opinion is that everyone should tell the truth and do accurate research, especially Board of Supervisor members that are spending millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money.

Sam Campbell

Pamplin, Virginia

To the Editor:

Ken Cuccinelli has picked up another endorsement: the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). This affirmation comes on top of endorsements from the Northern Virginia Technology Council TechPAC, the Police Benevolent Association, the Farm Bureau and many more.

It is obvious that Cuccinelli is endorsed by the respected organizations that really count. They see his dedication to encouraging job growth, continuing Virginia’s business-friendly environment and upholding the law.

When it comes to bona fides with the business community, we’ve showed you ours, now you show us yours, Terry. What happened to GreenTech Automotive?

Respectfully,

Richard Altice

Farmville, Va.

Editor:

Voters beware! Accusations and lies are flying! So get prepared. Ralph Northam, candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia, wrote in a letter on Oct.17th to his supporters: “Next week is going to be the worst week of E.W. Jackson’s life.” It sounds like this man has a plan, but its not a plan for jobs, education, or anything else that will benefit Virginians. He obviously has no integrity and no vision other than to destroy his opponent in order to further his own political career.

Can you imagine how he would conduct himself if he became Lt. Governor? Will he suddenly become upright and honest rather than underhanded and dirty? By contrast, watch this short video and you will see what vision and integrity look like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZrPwvTa-uQ.

What is it that Northam really cares about? Is it about “We the People” or is it about himself? In stark contrast, E.W. Jackson is a God-fearing man of integrity and apparently that is not too popular with his opponent or with the mainstream media. But it is popular with the millions of Virginia families who believe in the principles on which this nation was founded and who are seeking to raise their children to be honest, upstanding citizens. I wonder what those who are slinging the muddy lies are teaching their children and grandchildren? Could it be “Do whatever it takes to get what you want and destroy anyone who stands in your way?”

Virginians will go to the polls on November 5th and all the money, all the mud, and all the media won’t stop them from voting for the candidates who stand for what is right – and who actually do have a plan to better the life of every Virginian. Vote for E.W. Jackson!

Agnes McCormick

Burkeville, VA

Dear Editor,

Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world, said that she agreed with Darwin on his belief about “survival of the fittest.” In her book “Woman’s Body, Woman’s Right: A Social History of Birth Control in America,” Linda Gordon quotes Sanger as saying “We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.” Does that make you wonder who Planned Parenthood deems fit and who they deem unfit to live?

E.W. Jackson, candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia, has taken a strong stand against this death sentence on unborn children, which as you can see from the quote above, is aimed mostly at his own race . . . the black population. He believes in the value of every life – whether in the womb, in the workforce, or in the nursing home. He believes in liberty and freedom for all people.

His opponent, however, sees things quite differently. In a recent ad that has gone viral on the Internet, you see these words flash across the screen, “4 in 10 unintended pregnancies will end in termination . . . But it’s okay . . . Thanks to the ability to choose, children are being spared from the anxiety, and the remorse of being born into families that don’t love them, and having to deal with abuse, or even abandonment.” Is it really okay?

At the polls on November 5th, voters in Virginia will literally be voting on a life and death issue. Please take a stand for life and liberty. Cast your ballot for Cuccinelli, Jackson, and Obenshain.

Stephen Bradshaw

Farmville

Dear Editor:

As in independent Conservative Republican, I know our candidates who are running on the Republican ticket – Ken Cuccinelli for Governor, E.W. Jackson for Lt. Governor and Mark OBenshain for Attorney General. We are fortunate to have such fine, constitutional, Bill of Rights, freedom loving, fiscal conservative, God fearing men who love Virginia and will work to protect “We the People” from the overreaching dictates taking place by the Federal Government, even if it means taking them to the Supreme Court as Cuccinelli has a record of doing.

Let’s only hope we can keep 5 Supreme Court Justices on the court who believe in the Constitution.

Terry McAuliffe, Democratic Candidate for Governor, unfortunately does not have a voting record, but indications are he will bring Washington style government and politics to Virginia which means more government regulations, taxes and a lack of support for Virginians Right to Work law and is an active supporter of unaffordable Obamacare. All of these will continue to stifle our economy and jobs.

It was candidate McAuliffe right of cause not to answer most of the questions on the Virginia Family Foundation questionnaire. This leaves us to assume he didn’t know or didn’t think we voters need to know.

This should be no surprise because he had been one of President Obama’s right hand men – probably the reason he is running.

Lt. Governor Candidate E.W. Jackson a U.S. Marine, Harvard Law School Graduate, small business owner who knows we have to effectively promote economic policies that increase jobs. He also serves as a pastor and is a very eloquent speaker for our constitution, Bill of Rights, our values and principles.

At this time in the Senate we have 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats. With equal numbers quite a few of the important bills end up in tie votes. As Lt. Governor, Jackson’s responsibility would be to break these tie votes and we know he will put Virginia first and vote conservatively.

Senator Ralph Northam, Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor had only a 25% approval rating on issues affecting families indicating he would vote with the liberals in the Senate.

Senator Mark Obenshain who has a 100% voting approval record on issues affecting families will make Governor Cuccinelli a powerful assistant in protecting “We the People” against the overreaching Federal Government that’s developing into a dictatorship as the President continues to illegally disregard the Constitution and use the IRS to punish citizens who disagree with his policies as he has done.

Senator Mark Herring, Democrat for Attorney General against Mark OBenshain was rated only 18% – meaning he voted 82% against conservative family issues and values.

This election is not only crucial for Virginia but also our nation because Virginia is the only state (N.J. has been decided) that is having statewide elections this year. If the big spenders and those not helping our economy win, the National Media will declare Virginian’s election a test that the nation wants bigger government and more debt.

With the IRS’s record on punishing conservative thinking people and now being in charge of Obamacare, I can’t help but ask if we trust them to decide what health care we can have.

If you have thought why vote? Please, I do not have the words to express the urgency that our voice is heard for Cuccinelli, Jackson and Obenshain Tuesday, November 5, 2013 as one step towards saving America as we have known it in the past.

Eva F Scott, Former State Senator

Amelia, VA 23002

Dear Editor:

As November5th Approaches and we find ourselves not only as a Commonwealth, but as a County voting for new or the same old business as usual representatives and governing body. On a state level, I feel the McAuliffe ticket is the one to choose. The Commonwealth needs jobs; we need to be more inviting to companies and corporations, both big and small. I feel that McAuliffe, will invigorate our economy and job market and govern in a bipartisan way, Northam will work with other states and cities, counties, and localities to better the Commonwealth, Herring, will protect Virginians’ second Amendment rights, women’s rights not only of choice, but of equality.

My local ticket would be though not in my district; Calvin Grey (Prospect) Mr. Grey is a man of integrity and fairness. He decided to run for BOS  when I and others living in the Prospect District as that he run, to bring change for the people of Prospect and Prince Edward and to break this routine that is costing this county. Jerry Townsend (Leigh) who I am finding is not getting the real representation or access to their supervisor. Townsend who ran for the same reasons, is too a man of discernment, thought and action. Finally Russell Dove (Buffalo) Mr. Dove has served on our school board and chaired it for a number of years, and also has a proven track record and qualifications. All of these candidates are men of integrity, they can help strengthen our public safety, educational systems and bring some financial accountability to the BOS.

Contrary to rumors these men are nobody’s puppets, they will serve the people of their districts, and not vote just because “Johnny did”; though reserved in demeanor and soft spoken, these men do have backbone, determination, and fight to get what’s best for their Districts and this County.

Kenneth Jackson

Rice Virginia