Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2007

July 21, 2008

Letters At Issue: Elections: 07/22/2008

Goes above, beyond

I have enjoyed a professional working relationship with Diana Miller through Cornerstone Title. Diana has always been willing to go above and beyond to provide necessary information to bring a deal to a successful close. With her strong list of qualifications and experience, I gladly provide my endorsement for her candidacy for the Kalkaska register of deeds.

Diane Mack
Traverse City

An experienced officer

The Aug. 5 primary election will decide who will be the next sheriff of Grand Traverse County. Please join me in voting for Tom Bensley.

Tom is an experienced law enforcement officer. Tom is capable, and a problem-solver. Tom supports closer cooperation with the law enforcement program at NMC, and the restoration of programs like DARE and snowmobile safety. He will seek input from all. Our citizens deserve a better sheriff.

Vote for Bensley for sheriff on Aug. 5.

Lynn Larson
Traverse City

Keep open mind

As a candidate for Garfield Township Treasurer, I want to respond to Terri Denoyer's letter. Please take time to read the literature; meet the candidates, then you will understand why we are running. Each of us has sacrificed time with our families, friends, money and other personal commitments to run for office.

I do not take this lightly. I entered this race to serve the residents. The majority of them are concerned. We should be encouraging candidates to run; without competition, the residents have no opportunity for change.

Please keep an open mind. Meet the candidates before you judge them.

Jeane Blood
Traverse City

Educated and qualified

Jeff Morse is by far the best candidate for the office of Sheriff of Benzie County. I have known Jeff for several years. He is definitely a man of his word, one who does what he says, and one who gets the job done.

Jeff has all the qualifications needed for this position. He is well educated, has a background in the law and has the personality to work well with and for the people of Benzie County. Jeff is a very dedicated individual.

I urge the voters of Benzie County to elect Jeff Morse as sheriff of Benzie County.

Neal F. Breaugh
Traverse City

Type of person needed

The residents of Elmwood Township should vote to retain Derith Smith as supervisor. She has helped usher Elmwood Township into an era of transparency, honesty and good government. Deri is exactly the type of person we need in local government: professional, well versed in her responsibilities and respected at the state level; her opponents can not begin to say the same.

After all the progress that has been made the past four years, let us not turn the township clock back to the days of nepotism and "good ol' boy" cronyism.

Vote for Derith Smith as Elmwood supervisor.

Gary S. Powell
Traverse City

Corporations rule

The Democrat and Republican parties are owned by corporate America. The military-industrial-corporate complex rules.

Foreign policy is corporate policy. Most major national news outlets are controlled by corporate media. The disparity in income and wealth in this country is as great as just before the Great Depression.

For a decent life with justice for all and a civil society that works for the common good we the people must assert our sovereignty over the corporate machine.

See issues that matter at www.votenader.org.

Rick Waterman
Rapid City

Practical, common sense

Starting my law enforcement career with the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department, Tom Bensley was one of the officers who I was assigned to in introducing me to the profession. Looking back on my 30-year career, Tom is one of those who contributed to my success in practicing a community-centered approach to law enforcement services. Tom possesses a practicality that relies heavily on organization and common sense that results in a consistent, predictable and fair application of the law.

There is no doubt Tom would bring these same attributes to the office of sheriff for Grand Traverse County.

Dennis Halverson
Charlevoix
The writer is a former Charlevoix police chief

Honesty, integrity, respect

John Daugherty is running for county prosecutor in Benzie County. Ratchet up the work ethic and integrity in that office by putting him in that position. If you pay attention at all to continuing sensational decisions of the prosecutor's office you should agree. This office-holder is supposed to represent and, in fact, be the chief law enforcement person for the county.

Daugherty has conducted himself with mutual legal professional respect and is no stranger to the area. I encourage you to vote for honesty, integrity. Elect Daugherty for prosecutor and return respect to the office.

Don and Mary Howard
Beulah

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