Husted will be a good secretary

5/4/2009

With all due respect to the Blade editorial staff, I can attest to the character and the trustworthiness of State Sen. Jon Husted.

Many don't know that Mr. Husted is a native of northwest Ohio. He was raised in Williams County and educated at the University of Dayton near his adoptive hometown of Kettering, where he was elected to represent the citizens from House District 37.

Mr. Husted so won the confidence of his colleagues through his leadership on committees, like Legislative Ethics and House Rules and Reference, that he was elected Speaker of the Ohio House in 2005.

Mr. Husted helped create the Choose Ohio First School Scholarship program, which will provide $100 million in science, technology, mathematics, and medicine scholarship funds to Ohio students attending Ohio colleges and universities. He has fought to improve education through the expansion of school choice options by introducing the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program.

Mr. Husted also led the effort to reform Ohio's tax code andhelped pass a balanced budget that included the largest income tax cut in Ohio history.

To simply label his motivation in running for secretary of state as "purely political" is wrong. He only wishes to be judged by his actions. The sincerity of his character can best be determined by the quality of his accomplishments for Ohio, and all Ohioans.

I am proud to be working with a diligent, honest, hardworking man like Jon Husted, because I know how much better the secretary of state's office will be with his leadership.

Jon Stainbrook

Chairman

Lucas County

Republican Party

I'm a senior in high school trying to find a job. I'd like to buy a car and attend college this fall. I consider myself to be from a lower middle-class family.

Thankfully, both my parents work and seem to make ends meet. I've overheard enough to know that income is coming in, but goes right back into payments on debt and utilities, food, and all the other expenses it takes to raise a family. The result is living paycheck to paycheck, as so many others are forced to do.

I've applied for the typical teen jobs. There are people my parents' age working at fast food restaurants and car washes. They are victims of today's economy. Some have high medical expenses and have taken second jobs. Unfortunately, this leaves little for today's youth.

I read about the federal economic stimulus program allocating money to Lucas County for jobs for 1,000 youths, ages 16 to 24. The jobs pay $7.50 per hour with an attendance bonus. I thought this would be perfect for me.

However, I was disappointed to find that this program is offered only to low-income families. Also, there are "barriers" that have to be met: dropouts, runaways, and pregnant or parenting teens, to name a few.

How is this "economic stimulus" a benefit to all? There are clearly those in need, but what about the rest of the families who are teetering on the brink? The idea of the stimulus program is to put money back into the economy through purchases. A car and a college education also qualify as a form of economic "stimulation."

I'm sure there are many others who come from similar families. We are not rich or poor. What about the middle class?

Trevor Sarra

Greenwood Avenue

David Shribman should take his own advice. He wants us to continue in the same manner as in the past. In the past, we had slavery, lynching, and denial of equal rights for women. We have overcome these practices and come closer to the ideals of democracy, equal rights, and opportunity for all.

In the past, people said, "The king can do no wrong." In this country, we take pride in having established government by law, not by tyrants. No man is above the law. Isn't it time we put this noble thought into practice?

The individuals who through their knowing excesses and abuses of legal authority have brought discredit and harm to this country should be held accountable for their actions. This is the way forward, to a better future, correcting the shortcomings of the past. Authority without responsibility is dangerous.

Vaivo Vannak

Falla Court

The only ludicrous part of Ben Konop's proposal to train trash collectors to spot and report suspicious behavior in support of public safety was a recent letter to the editor ripping the idea.

One of the main reasons Toledo is in this predicament is its residents' fear of stepping away from the status quo and thinking outside the box. The ludicrous letter is a case in point.

Mr. Konop's proposal is cost-effective and, I might add, timely, given the city's laying off police officers. One way or another, we're going to need to keep our neighborhoods safe. Teaching trash collectors and other city employees what to watch for in regard to crime is definitely a way to provide safety in the face of dwindling tax dollars and police layoffs.

What really cracks me up, and further shows some Toledoans' single-minded nature, is that other cities nationwide have already implemented Mr. Konop's idea with great success. Big cities like Salt Lake City, Fort Worth, and Denver are among those that benefit from trash collectors trained to spot crime.

I see nothing wrong with getting other city employees to lend a hand, or in this case, a pair of eyes. And I'd like to hear what Mike Bell's plans are to keep us safe with fewer police officers.

Alyson Jacobs

Holland

Ben Konop has what it takes to be mayor. Bright, well-thought-out plans and ideas for a new future for Toledo.

Change is difficult. Old ideas giving way to new philosophies and new ideas made America and Toledo great in the past. Why not give Mr. Konop an opportunity to bring Toledo into the 21st century?

Donna Puccetti

San Paulo Drive

It's a real shame that our good mayor couldn't find another way to balance his budget. Laying off our police officers and firefighters is putting the people of Toledo in jeopardy. People should have thought twice when they voted for him.

We never had all these problems when Jack Ford was mayor. But Carty told everybody he was going to fix everything. He sure did. Look what's happening.

Put our officers and firefighters back to work. We need them.

Helen Bentley

121st Street

In regard to the recent Los Angeles Times article and David Shribman's thoughtful April 26 column, each discussing President's Obama's first 100 days: The one thing they did not mention was our young President's wonderful sense of humor.

It must help.

Kay Ball

Perrysburg

I think Ben Konop has the courage to go against the good old boys. He cares more about Toledo than being the popular one among the establishment.

He has many ideas to try to help in these difficult times.

Rhonda Vogelpohl

Curtice