District 13A Picks Flawed

The Sun's Aug. 17 "Endorsements in District 13A" editorial leaves me wondering what, if any, standards you have in telling ** what candidates are good for us. At any rate, the people who live here in Howard County can decide that.

You may regard state Sen. Thomas Yeager as a "consensus builder" and someone who is "steady as you go." To me, it depends on where you want to go. Senator Yeager is too tightly tied to the establishment of his legislative body (including Senate President Mike Miller) and much too resistant on civil liberties issues for my taste.

On the latter score, to cite just one example from the 1994 session, he voted for Senate passage of a bill (Senate Bill 560) that would have prohibited discrimination by clubs holding liquor licenses only after sponsoring (and failing to secure approval of) an amendment exempting "a veterans' organization or adjunct or auxiliary unit of a veterans' organization that limits its membership to persons of a particular gender."

He has also been reluctant to support reform of the existing system of legislative scholarships (wherein incumbent state legislators, no matter how honestly some of them may do it, are able to gain re-election benefits via the awarding of scholarships provided by taxpayers). Whatever you may have against Virginia Thomas, I'd much rather take my chances with her than with Tom Yeager on the issues in Annapolis.

In the contest for two delegates seats in 13A, after deciding that you didn't like Shane Pendergrass' style or opposition to a Coca-Cola plant, you must have thrown darts at the wall to come up with your choices from among the other five Democratic candidates.

Certainly, you said nothing to explain your reasons for endorsing your two choices. When there is little difference between candidates on issues (and that seems true among the six in this race), it seems to me that voters have to make judgments as to who they can trust to best represent them.

At the top of the ticket alphabetically are Bob Ardinger and Pearl Atkinson-Stewart. Neither is in the race to seek personal glory and they are not likely to sell out on issues for the sake of personal advancement. I believe the electorate in District 13A would be well-served by Ardinger and Atkinson-Stewart and urge that they be elected on Sept. 13.

Kenneth A. Stevens

Savage

Rescue Thanks

At 10:30 p.m. on June 22, in the rain, a one-ton truck smashed into my light station wagon, throwing us in a circle, landing us in the roadside ditch and seriously injuring my 82-year old mother in the passenger seat. Four days later, at 11 p.m. June 27, I cooked my own goose (or rather myself), spilling scalding water with resulting second- and third-degree burns.

In both instances, the Howard County Rescue Squard was there within minutes. . . .

Particularly impressive was "Mark," the rescue squad crew chief who correctly assessed the seriousness of the burns, directed the pickup and transport of a person nearly incoherent with pain, obtained immediate treatment authorization and administered morphine intravenously en route to the burn center. He was ably assisted by "John" and "Chris." . . .

The promptness and high degree of competence of the police on the night of the auto accident deserves comment. Despite the sadly thin police staffing in western Howard, Police Officer Sheppard appeared in what seemed like an instant. . . .

When it comes to the battle for the tax dollar, these are the programs that get my vote. Let's put them at the top of the list . . .

J.L. Robinson

Sykesville

Good Samaritan

All too often we are reminded of the selfish tendencies of the cross-generational "Me Generation." There are often many times, however, when the kindness of man goes unnoticed or unrewarded. . . .

On Aug. 13, my out-of-the-area mother, staying with us while recuperating from major surgery, went for a walk by herself to Centennial Park. She became confused trying to find her way back to our house and got lost. Very lost -- a few of the people that she asked for directions either misunderstood her or did not know where we were located, either.

One gentleman invited my tired, confused and overheated mother into his car and he and his young son drove around "for quite some time" until they found our street. I'm sure that they had other things that they had planned to be doing, but they took the time to help her. Thanks to their kindness, my mother suffered no ill effects from her extended walk in temperatures that got a bit warmer than she had anticipated. Thank you, sir, whoever you are.

Barbara K. Warman

Ellicott City

Since When Did Earning $40,000 Become a Crime?

When did "affordable housing" become a code word for "socially undesirable"? When did $25,000 to $40,000 become low-income? I have a few more questions for those opposing "affordable housing" in their neighborhoods.

Think of the number of households with a single wage earner. How many women make more than $40,000? How many professionals with college and advanced degrees working in educational, social and cultural institutions make more than $40,000? Should these people be denied home ownership? Are these potential criminals?

First, our society undervalues the services of those dedicated individuals who educate and raise our children and care for our physical, mental, spiritual and cultural well-being. Now, not only are they not paid very much, but you do not want them living in your neighborhood.

We should encourage the pride and stability that home ownership provides. Whatever happened to the vision of Columbia as a diverse and tolerant community?

Johanna Som de Cerff

Elkridge

Virginia's Mouse

The Sun has reported on "Virginia's Mouse" situation as Disney theme parks get set to invade Northern Virginia, i.e. the Manassas area, with interested bemusement. Most recently, George Will's column addressed the situation most eloquently even for those readers who are less likely to agree with his other positions.

Marylanders need to wake up to what is going on in Northern Virginia and lend support to those individuals and organizations who are attempting to halt Disney's expansion and progress.

Although less involved and affected by proposed economic development and historical issues as their neighbors across the river, it is Maryland that is in the forefront of Chesapeake Bay preservation, of bay salvation and indeed, it is Maryland whose waters border on the Virginia land mass that is about to ignore the warnings of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and increase pollution and uncontrolled run-off manifold.

In its most recent newsletter, Save the Bay, the foundation issues warnings (that) "Disney plan threatens (the) bay which will turn land from filter to funnel by increasing the pollutant loads to Bull Run, Occoguan and Potomac rivers," all of which flow into the bay.

This is not just Virginia's Mickey Mouse matter. This is of vital concern to all who cherish the bay, derive livelihood or pleasure from its waters and share an interest in preserving one of the world's greatest estuaries. Marylanders should be ready for another battleground at Manassas in their own self-interest and that of generations yet to come.

Monika R. Smith

Columbia

Gun Control

In an article by Adam Sachs concerning state Senate candidate Ed Kasemeyer (Aug. 2), I was quoted out of context. When I called to report the inaccuracies, I was told that although the article was five columns across covering Kasemeyer's anti-gun position, The Sun had to edit my 20-minute interview to one paragraph. Even the paragraph was edited.

Sachs did read back his notes verifying that I did not say that 100 percent of the people in the district are against gun control. The notes indicated that I began with, "Most of the people that I met during visiting over 6,000 homes in the Baltimore County district are 100 percent against gun control." The intent was to show there is no compromise on the subject of gun control.

Although I am a staunch supporter of the right to bear arms to protect oneself and constitutional laws that do not have ambiguous phrases such as "assault weapons" and "handguns," did inform Sachs that I believed in safety classes for gun owners such as safety classes given for motorcyclists. Also, adults should be responsible and be present at all times their children under age 16 handle a gun during sports events.

I stated during the interview that I would rather have a referendum decision by the voters than to have legislators making laws on gun control. Most of our present legislators were endorsed by the old good-boy network . . . Can we expect the Baltimore Sun, an endorser of gun control, to be unbiased in reporting facts to the voters before they pull that lever in a referendum?

Frances Kathleen Ingram

Relay

The writer is a Democratic candidate for state Senate in District 12.

State's Attorney Race

While Alan Craver's article (Aug. 15) contrasting the difference between myself and Mike Weal was generally balanced and fair, I believe a few expanded comments are in order.

First, as to my criticism of using current prosecutors to be actively involved in this campaign, Mike misses the point when he responds that his campaign chiefs who are now working in the state's attorney's office are not working during office hours. According to the Cannon of Ethics, a prosecutor should avoid even the appearance (Remember Mr. Fiske?) of a conflict of interest.

My criticism is of prosecutors who, while performing their prosecutorial functions -- deciding what cases to prosecute, participating in plea negotiations, recommending sentencing, etc. -- are also seeking funds and support from defense attorneys and the general public, giving political advice, etc. The obvious question in the public's mind becomes, "Do supporters of Mr. Weal get better deals, sentences, etc. than non-supporters?"

An appearance of a "conflict of interest" is thus before the public, further undermining confidence in the criminal justice system. That is why in my administration, employees of the office of state's attorney will not be permitted to be involved in my, or anyone's, election. . . .

This reasoning is also the basis for my favoring the appointment of the state's attorney. I would, however, as I explained to Mr. Craver, require that the state's attorney face a retention election every four years when the voters would decided if the incumbent should remain in office or a new state's attorney be appointed.

To Mr. Weal's charge that I am "so far removed," I plead guilty. It is precisely my being "removed" from any political involvement in Howard County that prompted me to enter this race. . . .

Dario J. Broccolino

Ellicott City

The writer is a candidate for Howard County state's attorney.