Next mayor should be cerebral cheerleader to take charge, 0) guide
Pastoring a church at the edge of what The Sun recently called "Zombieland" has convinced me that change is past due.
Baltimore needs a mayor who has a defined vision of what our city should be at the end of his or her term. The leader must be animated, articulate, highly motivated and not controlled by large campaign donors.
The mayor must also be able to communicate goals, priorities and a properly developed master plan. Members of the mayor's staff need to be the best in their fields and need to be held accountable for their performance and conduct.
Our city needs a leader who is in touch with the constituency, a cheerleader who is willing to take charge, make decisions and visibly lead.
Finally, we need a leader who will build a positive relationship with the business and faith communities, federal government, the state legislature and the City Council that will result in a strong partnership to improve our city.
That leader will promote stronger education, health, government-provided services and public safety issues. Yes, we need an educated, cerebral leader, but our city can no longer afford an aloof and distant chief executive.
The Rev. Reginald M. Clark
Baltimore
The writer is pastor of the Greater New Saint John Baptist Church.
O'Malley would bring a glimmer of hope
As a black former Baltimore City resident who left primarily because of the city's rapid physical decline, I see a glimmer of hope on the horizon with the possible entry of Martin J. O'Malley into the race for mayor.
Baltimore residents missed a good opportunity in the last election by passing over Mary Pat Clarke. Now a second opportunity has presented itself to elect a person who from all indications seems to be ideally suited for the job. No one should assume that there is automatic ascension.
Of all who are showing interest in becoming mayor, O'Malley is the only one who I believe to possess the right stuff for the job. He is smart, tough, confident, aggressive, seemingly honest and has political savvy. Additionally, he appears not to bring any ego problems to the table.
With the city's myriad array of serious problems, now is not the time to put any prima donna into that office. Citizens cannot afford to continue the lackadaisical politics of the past 11 years.
Were I a city resident now, my yard would be filled with Martin J. O'Malley posters.
Garland L. Crosby
Randallstown
Think like common man but have business acumen
The next mayor has to be a visionary who thinks like the common man but executes like a skilled businessman.
He or she must understand that Baltimore is a historic city that has a housing stock that requires historic preservation.
The politically astute candidate has to be able to attract dollars and market the wealth of Baltimore city and its residents. The candidate must understand that the people come first and therefore, the candidate is a servant for the people.
The candidate must be fearless, as wise as a serpent yet as harmless as a dove.
James L. Tibbs
Baltimore
Need an honest visionary to replace political hacks
Baltimore needs an honest visionary to be the next mayor.
He must be able to persuade many corporations to open businesses in our city. Gradually, he ought to replace the political hacks with capable employees.
He should not sell his soul for campaign contributions. To rescue our fair city, he will need the support of philanthropists.
Joseph Lerner
Baltimore
Forget elected officials who have failed to cure
The candidates being touted as our next mayor are professional politicians who are or were elected city officials. In the years and decades that they have held a city and state offices, they have all failed to cure our city's ills.
Why on Earth would we elect candidates who have already failed us. We need change, not more of the same.
Where is our Jesse Ventura?
Kelley Culver Brohawn
Baltimore
Spelling out criteria for city's next mayor
What a person needs to be mayor of Baltimore:
Love for the city.
Effective at achieving goals.
Available to govern in a honest way.
Directing those around them in an ethical way.
Ever remaining focused on what is best for the city.
Revealing the potential for a better life in each city block.
If there is one grand quality needed above all, it is leadership.
James E. Adams
Ellicott City
House gets to define impeachable offense
The Sun's heavy-handed support for excusing President Clinton from impeachment continues ("Without high crimes, end impeachment now," Dec. 8, Editorial).
Let your readers and editors be reminded that the Constitution does not define "other high crimes and misdemeanors," but specifies that the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment.
This leaves the definition up to the House members to decide and to vote upon impeachment.
The House members may decide on any basis what constitutes impeachment. Impeachment is not a judicial or criminal matter; it is a political process.
Probably, the House will vote along party lines -- a perfectly proper proceeding -- to impeach the President. If so, impeachment stands on his record regardless of how the Senate votes.
Neel Reid
Baltimore
Webster's Dictionary sides with Clinton on definition
President Clinton did not lie to the grand jury or to Kenneth Starr.
This becomes absolutely clear when you read the definition of "sexual relations" in the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary.
The Republican majority on the House Judiciary Committee appears to be focused on plea bargaining, which is widely used in our courts.
They want the president to admit to lying, although he did not lie, to receive less severe punishment.
In other words, the Republicans are not opposed to a person lying as long as it works in their favor.
Larry Guess
Havre de Grace
Clinton must be held accountable for perjury
It is amazing how so many so-called educated individuals will overlook the legalities of an outright lawless act of perjury and attempt to rationalize their opinions against impeachment. Perjury is perjury, regardless who is guilty of that crime.
It is even more of a tragedy when these educated men who have been elected into positions of authority put their attitudes above the right thing to do.
If President Clinton is not held accountable for his perjury, I would fear for the future of our country. In essence, we will be saying that we no longer wish to be ruled by just laws but by the index of the stock market.
Also, as the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, President Clinton should be subject to the same Uniform Code of Military Justice as those in uniform.
Anyone in public trust should set an example of honesty and, above all, have high moral character.
John F. Thomas
Catonsville
After Kurt Schmoke
Here are some responses to our query on what kind of leader Baltimore needs after Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke steps down next year.
The Sun welcomes letters on this topic and other matters. Letters should be no longer than 200 words and should include the name and address of the writer, along with day and evening telephone numbers.
Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278-0001. Our fax number for letters is 410-332-6977. The e-mail address is letteraltsun.com.
Pub Date: 12/16/98