Voter racism played no role in judge's defeat

I am disappointed that intelligent people such as Anthony S. Fugett and Ike Dixon are so quick to draw the race card as the reason why Judge Alexander Wright Jr. was defeated ("Judge's loss spurs questions of racism," Nov. 7).

Two things contributed to the result. First, Judge-elect Patrick Cavanaugh is a qualified candidate who put together a solid, grass-roots campaign with enthusiastic volunteers. Give him credit for breaking the stronghold of the sitting judges.

Second, and by far the main reason, is that the overwhelming majority of voters don't have a clue who the judges are or what they do.

I never cease to be surprised by the number of people who ask what I know about the judges and their confessions of ignorance -- even as they are walking in to cast their vote.

Dean Landers

Glen Arm

As a Baltimore County resident, I take offense at the comments of Anthony S. Fugett.

I distinctly recall standing to mark my ballot on Nov. 5 and wondering, "Who is Judge Alexander Wright Jr.?"

Name recognition is absolutely essential when it comes to voting. And I do not believe Judge Wright campaigned enough, because I certainly recognized the other candidates' names.

Cindy Bonadio

Baltimore

As a Maryland resident and a U.S. citizen I am offended at being identified as a racist, which I feel the article about Judge Alexander Wright Jr.'s defeat has done.

I am also tired of the "race card" being played whenever an opportunity fails to materialize for a minority. This continued reporting of racism as a deciding factor in public decisions needs to stop. It breeds a sense of racial divide that only gets wider with each report.

I am sure most voters did not know or care about the candidates' age or sex or the color of their skin. For Ike Dixon to say he "is almost ashamed to be a resident of Baltimore County because [voters] do not want a black Circuit Court judge" is ludicrous.

And no one in the article noted that our lieutenant governor-elect is African-American, and his ticket won in Baltimore County.

Kudos to Judge Wright for dismissing the idea that race was an issue.

David Wildey

Owings Mills

Alphabet is culprit in Wright's defeat

The Sun's article "Wright finishes last in bid to retain his Circuit Court seat" (Nov. 6) failed to mention what many people believe was a major factor in Judge Alexander Wright Jr.'s loss: The fact that his name was placed last in a list of four candidates from which just three could be chosen.

In fact, The Sun ran another article on the same day titled "Voter overload" (Nov. 6) in which some citizens actually confessed to just voting for "the three at the top."

And the majority of voters have absolutely no idea about the qualifications (or lack thereof) of those running for judgeships.

The fact that an honorable, deserving judge with the experience, temperament and fine character of Judge Wright can lose not because of the will of the people but because of the alphabet is tremendously unjust and unfair.

Nancy S. Spritz

Baltimore

Voters saw limits to Townsend's ability

Nearly all of the Democratic Party leaders and most political pundits are laying the blame for the defeat of Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend at the feet of those who engineered her campaign strategy ("Townsend loss leaves early front-runners," Nov. 7).

But let's give some credit to Maryland voters.

They saw Ms. Townsend for who she was -- a sincere individual with strong personal values and ideals who was totally devoid of the administrative and management experience which will be needed to deal with the difficult problems facing the state.

Robert West

Ellicott City

Ignoring the record of Michael Steele

Has The Sun no shame? Wasn't it enough to outrageously inflate Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's readiness to assume the governorship while deflating Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s demonstrated capacity to lead? Apparently not, as The Sun also insultingly asserted that Michael S. . Steele "brings little to the team but the color of his skin," which is ludicrous on its face ("Townsend for governor," editorial, Nov. 3).

Surely The Sun is familiar with Mr. Steele's record of success as a citizen activist, attorney and dynamic state party chairman. Yet it chose to belittle his abilities to strengthen its argument.

This endorsement should lay to rest any illusions that The Sun would have given our team a fair shake under any circumstances. But we're proud of both Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Steele, and know that they will work extremely well together as governor and lieutenant governor, just as they did in the campaign.

Victor Clark Dick Fairbanks

The writers are the chairman and first vice chairman of the Baltimore City Republican Party.

The Sun's editorial staff was thoughtless in its description of Michael S. Steele. To suggest he was chosen only because of the color of his skin is at most overtly racist and at the very least condescending.

Mr. Steele has worked hard in his corporate life and political life to achieve what he has accomplished, which includes becoming the leader of the state Republican Party.

It's time The Sun at least tried to give the appearance of impartiality.

Joseph Brown

Baltimore

Steele was used to reach black voters

The Sun is getting a bum rap from those determined to castigate it for a few words in its endorsement of Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend over Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. ("Townsend for governor," Nov. 3). The outrage coming from the right-wing media, Mr. Ehrlich and Lt. Gov.-elect Michael S. Steele is laughable at the very least.

The only time I saw Mr. Steele trotted out during the campaign was when African-Americans were being targeted. And on Election Day, huge signs magically popped up in majority-black neighborhoods featuring a nearly life-size image of Mr. Steele, along with slogans telling residents to "make history" by electing "the first black lieutenant governor."

And now Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Steele have the audacity to complain because The Sun mentioned the truth -- that Mr. Ehrlich's running mate seemed to be on the ticket only because of the color of his skin? That is exactly how Mr. Steele was presented to the electorate. And their whining makes me even more frightened for this state in the wake of an Ehrlich governorship.

Kudos to The Sun editorial board for calling the Ehrlich-Steele ticket as they saw it -- and, whether the governor- and lieutenant governor-to-be admit it or not, the way the ticket presented itself.

Natalie Davis

Baltimore