The Burgs letters

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Letters to the Editor

Recent letters to the editor

From the RoundTable blog

Read the latest entries

Frank will make the right decisions

As a lifelong resident of the New River Valley, I have developed a strong sense of what makes Montgomery County great. What makes this county thrive are the residents and the elected leaders who make tough decisions that have a lasting impact. Peggy Frank is the leader whom we need to have in the commmonwealth's attorney office to make prosecutioral decisions that will have a lasting impact.

As a new attorney working in the Pulaski County Commonwealth's Attorney office, I have been fortunate to work with Frank. She has an abundance of experience and is a leader well-suited to be elected commonwealth's attorney. She will make immediate and beneficial contributions to our county. I urge you to vote for her on Nov. 6.

JUSTIN L. GRIFFITH
PULASKI

Pettitt has leadership skills

I served as a juror in Montgomery County from May to July. I was selected for several trials and had the opportunity to see the attorneys of the commonwealth in action, with Mary Pettitt as their leader. I was impressed by the insight and dedication of the prosecutors working with Pettitt, and it was obvious that this was a well-functioning team, intent on serving our community to the best of its ability.

I was also able to talk with some of the county law enforcement officers, and it was evident that they hold Pettitt in high regard. She has forged a solid bond with law enforcement, and as a citizen, I take a great deal of comfort in that. Her history as chief deputy shows us that Pettitt is a person of integrity, strength and the ability to lead. Clearly, she is the only choice for commonwealth's attorney.

LEAH BRANCH
CHRISTIANSBURG

Stolen signs prompt action

My husband and I live in the Prices Fork area of Blacksburg and had placed two Obama yard signs in front of our house, exercising our freedom to express our choice in presidential candidates. Someone recently pulled them out of our yard, though they left the Anthony Flaccavento sign.

This was not only clearly illegal, but also so obviously and pitifully childish and cowardly. The culprits came in the night like some common burglar or immature adolescent carrying out a prank that only they thought was cute or clever.

Well, if these individuals thought that their big scary action would have a negative effect on another vote for Obama, surprise, surprise: It motivated me to go to the Obama headquarters in Blacksburg and sign up to volunteer. I also bought 10 more yard signs, which we will attempt to display in perhaps a more theft-proof manner.

JANE HELLMAN
BLACKSBURG

A supervisor's endorsements

Few decisions are more important than whom you elect to represent you.

It's been my pleasure to represent Montgomery County's DistrictG, and I'm proud to offer my endorsements and reasons behind them.

>> For president, Barack Obama. We're not out of the woods, but we've made incredible progress. His vision for the country emphasizes that when we all pull together, we all get ahead. Shortly after he took office, in June 2009, unemployment in Montgomery County was 8.2 percent. It's now 6 percent. That's progress.

>> For senator, Tim Kaine. What impresses me most about Kaine is his devotion to public education. Since he left office, county public schools have lost more than $10 million. That's something he wouldn't have allowed.

>> In the 9th Congressional District, Anthony Flaccavento. His focus is on economic issues that directly affect Southwest Virginia, not trying to privatize Social Security or end Medicare.

>> Finally, for commonwealth's attorney, Peggy Frank. She understands that a commonwealth's attorney seeks justice, manages people and represents the interests of our whole community. She is an able prosecutor who will bring that office into the 21st century.

These are all able public servants and will serve us well.

MATTHEW GABRIELE
BLACKSBURG

Sunday, October 28, 2012