Winston-Salem Journal LTE FR 11/02/12

Effective approach

Elisabeth Motsinger is a friend of mine. I have always known her to be a passionate but gentle soul. Her enthusiasm has been evident whether discussing a community or church issue.

Elisabeth always makes it clear that relationships come first and everyone should have their say, participating in the solution. This approach has been very effective in creating solutions but still making everyone feel heard. These qualities have served her well on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board and will serve us all when she is elected in the 5th district to the House of Representatives.

I have no doubt that Elisabeth will work hard to overcome the current congressional gridlock, as she has demonstrated a willingness to listen to and try to understand all viewpoints. Her respectful and ethical approach is punctuated by her insistence on running a completely positive campaign. So I am proud to have volunteered for her campaign.

Personally, I am looking for a Congress that is filled with individuals like her, working for all the people in a respectful and collaborative manner.

HERMAN SCHMID

Winston-Salem

A tremendous skill set

I write this letter in support of Andrew Keever, candidate for District Court judge. As a co-worker of Andrew Keever for the past several years, I have been fortunate to get to know him. He exudes a quiet confidence and is hard working and knowledgeable in the law. He is dedicated to his clients, colleagues and family and has the ideal temperament to serve in District Court. More importantly, his experience as a probation officer, public defender and an attorney in private practice has given him a tremendous skill set that will allow him to make fair and impartial decisions from the bench.

In its editorial “Our endorsements in county races” (Oct. 19), the Journal endorsed Keever’s opponent, incumbent judge Victoria Roemer, noting that she had “improved.” The Journal reached this conclusion despite the fact that Judge Roemer earned the lowest marks of any sitting District Court judge in Forsyth County running for re-election in the judicial performance survey released by the N.C. Bar Association. I am not sure how this shows any improvement, however, I am sure of one way to improve the quality of the District Court Bench: Elect Andrew Keever.

DANIEL R. WANDERMAN

Winston-Salem

Hands-on knowledge

I have been a real-estate attorney in Winston-Salem since 1985 and since then have seen Karen Gordon in the Forsyth County Register of Deeds Office working her way up through the ranks until she was appointed register of deeds on Dickie Woods’ retirement. She did the heavy lifting of supervising the move of the register of deeds office to its present location and served as register of deeds until 2008.

I highly recommend her to every voter in Forsyth County as the candidate with the most hands-on knowledge of the register of deeds office since she has worked in every facet of its operation since she became employed by the register of deeds office all those years ago.

She has had a history of public service in the register of deeds office for decades and knows more about the proper operation of the register of deeds office than any other person I can think of. I urge every voter to vote for Karen Gordon for register of deeds.

RONALD J. SHORT

Winston-Salem

Shows care and concern

Elisabeth Motsinger, a young, incredibly compassionate student, impressed me immensely during her training as a physician assistant. Over the years I have watched Elisabeth develop into a dedicated leader in the community. Elisabeth shows care and concern for our children, the health of our citizens and our environment and participates in a meaningful manner to improve people’s lives daily. We need Elisabeth to make our voices heard in Washington as our 5th Congressional District representative because we do not have representation at the moment.

HEMA SETHI

Winston-Salem

Romney’s tax plan

Here's the deal. One has to listen closely to what Mitt Romney said in the first debate when he depicted himself not to be the true friend of the wealthy but of the disappearing middle class. He said he would reduce tax rates on all but the super-wealthy. He also said that he would gain tax revenue by eliminating deductions and by getting more in taxes from a growing economy. So our original tax bills will be lowered by the new tax rate but they will simultaneously be increased by our loss of deductions, and the government will end up getting more money in taxes.

But Romney isn't going to tell us how much of his government-tax intake is going to come out of the deductions we got on our last tax forms. Our only hope is that next year the economy suddenly blossoms like dandelions after a spring rainstorm. Otherwise, the increases in government tax revenue are going to come out of our pockets, because the deductions are the other half of the plan.

EDDIE MORAN

Walkertown

An excellent job

Norman Holleman has done an excellent job as our Forsyth County Register of Deeds. As a former real-estate attorney, it is my pleasure to support his re-election.

His administration has made terrific improvements in the running of the register's office. Early on he did away with a system of prior registers that required the public to pay monthly for online access to our public records. Forsyth County was one of only a handful of North Carolina counties charging for this access. Now that access is free online to all.

In addition, Norman has modernized the office, reorganized it and worked to reduce costs and save money for the entire county. His administration has been a breath of fresh air to the management of public records in this county. We should re-elect Norman Holleman.

WARREN HODGES

Winston-Salem

Not a politician but a representative

Elisabeth Motsinger has my enthusiastic support for the 5th District Congressional seat. I have known Elisabeth for a quarter of a century and have always known her to act and speak with genuine integrity and honesty. Through her work as a physician assistant and member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board she has actively worked to improve the lives of her neighbors and advocate for those in need.

Elisabeth Motsinger would not be a politician in Congress, but a true representative for our community.

PATRICIA B. FETHEROLF

Winston-Salem

‘Conservatives’

I’m not a historian, but here are a few historical facts.

The Great Depression, which developed under a businessman-president, was handed off to the Democrats and every effort toward recovery was opposed by the Republicans in Congress. (Sounds like “We want this administration to fail,” at the expense of the national good.)

The Savings and Loan disaster occurred during Ronald Reagan’s administration.

The Great Recession of 2008 was handed off to the Democrats and every effort toward recovery has been opposed by the Republicans in Congress. (“We want this administration to fail” at the expense of the public good).

Reagan was a “conservative”; he left us with a deficit.

George H.W. Bush was a “conservative”; he left us with a deficit.

Bill Clinton was called a “liberal”; he left us with a surplus.

George W. Bush was a “conservative”; he left us with a massive deficit. He was an MBA recipient who took us into a second war before he finished the first and destroyed the economy and the middle class over an eight-year period. (President Obama is expected to repair both in four.)

Mitt Romney is another MBA recipient. Is there a pattern here? You decide, but you had better decide fast before the Taliban wing of the Republican Party takes your voting rights.

Vote to save your right to vote.

JOHN G. BRANDT

Winston-Salem

In the right direction

While you have ably covered the Nov. 6 election, I feel you should better highlight some important context.

Four years ago, America faced its greatest economic crisis in generations. Employment was plummeting, and a second Great Depression appeared possible.

Since taking office, President Obama has worked tirelessly to stabilize the economy and rebuild America’s middle class. This hasn’t always been easy, but we are moving in the right direction. We now have steady job growth, and recovery is underway.

Now Mitt Romney proposes a return to the Bush-era policies of cutting taxes for millionaires and giving freer reign to Wall Street, which led us into this mess. This didn’t work before, and it won’t work now.

I urge your readers to vote for Barack Obama.

ANDREW MILLS

Winston-Salem

A fresh approach

I encourage the readers of the Journal to vote for Elisabeth Motsinger for Congress. Many people are longing for a change, and that fresh approach is Elisabeth Motsinger.

We citizens need someone to stand up for us when it comes to the necessity of health care. I buy my own health insurance, and know what it's like to be refused coverage because of cancer.

Children are the future of this great country. They require a strong advocate like Elisabeth who has experience in education.

Deadlock is not a way to govern and it hurts us all. Elisabeth is experienced in putting aside partisan differences and solving problems.

Vote for your future. Vote Elisabeth Motsinger.

ARTHUR R. KAINZ

Kernersville

A bright light

NC House 72 candidate Charlie Mellies is a bright light in our future. I met him when I was a senior lawyer for the public defender’s office. Charlie, working as a clinical law student there, caught my attention because of his high energy, his extraordinary people skills and his natural ability in law. I watched his first jury trial (typically a major hurdle for young lawyers). Charlie did a great job, won the case and since has become an accomplished trial attorney in his own right.

In law school, Charlie competed nationally in trial competitions and received high awards for advocacy and ethics. During his undergraduate years at Wake Forest University, he lettered in baseball and received many honors for academics, leadership and athletics. Also, he served on numerous advisory committees, worked as an intern for the Veterans Administration, and presently is a part-time assistant baseball coach at Calvary Baptist Day School.

Also, Charlie is dedicated to America’s national defense, serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, Judge Advocate General Corp.

Charlie’s diverse experiences, his willingness to listen, and his wisdom beyond his years is a sign that he will make good decisions in his quest to clear the logjams and get things done in Raleigh. He will fight to bring jobs back to our city, to lower taxes and to clean up state government. He will make us proud.

I urge you to vote for Charlie Mellies in the upcoming election for NC House 72.

DANNY FERGUSON

Winston Salem

A caring person

I read Scott Sexton's Oct. 18 column “Judge’s courtroom is filled with one-liners” on Forsyth District Court Judge Roland Hayes. I am in a business that occasionally requires me to take people to court. I have been in Judge Hayes' court about five times in three years.

Yes, it is true that Judge Hayes is the "king of the one-liners." But I think that Sexton may have missed the point. Judge Hayes appears, to me, to be a compassionate, caring person who dispenses justice with an emphasis on common sense and years of experience.

In my youth, I often criticized "old people" who "didn't know nothin’." But now that I am somewhat older, I am more leaning to the phrase that "youth is wasted on the young."

So, instead of suggesting that "maybe it's time for a gold watch and a rocking chair," I think that maybe it's time for Sexton to be a little more open-minded and appreciate a wonderful man for the job that he does in a somewhat colorful manor.

We citizens are the ones who are the beneficiaries of his service to us.

DAVID B. RIERSON

Lewisville

A big impact

I've known Elisabeth Motsinger, candidate for 5th Congressional District, for 16 years. Considering I'm 16 years old, this is a significant portion of my life to say the least. Through those years she has had a big impact on my views and has greatly strengthened my opinions on issues such as education and women's rights. I agree with her stance on taxation (beneficial for middle-class income families, yet fair for all Americans) and fully support her preservationist views on the environment.

When I am eligible to do so, Elisabeth Motsinger has my vote.

CAITLIN MOFFATT

Winston-Salem

Romney’s concern

Several weeks ago presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was interviewed by journalist Chris Wallace of Fox News. Wallace asked Romney why, if he knew years ago that he planned to make a run for the presidency, he didn’t eliminate his foreign accounts in Switzerland, the Cayman Islands and other places. Romney answered that it didn’t matter where his accounts were, the tax rate was the same; there were no savings at all.

This tells us that Romney’s only concern is paying the least amount possible in taxes.

Why not look at the issue from this perspective: Why shouldn’t the money be in accounts in America, such as banks, financial institutions, stocks and bonds, etc.? At least this would allow the money to be placed in circulation, thus helping to create jobs and generate revenue. But Romney is not concerned about helping Americans. He is only looking at his bottom line.

Why does Romney refuse to release all of his tax returns of the past several years? Yet he asks us to trust him. How can we trust someone who is not honest and transparent with the American people?

My take on Romney is that he is a multimillionaire who is out of touch with and cannot identify with the average American. He chooses instead to associate himself only with millionaires like himself.

The truth is that the American people will not be better off if Romney is elected president.

JACK LUTZ

King