Letters to the Editor For June 22, 2011

Writers weigh in for treasurer

Many of you knew and will recall my late husband, Marvin Davis. He was entrusted by the residents of Nelson County with the privilege of serving as county treasurer from 1972 to 1998. During his tenure, back in 1993, he hired a young lady named Angela Fortune Johnson as deputy treasurer.

He expressed to me many times that he was impressed by her hard work and desire to learn as much as she could about her position. She quickly mastered office procedures. Additionally, she attended classes and training to gain more knowledge about her position and responsibilities. He quickly recognized that she truly cared about the position, worked well with other people in the office and was willing to extend herself to do the best possible job for Nelson County people. It became readily apparent that she was an outstanding deputy and thus an obvious potential future treasurer.

For the pas 18 years, she has served the office, first as deputy and then as chief deputy beginning in 2009. She also has served under the current treasurer, Erma D. Harris. Among other accomplishments, she was the first deputy treasurer in county history to be awarded certification of master governmental deputy treasurer by the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia.

As Harris has decided to retire, we are given choices about her replacement. Johnson is in the running, and I believe she is the best choice. I say this based on many years of knowing her. No one else can offer the on-the-job experience and professionalism that she has. Furthermore, her honesty, reliability and ability to work courteously with the public have been proven.

For Johnson to be on the November ballot, she must win the July 12 Democratic primary, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lovingston firehouse. Stop by and vote, which will take two to three minutes. Please join me in voting for Angi Johnson.

NANCY DAVIS

Shipman

Johnson for treasurer

From 3 to 7 p.m. on July 12, Nelson County Democrats will hold their primary at the Lovingston Fire Department to decide the Democratic nominee county treasurer.

I hope that people will support Angi Fortune Johnson for treasurer. She has 18 years of experience in our treasurer’s office under Erma Sue Harris and Marvin Davis.

She is the first and only treasurer’s office employee to obtain certification as a master governmental deputy treasurer, by the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia.

Besides experience, she brings the ability to work will with fellow employees. She is unfailingly polite, honest and hardworking. She will make an outstanding treasurer for our county.

For her to be on our ballot in November, she must first win the Democratic nomination. Please set aside a couple of minutes to stop by the Lovingston firehouse on July 12 and join me in voting for Angi Johnson for treasurer. Our county deserves a treasurer with proven experience.

THOMAS PROULX

Afton

Be an informed voter

If previous Virginia election cycles are any indication, not 25 percent of Nelson County residents will find the time this November to vote. In years past, the political bosses determined who is elected within the political framework established by the Founding Fathers. Not today. Today, we have serious Constitutional and governance problems that should cause each of us to challenge every political candidate.

Please allow me to recommend several issues that you might wish to address to the several state and Nelson County candidates.

Do you agree that state or local governments should be able to take your property, your land, through imminent domain not for the purpose of public use but for the purpose of improving the state or county tax base by seizing your land and reselling it to a wealthy developer?

Do you agree that school personnel issues such as tenure, salary scales, total compensation packages, retirement requirements and the like should be negotiated in Richmond between state union leaders and elected representatives often the recipient of campaign donations from the very groups with whom the representatives are negotiating? Did you know that Nelson County has a $900,000 unfunded liability associated with the $800 Million debt the state owes the Virginia Retirement System? That’s only $60 for every man, woman and child in Nelson County. Not to worry.

Do you agree that the sheriff should just step aside without raising concerns to the county Board of Supervisors regarding Federal SWAT Team attacks upon Nelson County citizens as occurred in California over some alleged fraud regarding student loans? (By the way, why does the Department of Education have a SWAT Team? I guess that you just cannot be a real federal agency without your own SWAT Team.) Or have we forgotten Obama’s 2 July, 2008 Colorado Springs speech in which he stated the following "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded."

As neither Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner nor Rep. Robert Hurt have spoken out on behalf of the citizens of Virginia against all of these SWAT teams, they must agree with the concept. Do you?

These are but three of the many issues that you, the Nelson County voter, should ask of the several candidates regardless of party. There are many more. But, if you don’t care and wish to remain a serf to the political power brokers within the county and the state, don’t ask and don’t vote in November. Besides, you don’t like politics anyhow.

BOB DEWEY

Wintergreen