Reader endorsements and comments on local races and the president

Fickes deserves support

The Democratic contender for the Precinct 3 Tarrant County commissioner’s seat, like so many of his party, is trying to distract voters with false accusations about the position and record of Commissioner Gary Fickes. While offering no actual plans of his own for relieving the congestion on Northeast Tarrant County roads except to leave them as they are, he is trying to portray Fickes as wanting to turn our existing highways into toll roads. Nothing could be further from the truth: Fickes is and always has been against tolling any of the existing roads in Tarrant County.

Only Fickes has the experience and understanding of the issues needed to represent us. There are no toll roads in Tarrant County. Commissioners Court has lowered our county tax rate the two years Fickes has been in office.

Let’s just keep the facts straight!

— Ralph Siebert, Keller

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As an elected official in one of the cities that Commissioner Gary Fickes represents, I cannot stress enough the importance of electing him to a full four-year term. I have found the commissioner to be very cooperative and willing to help our cities in any way that he can. We need Fickes on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Please vote for him Nov. 4.

— Richard Ward, Hurst

Turner for district judge

I recommend Randy Turner for the 17th District Court judge position.

— Aubra Wilson, Fort Worth

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Randy Turner is a competent, humane man and would be an asset to Tarrant County. Here is a man who knows the law and can be for justice. Vote for Randy!

— Linda Lee Balkin, Richardson

Crossing lines for Gould

It would take an exceptional person for me, a lifetime Republican, to vote for a Democrat. One such person is Warren Gould, candidate for judge of 67th District Court in Tarrant County. He’s a highly qualified attorney with great ideas for making the court system more efficient. His Web site is Vote-Gould.com. Please give him your consideration and vote. Warren will serve us well.

— Toni Wietholter, Fort Worth

Rating Granger

I read Jack Z. Smith’s column about U.S. Rep. Kay Granger. I’m confused about her “four” rating of President Bush. Is she throwing him under the bus to save her own job, or are we supposed to forget that she and her enabling fellow Republicans have been solidly behind Bush for the past eight years?

I wonder how she rates her own job over that time. There is something to be said about judgment, honesty and intelligence. We should have the right to expect that our elected reps have all three.
We don’t go to Joe Six-Pack when we are sick and we shouldn’t go to him when we have a sick government.

— JoAnn Scopel, Saginaw

Send Pierson back

Please endorse and vote for Paula Pierson, currently representing District 93 as state representative. Her re-election will ensure another positive term for all of Texas and her district. Paula is honest, hardworking and dependable.

District 93 is her top priority, and Paula is not afraid to stand strong for what you and your community need. Paula holds our true interest at heart and has proven herself during her last term in Austin. Let’s all go vote and support Paula Pierson to win this election.

— Sonja Arnold-Boone, Arlington

Brimer vs. Davis

I would like to comment on the ongoing Kim Brimer lawsuits trying to keep Wendy Davis off the ballot.

As a retired city of Fort Worth employee I can say that as a councilperson, Wendy was the only one who stood up for the working class and was always looking out for the interests of those who elected her. She was, in my opinion, the only one at that time always trying to help not only the rank-and-file workers but her constituents as well.

I believe she would be an asset to the people of this district and will gladly support her. Brimer needs to give up and let the people speak. I do not support either party but rather the individual who I think will be the better person for the job. And based on Wendy Davis’ votes while on the council, I will gladly vote for her.

— Danny Lewis, Fort Worth

Want change?

Sick of paying the highest electric rates in the country? Then re-elect Dan Barrett as state representative in District 97. He’ll work to overturn deregulation and bring down energy costs.

Sick of Texas being ranked No. 1 in pollution and No. 44 in education? Then elect Wendy Davis for state senator in District 10. She’ll fight for stricter pollution controls and a quality education for all children.

Sick of pre-emptive war and the backdoor draft? Then elect Rick Noriega, Afghanistan war veteran for U.S. senator. He’ll vote to bring our troops home and ensure they get the quality healthcare they deserve.

Sick of Republican greed, corporate welfare, bailouts, outsourcing, foreclosures, no-bid contracts, cronyism, environmental disasters and an ailing economy? Then elect Barack Obama president. He’ll put this critically ill nation back on the road to recovery.

— Sharon Austry, Fort Worth

Unfair review

I read with interest the Oct. 7 Los Angeles Times article and am not sure if it was meant to be praise or criticism (See: “In Navy, McCain was a daring, perhaps cocky, pilot”) but I do know from spending four years on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War that anyone who flies a jet fighter plane off of and lands on an aircraft carrier needs to be and has the right to be a little bit cocky.

I believe that McCain was a lieutenant commander when he was shot down over Vietnam. That rank is a position of responsibility and maturity and indicates judgment and skills acceptable to the U.S. Navy. To question the judgment and skill of a young Navy pilot learning by doing is unfair for a justifiably respected war hero who retired as a Navy captain.

This is a one-sided article and in all fairness the same time and space should be afforded to the military record of Barack Obama.

— Bobby Wilson, Fort Worth

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I was rather incredulous in reading the article that accused John McCain of being a reckless Naval officer. I suggest that George Washington and Sam Houston could be attacked for the same reasons. A real waste of ink.

— Dale Gilbert, Arlington