Questions and Answers From Those Seeking Voter Support?

All the questions that were sent out to candidates for office by the newspaper more than two months ago have now been printed along with the answers given by those various candidates.

Congratulations are deserved by those answering and giving an idea where they stand on various issues. A special respect goes to those who are not opposed in their respective races but answered anyway. I believe to a large degree it shows much positivity about their relationship with the public and desire to work for them.

As impressive as are those who answered, an equal degree of disappointment is experienced as a result of those who chose to ignore the questions and thus basically snubbed their noses at the public. Many of these same people who refused to answer the questions are also the ones who were absent from other opportunities to allow the public an interaction with them.

Was it the sense of not needing the publics support; was it the arrogance of feeling they have the election in the bag; was it simply that they felt they had nothing to offer in the way of ideas? Whatever the reason the result is that voters know very little about some of the candidates and even less about their plans for the county if elected.

Most noticeable of those missing, simply because of the high office they seek, was the County Executive Mrs Vanzant. It is most disturbing that Mrs Vanzant, who is seeking re-election to the most important county governmental office on the ballot, not only did not answer any of the newspaper questions she has not stood for any questions in any other forum.

Without a responsiveness to the people can anyone honestly believe they deserve consideration of those same people to elect them to any public office? I think not.
Allen Barrett