May 3: Dunston and Luther
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By Published by The Editorial Board
Published: May 2, 2008
Dunston for school board
To the editor:
I would like to voice my support for Millie Dunston, who is seeking a seat on the Danville School Board. Millie has been a customer of ours for many years. We enjoy her quiet, thoughtful demeanor and her great sense of humor. She is so very considerate of others.
Millie is an active member of The Church of the Epiphany. She sets high standards for herself and expects them from others. She assuredly will listen to the needs of teachers. She has taught at six different Danville schools during her career. She will carefully consider all viewpoints of both parents and students. Millie currently teaches in the GED program. She is helping many former Dan River Inc. employees who are seeking alternative job situations.
We need to elect a candidate who is willing to listen and to help others. In my opinion, Millie Dunston will do just that.
MARGARET H. MILAM
Danville
Luther got this issue right
To the editor:
I support David Luther’s right not to be involved in a partisan political forum.
I remember earlier council members who refused to attend certain meetings because they were considered “special interest” groups.
We do not need to pull political parties into our City Council. We need a group of councilmen and -women who will do what is best for this city regardless of party.
SHIRLEY DAY PRIMIANO
Danville
It wasn’t a Democratic event that Luther ducked
To the editor:
One should question another’s “capacity to lead” when the “leader” professes knowledge of something of which he or she obviously has no knowledge of.
Are you confused?
Well, I am too! Confused as to how David Luther could describe the Danville Democratic Committee-sponsored City Council forum as a “Danville Community College class”?
Did he attend the same forum that other council candidates described as “very well done,” “excellent, great questions” and “very good, good questions from the panel and the public”?
Oh! That’s right, Luther did not attend the forum that he describes in, “Keep the parties out of it,” (May 2, page A10). No wonder his description of the event does not describe those who actually attended.
How could it?
Mr. Luther, I saw your ad in the Danville Register & Bee on the same day as your letter. Your ad states that you have “Experienced, Proven Leadership.” Based on the ramblings in your letter, you show poor leadership abilities.
What a disservice you have done to the 100 Danville citizens — the very constituents you want to represent — who attended the forum. Your perceived description of the event shows that you did not trust these constituents enough to attend. As an incumbent and an“experienced” councilman, you know full well that you are to represent all of Danville’s citizens.
I am of the opinion that, although the majority of the 100 attendees are not members of our local committee, they too will question your leadership and will remember the one empty chair with your name on it when they vote May 6.
SHEILA BAYNES
Danville
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Posted by ( Jayne ) on May 03, 2008 at 8:53 am
I would agree with the writer that I would completely support Mr. Luther’s right not to attend a partisan political forum. But, the fact is, the recent forum sponsored by the Democratic Committee was NOT a partisan forum—the only one who tried to make it partisan was Luther! Ironic, huh? The Democratic Committee, aside from its political work, has long sponsored this forum as part of its additional mission of “Community Service,“ just like it collects food for God’s Storehouse or helped out striking Goodyear workers with firewood. I don’t know if the punch and crumb cake and cookies (since paid for/provided by Democratic donor), or the arrangement of well-respected and objective local moderator for the Forum, or the diverse panel of questioners, or the fact it was open to the public was what Luther considered partisan—but the only one labeled or identified or in any way associated with a party was Luther, by himself. Such knee-jerk reactions as his letters and comments in the paper, ill-informed or deliberately misleading statements about the forum to rally his supporters, and petty political tricks by a candidate to try to force others to identify themselves with a party (when that’s what he was supposedly protesting!) do our community a grave disservice, and they hurt our ability to forge common ground to work on the serious issues facing Danville. I seem to recall that at the same forum years ago, Dr. Wayne Williams, whom I suspect is republican in his leanings, attended the forum at the Stratford. Not only did it not hurt him, he got re-elected and subsequently became our mayor. The committed voters appreciate every opportunity to hear from candidates and ask questions. Maybe Luther feared meeting the voters and his ability to answer tough questions about his leadership skills for addressing serious issues—I don’t know why he and his supporters keep spewing false information about the forum. The fact is, to repeat for the hard-of-hearing, Democrats organized as non-partisan community service, as they previously have and will likely again. Spin for politiical reasons/deliberate deceit for political gain/trying to win an advantage or press coverage by igniting a false fire of controversy all contribute to the dumbing down of discourse, and thereby inhibit real resolution of serious problems we face in our community and nation. I think he should apologize for the misinformation, promise to get his facts straight when it comes to future business on the city council, and promise to join the other candidates and council members in returning City Council to a non-partisan avenue for working for the common good. Because some of us have a faith-based belief in redemption, and when we make a mistake (assuming it is an honest mistake and not deliberate intent to keep deceiving for some reason), we admit we are wrong, learn from our error, and are the better—stronger—for having grown as a human being. I still have one undecided vote Mr. Luther. Can you and your supporters join the other candidates, the Democratic Committee, and the voters in our fine city to put party preferences aside or beneath the common good, commit to the facts and issues on non-partisan level for the future, and join together regardless of whatever personal ad hominem problem you may have with individuals or groups to help resolve all the problems we face in Danville? Although like Sheila Baynes, I am seriously questioning your leadership skills at this point, I am open-minded and believe in forgiveness! I know it is embarrassing to be caught in the wrong or a lie, but God can forgive, and so can many voters.
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