New jobs, bad decision and Miller clarifies

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 20, 2008

Where are our new jobs?

To the editor:

What’s the difference between the northern end of Pittsylvania County and Danville?

Jobs!

Danville has seen a steady influx of jobs, bringing revenue to the city and paychecks to its residents. How did they get those jobs? Through the hard work and dedication of the city’s leaders. So that makes me wonder just how hard our leaders are working for us.

We have seen industry after industry move away, taking our livelihoods with them. Maybe if we had the public outcry that uranium mining has had or the monetary support that went into a recreation center to promote the strong and willing work force in this area, maybe things would turn around for our hometowns.

It almost seems as though our town leaders do not want job growth in our area — an “I have mine, I don’t care about yours” mentality. I guess it’s better to be a big fish in a tiny little pond.

If we have a travel 40 or 50 miles to a job in Danville or Lynchburg to make a decent living, we should darn well spend our money there too. Why should we support a town that does not care about us?

ROBIN MOORE

To the editor:

After reading, “Ignoring the court system” (June 15, page B8) by Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney William H. Fuller III, maybe Gov. Timothy M. Kaine doesn’t qualify for the governorship of Virginia.

I think Gov. Kaine has allowed his personal influences to commute Percy Walton’s sentence from death to life in prison. I believe his motives may have been:

 

• His religious beliefs;

• He owes favors to special interest groups;

• He has more compassion for murderers; and

• It was a great opportunity to exercise his political power.

However, I have know Bill Fuller for many years and I never heard anyone speak poorly of him. I think Bill has done an outstanding job as our commonwealth’s attorney.

I am grateful that Danville has a qualified prosecuting attorney such as Mr. Fuller — someone who has compassion for the victims and their family.

He is an admirable member of his profession and we need more like him — and less of those with qualities like Tim Kaine.

BOB DOSS

To the editor:

I wanted to offer a clarification on the article published concerning my announcement as a candidate for treasurer of Pittsylvania County, “Miller third contender to eye treasurer’s seat,” (June 17, page A3).

The article stated that I wanted to “examine the possibility of hiring a law firm to help the treasurer’s office with collections and tax sales.” The county already has a law firm that assists with the collections and tax sales functions. My concern is that this law firm is located in Blacksburg. I want to determine if there is a local law firm that might be able to serve in that capacity so as to keep county funds local.

Also, I was quoted as saying, “I know what it’s like to talk with the person who genuinely cannot pay.” That is true in the sense that as a loan officer for American National Bank and Trust Company, I had to collect on delinquent accounts. I dealt with customers in many different circumstances. The main goal, though, was to collect the funds that were due to the bank by whatever means necessary. As county treasurer, I would have as my goal to collect fees and taxes by whatever means necessary.

In closing, the reporter who wrote the story exhibited a high level professionalism in his interview and writing skills. I believe space constraints hindered the inclusion of the above information.

CHAD MILLER

Dry Fork