Published: November 01, 2007 10:29 am      

Nov. 1 letters to the editor

Vote for Vulich

This election is one of, if not the most important in the history of the city. When we choose our mayor and council members for the next four years, we need to be sure we are choosing the most knowledgeable and experienced candidates, those with a proven track record for positive growth oriented leadership.

Mark Vulich hit the ground running when he was appointed At-Large in early 2006. Just three weeks after joining the Council, Mark suggested the city look at our growing deer population. The Council decided to form a five-person committee made up of Capt. Charles Witt, Tom Krogman, Randy Schaeffer, Robin Fraser and Mark Vulich to look at the issue. In less than three months, this committee brought back to the City Council a plan for a deer management zone, had a deer management program developed that was approved by the DNR and they even updated our “Firearm Discharge Ordinance” in the process. Mark presented the plans to the Council and it was approve unanimously. In 2000 a similar inquiry about deer hunting was brought to the Council. According to newspaper clippings the issue of deer hunting rattled around City Hall for over five months. It was listed by the Clinton Herald as a “hot debate” in one article. End result: the Council did not touch the issue. I think this shows Mark can work with people and get things accomplished.

Just this past spring, Mark presented an amendment to the City Council to lower animal license fees. It was unanimously approved. This tells me Mark understands our high taxes and fees frustrate the citizens and he is working for us to lower them when possible.

What has most impressed me about Mark is when he stood up to the City Administrator’s proposal to add two new people to the City payroll. I watched this on TV. I saw Mark explain how one employee was to be paid from sewer revenue funds.

Can you imagine the City would even consider using sewer revenue funds to pay for a new employee! Our sewer taxes are high enough. The other position was for Human Resources. I do think we need an HR person but as Mark explained we need to budget for that position. Mark moved to table the adding of both positions and the Council agreed with him 5-1.

Mark uses good common sense and has proven his financial responsibility. He explains his positions clearly and is very approachable and answers questions clearly.

When Mark says something, he means it and follows through to the end.

Mark’s opponent seems to think that Internet technology is the most important qualifier for the council position. Mark owns a computer consulting business and on several occasions has offered suggestions on what the city should do to improve its computer systems. So what else does Mr. Anderson offer? I wish I knew.

It’s interesting to note that Anderson and Meyer, the council and mayoral candidates talking the most about communication between the council and the community, are not even listed in the phone book. Perhaps they are not aware that not everyone is a techie who depends on the Internet. Many folks still rely on that old-fashioned instrument, the telephone.

When you go to vote Nov. 6 please consider Clinton’s future and yours and choose the candidates most able to make informed and responsible decisions based on knowledge and experience, not heady philosophy and empty rhetoric.



Bev Hermann,

Clinton



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Elect Holm to be Clinton’s mayor

Those of us who have chosen to live in this beautiful city of Clinton have also learned to appreciate our wonderful Mayor, LaMetta Wynn.

As residents, home owners, taxpayers and voters we all owe LaMetta a huge “thank you” for her 12 years of service, dedication and leadership in moving this forward as our mayor. One of the many good decisions as mayor was her appointment of Rodger Holm as mayor pro tem. Rodger has the experience, desire, character and leadership qualities to move and improve our city.

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, vote for progress in Clinton; vote for Rodger Holm as mayor.



Don Krambeck,

Clinton



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Donate to make Thanksgiving better on the reservations

I received an urgent letter from Billy Mills. He was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, was orphaned at a young age, became a gold medalist Olympian in track.

He now helps with the Running Strong for American Indian Youth.

He has a goal this Thanksgiving: 15,500 turkeys to provide for about seven reservations.

Last year he was able to help feed them and he said, “you should have seen the faces of those happy American Indian children.”

So if you’d like to help them, as I am going to do, contact www.BillyMills.org or send a check (noting turkeys for Billy Mills) Food Pantry, Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Eagle Butte, S.D. 57625, or Center Pole Pantry at Crow Agency, MT 59022.

I hope he gets double his amount.



Diana VanZuiden,

Fulton, Ill.