Sat, May 17 2008
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I went to school in Orange and I daily check the Internet to keep up with the news.
Earlier in the editorial section, (one author) wrote about one to the candidates and it seemed like he thought that none of the past mayors accomplished anything for the benefit of the citizens of Orange. This was misleading and in error because I know most of the mayors have made Orange a better place since the 1970s.
It is inappropriate to minimize the work of past City of Orange Mayors and leaders to promote a present candidate for office of mayor or any office.
Alana Rick
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On April 29, I attended a debate forum sponsored by the NAACP at Lamar University Orange for the mayor’s race and council seats.
During one exchange, the current mayor answered a question about whether h regretted the annexation of Little Cypress and would he do it again if he had it to do over.
His passionate answer spoke volumes when he said, “the state gave us the right and we took it.” History has shown that the State is not always right.
Imagine the great debate between Abe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in bygone years. The question is asked of each orator, “what about the issue of slavery?” Stephen Douglas states with great eloquence, “the State gave us the right to own slaves, so therefor it must be right.”
Abe Lincoln states simply, “The State is woefully wrong and has helped to perpetuate a great evil.”
Both men spoke with conviction and believed strongly in their principles, but only one was right.
Ironically, at the NAACP forum, the spirit of Stephen Douglas raised its ugly head again and was still just as wrong as before. When history repeats itself, we should take heed to the lesson it’s trying to teach!
Congressman Jack Brooks once accidentally spoke into an open mike and said, “I wish people would leave us alone and let us govern!” It cost him his seat in Congress because he had forgotten his role as servant and now thought himself Lord.
Charles Atkinson, Glen Prince and Jeff Holland are trying to make the city council of Orange a more approachable governing body. These men are not Lords, but rather smart, savvy businessmen who know their way around a budget and are not afraid to live within the limits.
When was the last time you picked up the phone and talked to the mayor about anything? Unless you are a mover and a shaker in this town you can forget it! Mostly what I’ve seen is lip service in the public arena and a whole lot of executive closed-door sessions out of earshot of anyone. Everytime they reemerge someone’s been had!
So the question remains; do we want lords and ladies to rule over us because they are entitled and their names easily recognized, or do we chart a different course with the political unknowns? The Orange Municipal Police Association just endorsed the new unknowns over the status quo.
Do we want more growing debt and higher taxes as promised by the incumbents, or smarter strategies to manage our current resources as proposed by the challengers?
If Honest Abe were here he’d say, “I was politically unknown once and yet I helped chart a new course in American history. I went against the grain and abolished the evil of slavery. Now, stay the course men and help set your city free from debt and taxes that come from out of control spending by the current Lords and Ladies of the Status Quo!”
Arlon Davis
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With the city election approaching Saturday, it is time to speak out and tell the truth as I see it about what is happening. I feel there is a campaign going on to attempt to take over the City Council. The slate of three candidates from the annexed area seem to be intent on taking control of the City Council and making big changes in our City government.
Although the annexed area makes up approximately 10 percent of Orange’s population, I feel the slate is hoping that 90 percent of the voters in the rest of the City will be asleep so they can slip in and take over. They cannot turn back the annexation, but they can turn back the clock.
Orange is growing by leaps and bounds. Tourists are flocking in. Motels are being built. Businesses are finally looking at us. Restaurants are opening. The Stark Foundation is revitalizing downtown Orange and changes have already been started for the annexed area of Little Cypress.
If we allow the 10 percent to dictate the will of the 90 percent, it will be a sad day for our city.
I feel it is no accident that the three candidates who previously lived outside the city are running against incumbents on the city council. The slate represents three men who are from the annexed area and I feel are representing the interest of the angry 10 percent who got annexed, not the 90 percent who were city residents prior to the annexation.
It is a fact that the mayoral challenger appeared before the City Council opposing annexation and said he was “principle driven” and if the annexation occurred, he was going to move. Instead, he is running for mayor. As far as I know, the slate has not lived in the City of Orange recently, didn’t want to be a part of the city, but now wants to run it. Isn’t that ironic?
I also feel that the endorsement of the slate by the Orange Municipal Police Association is quite puzzling. What was the vote? What is their plan? Are they mad at someone and why? I have never heard of civil service employees endorsing candidates. The endorsement of Mayor Claybar by the Beaumont Enterprise is far more impressive.
In contrast, Brown Claybar has been one of the best mayors in our history. He has led the council through tough times, including bringing us through the ravages of Hurricane Rita. He has been supported by a unanimous city council which thoroughly studied the issues and voted to make the tough calls that have moved the city forward. The annexation obviously wasn’t popular in Little Cypress; but, it was necessary to assure growth and progress. As a result, our city is on the brink of a great leap forward in the next few years.
Mayor Claybar and the incumbent councilmen merit re-election. The only thing that can stop our progress is a low voter turnout Saturday. I urge you to get out and vote and support Mayor Claybar and Councilmen Beauchamp and Jackson. They have stood up for the city through tough times, and we need to stand up with and for them now so that we can keep moving forward.
Rose Simar
Orange
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The City of Orange is in the midst of an election campaign for two City Council positions and the Mayor's position This is an historic race that has candidate participation by citizens from across the community.
Please allow me to recommend three of the candidates to you: Charles Atkinson for the position of Mayor, Glen Prince for City Council Place 1 and Jeff Holland for City Council Place 3.
I have known all three of these men for years in various capacities and consider them to be not only close friends and neighbors but also men of impeccable character, integrity and honor. When elected, these men will serve Orange with compassion and openness to the needs of all citizens.
Atkinson, Prince and Holland bring a wealth of experience and know-how from business, industry, military, and municipal careers. They will add a knowledge base to the Council that will greatly help Orange as it seeks to grow its population, business and quality of life. They are presenting new ideas about commerce, infrastructure improvements, streamlining city government, lowering the crime rate, and making the city of Orange an even better place to live and work.
So, in conclusion, I would like to encourage you to vote for Charles Atkinson, Glen Prince and Jeff Holland on May 10, 2008.
Nelson Broussard
Orange
•••
This afternoon, as I was in my back yard, back against the marsh of Adams Bayou, I felt the breeze blow in strongly from the south. As I watched the trees sway gently to and fro, I realized it was less than one month until hurricane season will be upon us.
Most of us in Orange will never forget Hurricane Rita in 2005. Those who do forget, I envy them. Our shop, Buckley & Son, was completely destroyed and our home sustained heavy damages.
The good things I do remember — KOGT, Stelly and Corder, on the air, our police chief, our city manager, and our mayor trying to get our city back on its feet after a knockout punch from Hurricane Rita. I am so grateful to these folks and the entire city council.
My wife, my son and I were back in Orange the day of the hurricane. Everywhere you looked, the city was there. I saw Brown Claybar, our mayor, two or three times a day back and forth throughout Orange. Believe me folks, he was a man with a mission. Orange came back quietly but quickly after the hurricane because of the leadership of Brown Claybar, the council, and our city manager. The folks in the outlying areas of Orange suffered a little longer, but now, for many of them, they are part of our city, and if we get hit again with a horrific hurricane, they will have the protection of the city of Orange, as well as the leadership of our mayor, our council, our police chief, our city manager — they’re a team.
I know from past experience if there is a call at 3:00 in the morning and a hurricane is threatening our city, I want Brown Claybar to answer that call. Lannie & Granny raised their two boys right.
Jarvis Buckley
Orange
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I am astounded by the political turmoil that is occurring right before our eyes and the effect it is having on an exceptional leader the City of Orange has been privileged to claim for years.
Police Chief Sam Kittrell has served the city well for more than 20 years. Recently, he has been attacked without justification by factions that do not seem to care about the big picture and are concerned only with their self-interests. I am specifically talking about the (1) baseless claims recently asserted that crime is “rampant” in the city and (2) the so-called “endorsement” by the police officers’ association of the oppositional candidate for mayor.
The oppositional candidate is using scare tactics in his assertion that the crime rate in Orange is twice the national average. Where is his supporting documentation? There is none. This is done only for the sole purpose of advancing his agenda, which is not necessarily to become mayor of the City that he publicly disparaged during the annexation process, but rather, it seems to seek revenge against Chief Kittrell, who was the acting city manager in 2004 when the annexation process was initiated.
That the police association has purportedly “endorsed” the oppositional candidate highlights its own special interest, which appears to be seeking the downfall of Chief Kittrell for being an excellent manager and making the department function effectively and efficiently.
The common denominator of these two factions is to target Chief Kittrell for (1) doing his job and (2) doing a fine job at that. The residents of the city need to realize what is happening before their eyes and get out and vote for incumbents, Mayor Brown Claybar and Councilwomen Cynthia Jackson and Theresa Beauchamp on May 10, so that the city is not lost to those with a personal agenda and who will do us more harm than good.
Bill Klein
Bridge City
Former mayor encouraging voters to head to the polls
I would like to address the citizens of Pinehurst as a former three term mayor of Pinehurst and current citizen. I feel compelled to express my feelings regarding our city.
The actions taken by our former and current councils have been vital in helping Pinehurst be recognized as one of the most progressive cities in Orange County.
A few of the more significant accomplishments of these councils are the annual Pinehurst Senior Citizens Picnic, widening of Strickland Drive in which our city council provided the money to relocate the existing underground utilities enabling this project to become a reality, purchase the necessary right of way allowing for the construction of Martin Luther King Drive and the recent purchase of an additional fire truck for our city.
All elected members of governmental entities are challenged with making decisions that ultimately affect our citizens. It is important that those elected have the foresight to represent our city in a positive and progressive manner. Many of these decisions don’t come without being questioned and challenged. Based on the accomplishments of our current city council, it is apparent that the City of Pinehurst has a very well qualified city council that fits this mold.
We, as citizens of Pinehurst, should look around our city and take this into consideration when we go to the polls May 10 to elect our next city council and mayor.
Pete Runnels
Pinehurst
Mauriceville voter supports bond issue
As Election Day for the LC-M CISD bond issue draws closer, I would like to encourage everyone to be informed of the facts before you cast your vote. Look at the web site and take a tour of the high school. We need a high school that is equipped for the future of technology and the resources for students to be successful when they graduate.
I have been fortunate to be involved since November on the Planning and Vision Committee. I know what it took to get to this point and it was not an easy decision for any of us on the committee. We all had concerns about each campus that we were directly involved in. Yes, some of our schools are in horrible condition but we had to think of what was best for the entire district as a whole.
I am proud to say that I live in Mauriceville and have tried to make sure we had a voice in what goes on in the district. It has been said that Little Cypress gets everything once again and Mauriceville gets nothing. The high school is for ALL students. It's time to put this, us (Mauriceville) verses them (Little Cypress) to rest. This goes for both ends of the district. Every school in the district will benefit from this bond election if passed. It's not the ideal solution but it was the best we could agree on to greatly impact the safety and future of all our students.
I hope you will VOTE YES for the future of the students and community of LC-M CISD on May 10!
Rossie Hughes
Mauriceville
Removal of trees appalling to neighbor
As a great finale for “Earth Week,” many trees across the street from Shangri La were torn down to erect a parking lot. Large oak, pecan and sweet gum trees have been leveled.
Of all the entities in the Orange area, I am appalled that Shangri La would allow this to happen. It gives new meaning to the slogan, “Be Kind to Our World.”
Surely, those who planned the parking lot have enough imagination and creativity to incorporate the beautiful trees into the space. After hurricane Rita befell Orange, staff at Shangri La lamented the loss of several hundred trees. Now less than three years later, many trees that survived the hurricane have been destroyed.
When my wife telephoned a staff member at Shangri La, their comment was that they were unaware of the plan for this space. Though new trees may be planted to landscape the space, the old trees cannot be replaced.
I am proud that Orange has a world-class botanical garden; however, I am just as disappointed that many beautiful, healthy trees have been unnecessarily destroyed.
Dane Cruse
Orange
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