Wasting too much time

Wasting too much time

I had a letter ready to send to your newspaper until I read your editorial criticizing Mrs. Brenda Kimble’s suit against the teachers union. I do agree that the lawsuit should not have been necessary. What I don’t agree with is that Mrs. Staten should not have the appointment because she is not an active classroom teacher.

I agree that too much money is being spent for legal fees from both parties. The only one benefiting is the law firms.

The money spent for legal fees should have been used for educating our children. The teachers union is using the excuse of qualifications because they want one of their own for the position.

Both parties should drop their lawsuits, hire Mrs. Staten with a stipulation that if the law proves that her qualifications don’t meet the criteria, then replace her.

Too much time has been lost over this. It is time for the city school district distress commission to take charge. What is important is the upgrading of our school system and the education of our students.

I am really disappointed that you have decided to side with the teachers union; both parties are at fault.

Olla L. Tate, Youngstown

Apathy, not term limits, causes few candidates

Voters in the city of Canfield recently approved charter amendments to place term limits on the mayor, council members and boards and commissions members. (Full disclosure, I sponsored these changes). These charter amendments were vigorously opposed by an administration apparently out of touch with the voters.

Now, members of this administration have been blaming the lack of candidates and no opposition in elections on the term limits. True or not? At the main library, the microfilms of past elections showing the ballots from 1993 were reviewed.

Let me summarize the data: For council persons: 1993, no opposition; 2001, no opposition; 2003, no opposition; 2005, no opposition; 2007, no opposition; 2009, no opposition. In regard to the mayor, there was no opposition in 1997 or 2009. These were all before terms limits. The facts show the argument is false.

Why the argument in the first place? In my opinion it is a matter of power and control. There are persons who feel they should get and keep persons in offices who are their friends, neighbors, relatives and belong to the same organizations and clubs that they do.

These people envision themselves as best qualified to determine who is in office and keep them in office for long periods. Then, no opposition is OK. Obviously the voters disagreed. Now these people strike out at term limits in that they have less control of the persons in office.

There are many well qualified people in Canfield. But, we lack people to get involved.Why? In my opinion, the real cause of a lack of candidates (not only in Canfield) is that people are turned off and disgusted with politics.

If there was ever case for term limits, this is it. It is difficult to get 50 percent of the people to vote.

Note to the Canfield administration: Lack of participation is an effect of voters’ apathy. It is not caused by term limits.

Frank Micchia, Canfield