Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Fillauer serves with distinction as School Board chair

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To the Editor:

Vote to re-elect Keys Fillauer to the Oak Ridge Board of Education. As a teacher, coach, and board member, he has worked for over 40 years to provide the children of Oak Ridge with a quality education.

I worked with Keys for many of these years, and I know what personal qualities, talents, and knowledge he brings to the board. He taught a hands-on civics class—showing his students how to be involved, responsible citizens of a community—and he practices what he taught, continuing to be active in serving his community at many levels and in numerous capacities. He also took a genuinely personal interest in his students and the quality of education they received. As a member of the Board of Education, this type of experience is vital to understanding the true needs for developing a quality school system.

Maintaining a school system that provides students at all levels and abilities with the highest quality of education is so important in keeping Oak Ridge a progressive city. As a board member, Keys is committed to working within the community to create such an outstanding school system.

Keys has served as a responsible and concerned member of the Board of Education and has served with distinction as chairman. Our community needs his service and skills for another term. I urge you to support him by voting for him and urging your friends and family to do likewise. Let’s work to assure that he is able to continue the work he has begun for the children of Oak Ridge!

Jane Grossbeck

Oak Ridge

Letter: Proud to vote for Fillauer

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To the Editor:

I want to take a moment and voice my support for Mr. Keys Fillauer, who is running for Oak Ridge School Board re-election. I have known Coach Fillauer since I was a seventh-grader at Robertsville Middle School in 1978. I have also been able to see him wear many different hats in the community throughout my life, such as teacher, coach, mentor, and school board member.

First, I knew Keys Fillauer as a teacher and a coach. He was extraordinary in both roles. He was always well prepared and knowledgeable whether on the court or in the classroom.

As a teacher and a coach, he led not just in words, but also by his actions. When I think back on those days, he taught me so many lessons on the court and off, but even more importantly, in the classroom.

To me, he was the best.

As a matter of fact, he influenced me on my career choice as a coach and teacher. He had a unique way to teach civics; he made it incredibly interesting and also got the material across to the students. He was consistently starting new programs to make the civics community a lifelong memory to his students. The lessons taught to me by Keys will be used the rest of my life.

When I returned to Oak Ridge to teach in the late 1980s, I was able to be mentored by Keys at Robertsville Middle School. He was very patient and thorough in sharing the tricks of his craft with me. He was once again always amazingly prepared, and Keys was a leader for the students, staff, and the entire school community.

After Keys retired, he turned to serving the Oak Ridge community on the school board. As an educator and a member of the Oak Ridge community, I know Keys is always prepared to do what is best for the schools and the community. He has worked diligently to learn about all of the changes going on in education today, of which there are many.

He has also attempted to get more out of education with fewer resources. Coach Fillauer is not one to shrink from these challenges, but instead flourish like he did on the court as a coach and in the classroom as a teacher. He is an amazing leader and is respected throughout the community.

My wife and I are proud to vote for Keys Fillauer for the Oak Ridge School Board.

David and Michelle Scott

Oak Ridge

Letter: Endorses candidates who favor less spending, smaller government

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To the Editor:

I would like to recommend that citizens of Oak Ridge vote for the following three candidates for the reasons shown.

I have studied their publications, and have spoken with them independently.

I am not a member of any party, nor will I ever be. I continuously monitor the actions of our local government and vote on the best choices, considering the current issues. I encourage all my friends and subscribers that take the time to read this letter to vote for these people.

Trina Baughn—City Council

I have long waited for a Council candidate with such a fresh outlook and real understanding of what the real causes are of the pitiful economic situation that Oak Ridge is experiencing because of one fiasco after another.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read her published statements in some articles in January, so I asked for a private meeting with her to query her deeply on her views. I was so impressed with her responses that I have worked with her on her campaign since February. She is the real deal.

She wants to:

  1. lower spending,
  2. lower property taxes, and
  3. lower the debt.

All this, without sacrificing quality of life. This can be done. Her web site is trinabaughn.com.

Leonard Abbatiello—School Board

The ongoing rift between the city and the Board of Education is an embarrassment for the citizens of Oak Ridge. Leonard needs no introduction, as he was a long-time member of City Council. His campaign slogan says it all for me: “Uncommon Sense.”

What we used to think of simple common sense, is sorely needed today, and I believe Leonard will be a big factor in getting us back on track, controlling the educational system’s budget and ending the senseless rift.

John Ragan—State Representative District 33

As mentioned, I am not a member of any party. However, I am voting for Ragan because he is the best choice as it regards Oak Ridge (and Anderson County). Although I do not like the “bonding” of our legislators around party lines when the rubber meets the road, I am voting for John because I truly believe he will work to:

  1. make government at all levels smaller and more effective;
  2. improve transparency in government for average citizens, especially on financial matters; and
  3. make government more open and responsive to its citizens.

Robert Humphries

Oak Ridge

Letter: Fillauer dedicated to helping young people

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To the Editor:

The first, second, and third priority for any school board member should be the welfare of children.

Over the past 27 years, I have witnessed first-hand the dedication of Keys Fillauer to young people as he has raised more than $600,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. In my capacity as executive director of the House, I have seen Keys’ drive, integrity, and commitment to causes he believes in.

Keys Fillauer has been an educator, coach, school board member, and most importantly, a tireless advocate for his community. But I have seen the man who never asks why. He only asks how.

I urge your support for a school board candidate I would be proud to have leading my children’s schools into the future.

Sue Beverly

Knox County

Letter: Baughn, Hensley, and Hope will provide results on Council

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To the Editor:

This year, your vote can make a real difference to the Oak Ridge City Council. We need leaders like Chuck Hope, Charlie Hensley, and Trina Baughn on the Council.

Oak Ridge is a beautiful place to live and work. Yet, unfortunately, the city’s economy struggles with non-competitive tax and utility rates.

For years, surrounding communities have enjoyed much lower property tax rates than Oak Ridge. This year for the first time, Oak Ridge utility rates have also reached the point that they are non-competitive.

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Letter: Return Hackworth to Tennessee House for superior leadership

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To the Editor:

Rep. John Ragan is campaigning against former representative Jim Hackworth to return to the Tennessee Legislature as “a proven leader” in the Tennessee House of Representatives. We think that this characterization of Rep. Ragan’s performance is grossly overstated, especially when compared with the record of Jim Hackworth in the same job.

During his term in office, Jim Hackworth championed the strong anti-bullying law that Caitlin Nolan, a local Oak Ridger, sponsored. During John Ragan’s term, he actively opposed a new bill designed to strengthen Caitlin’s original bill. Successful opposition would have resulted in severely weakening protection against bullies. We need much better vision than this from our leaders! Rep. Ragan’s explanation for his vote, saying that he was voting on the principle that it is an unnecessary law is poor in this case.

Rep. Ragan claims leadership in bringing new jobs into Anderson County. He has indeed brought in 249 new jobs during 2011 (23rd in the state). Anderson County averaged 1062 new jobs per year during Rep. Hackworth’s eight years of service, placing Anderson County regularly in the top 10 in the state. We don’t see convincing evidence that Rep. Ragan himself has been effective in job creation!

Rep. Ragan has voted for a number of bills in the House of Representatives that are patently self serving: SB1915, Increases Contribution Limits to Campaigns; HB1555 State House Redistricting; and SB1514 State Senate Redistricting. These bills do not advance the public interest and will lead to poorer government. We do not see this type of support as an example of leadership representing everyone in District 33.

We urge the voters of District 33 to return Jim Hackworth to the Tennessee House of Representatives in order to have the benefits of superior leadership!

Dorothy and Robert Hightower

Oak Ridge

Letter: Emergency responders host Kids Day Out in Oak Ridge

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To the Editor:

The Anderson County Rescue Squad, along with Knox County Air Watch Sheriff’s Aviation Division and many other volunteers, saw around 225 kids Saturday, Oct. 6, at The Home Depot (Kids Day Out) in Oak Ridge.

University of Tennessee Lifestar was unable to attend due to weather.

Thanks to the many volunteers that made this happen, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, Morgan County Corrections K-9 team, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and The Home Depot staff, for making this a special day for our kids and community.

Terry Allen

Anderson County Rescue Squad, Chief

Letter: Weighting the polling sample

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To the Editor:

Polls are based on responses and statistical data using smaller, random samples to draw conclusions about the opinions of much larger populations. This explains how polling companies can use a sampling of 900 people to justify their assertions as to how 130 million people will vote on Nov. 6.

To make the poll statistically representative, a process called “weighting” is applied, which factors a large range of variables, such as party identification, age, race, gender, etc. The various subgroups are assigned a number or value (based on current data), and the polling result for each subgroup is multiplied by its value and then combined to produce the final result that is reported by the media.

  • In 2008, Democrats had a 3 percent voter turnout advantage over the Republicans, where 40.3 percent voted as Democrats and 33.3 percent as Republicans.
  • In 2012, as reported by Rasmussen Reports, 33.3 percent of the country aligns itself with the Democrat Party and 37.6 percent with the Republican Party.

In this year’s election cycle, however, the integrity of the national media’s polling has become suspect.

According to their own data, the latest New York Times, Quinnipiac, and CBS News polls are oversampling Democrats and using statistical data from 2008, ignoring the 2010 elections and recent polling data.

Consider the following…

In this year’s election, who is more likely to re-consider their vote—people who supported the Democratic Party in 2008 and 2010, or people who support the Republican Party? This year’s election is NOT about any one person or party, it’s about the direction in which the country is being led!

Mark DeVol

Anderson County

Letter: Vanderbilt professor calls for diversity, religious freedom, political involvement

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Carol M. Swain

Carol M. Swain

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Knox County and meeting with some of the city’s movers and shakers. I was particularly impressed by the patriotism and faith of the people who attended an event hosted by Rep. John Ragan.

My presence in Rep. John Ragan’s district was to share with the community ideas and themes from my book, “Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise.”

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Letter: New ‘taxes’ imposed by Affordable Care Act

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Now that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the sanctioned law of the land, let’s take a closer look at how it will affect us as a nation.

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declared ACA to be tax. As the federal Congress has the authority to lay and collect taxes, they are, however, restricted to four types: excise, tariff, income, and direct.

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Letter: Thanks Anderson commissioners for prayer vote

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I would like to express my appreciation to the Anderson County Commissioners for approving a resolution in their Aug. 20 meeting to continue the tradition of invocations at the beginning of their meetings. The County Commission has always been supportive with regard to this practice, affirming the freedoms on which our country was founded.

The intention of an “Invocation” is to invoke a good and positive blessing through prayer.

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Letter: Baughn running for Council again

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To the Editor:

I would like to thank the voters and all of my supporters for their efforts during this past special election.

I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Nov. 6 election, for which I have recently qualified.

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