Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Asks City Council to appoint Gooch as mayor

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To the Editor:

Let me begin by saying thank you to those members of both City Council and the School Board who elected to not run again, and to those who did run but were not successful in their efforts. I appreciate each of them stepping up to the plate to make this community a better place, and I hope they all continue to remain active in a positive manner to keep this community moving forward.

Also, with the most recent election behind us and several new faces taking on the leadership responsibilities for the city and school system, I look forward to each of the newly elected representatives bringing their vision to the table and working with the existing members to make Oak Ridge an outstanding community to live, work, and play.

During the November 24 City Council meeting, City Council members will be electing a new mayor for a two-year term. In our “weak mayor” form of local government, the mayor has no power outside of Council, so the mayoral role is solely to lead the City Council meetings and to be the main representative of the city for various meetings, activities, and events. [Read more…]

Letter: Callison thanks supporters, says we need to promote city every day

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Kelly Callison

Kelly Callison

To the Editor:

I would like to first thank all those who participated in the November elections. I believe it is the duty of every citizen to vote and make their opinion known.

I would, of course, like to thank all those who voted for me. Rest assured that I will truly represent the best interests of Oak Ridge.

Finally, I would like to thank my campaign committee, especially my treasurer Martha Wallus.

What I really like about campaigning is going door-to-door speaking to voters. I find everyone I meet welcoming and appreciative of my short visit. When you walk through a neighborhood, you get such a different sense then when you drive through at 25 mph. [Read more…]

Letter: Grateful for opportunity to vote for Headrick

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To the Editor:

I, for one, along with the tens of thousands of others who voted for Mary Headrick, am grateful to her for giving us the opportunity to vote for a realistic, compassionate, and results-oriented candidate.

The people who did not vote in the election at all, although they may not have thought about it that way, helped elect, and expressed approval, of a representative who was clearly against a living wage, women’s rights, affordable health care, and a merciful response to the crisis of young people fleeing to this country as well as those who found themselves in this country as young people brought by their parents, who have always lived as Americans and would like citizenship.

As a Democrat, I expect national Democrats will not be petty and vengeful because the other party won with the backing of huge interests which think paying workers well will hurt them, instead of bringing them more prosperity.

It is the nature of Democrats to want to see people’s lives improved even if they are not the majority, and they will continue to work toward this end.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Love thanks supporters, will volunteer with Habitat

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Gary Love

Gary Love

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the people of Oak Ridge that supported me for my bid for Oak Ridge City Council. Though I was unsuccessful, I still appreciate the opportunity that I was given to share my hopes and dreams for this great city. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world, and when I tell people that I am from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, I say it with a certain amount of pride and swagger. I still feel that way, because of Oak Ridge’s place in history and how we have changed, and what we still offer today.

Though I was not chosen for City Council, I will contribute by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. This organization directly helps our community, and it is an endeavor that I can focus all of my attention toward. I hope that I can serve you in this way because I want us to live in a strong community, and if you really think about it, what else is there other than trying to make our community and this world a better place to live for everyone?

Again, thank you for your support and let’s get behind our new leaders so Oak Ridge can remain a place that we speak of with pride.

Gary Love

Oak Ridge

Letter: Voted for Fleischmann, asks others to do the same

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To the Editor:

Our current political landscape is characterized by convoluted thinking, selfish decision-making, and turbulent, inconsistent values. We need a representative in Washington who is solid, stable, and unmovable in his or her standards. Chuck Fleischmann has already proven to be such a representative through his consistent voting record, standing up in defense of the life of the unborn, small business growth, Second Amendment rights, stronger national borders, and other issues key to our nation’s safety and quality of life.

I trust my life and the lives of my children in the hands of a principled leader like Chuck Fleischmann and believe he will best represent my voice and my vote. [Read more…]

Letter: Fleischmann’s experience needed in Washington

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To the Editor:

There comes a point when individuals in leadership positions need more than just knowledge about legislation and policy—they need experience.

The Third District needs a representative who has already dealt with the pressures, as well as adeptly handled the influence, that comes along with serving in public office. Congressman Fleischmann has supported and pushed many key pieces of legislation through the House, some of which have contributed to a significant reduction in government spending and an increase in job growth.

Congressman Fleischmann has also served honorably on many committees essential to American prosperity and security, such as the Energy and Water Development, Homeland Security and Labor, Health and Human Services Committees. Chuck already knows what it takes to be productive in office. He is the best candidate for the job because he has head knowledge coupled with experience, enhancing his effectiveness and consequently our own welfare as a state and a nation.

More leaders need what Congressman Fleischmann has: solid values and the experience needed to get things done in Washington. I believe in his ability to lead and to serve the interests of Tennesseans and Americans at large. Please join with me in voting for Chuck Fleischmann.​

David Logan

Cleveland, Tennessee

Letter: Headrick has will to solve problems, is knowledgeable, energetic

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To the Editor:

Please vote for a candidate who is grounded in reality, not political dogma.

Please vote for Mary Headrick, the Third District candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a candidate who has the will to solve problems in a timely way and for whom ordinary people are real. She is knowledgeable, capable, and energetic, and will serve this District well.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Chinn can help make needed changes

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To the Editor:

There was a recent letter to the editor in The Oak Ridger with mention of how involved a candidate should (or should not be) while running for City Council. I was disappointed that this person would not expect or want a person to be extremely active in our community prior to being elected.

Rick Chinn was specifically mentioned as being too involved to be a good candidate. Does that person realize how backwards that is? We don’t want a heavily involved businessman, community leader, and father to lead our city in the future? My candidate must have all these skills and more to get my vote! [Read more…]

Letter: Eby a valuable resource to schools, community

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To the Editor:

Bob Eby has served as both a member and chairman of the Oak Ridge Board of Education. During most of his time on the Board, I was employed as superintendent of the Oak Ridge Schools, which gave me the opportunity to work closely with Bob on many school-related issues.

Bob was a tremendous help in responding to problems and decisions facing the Oak Ridge Schools at the time. His leadership and guidance were invaluable to the Board and certainly to me as superintendent of schools.

Bob has strong private-sector experience including excellent organizational skills which were, and continue to be, very helpful in analyzing and deciding issues facing the schools. [Read more…]

Letter: Smith informed, intelligent, civil, sensible

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To the Editor:

Oak Ridgers are fortunate in having a candidate of the caliber of Ellen Smith willing to once again serve on City Council, where, between 2007 and 2012, we benefited greatly from her wise, intelligent, and highly informed voice.

In addition to her service on Council, Ellen has long been involved in community affairs, and has participated in local government. This, plus her professional background, has made her a strong and consistent advocate for protecting the environmental values of lands and waters of the city and of the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Her activities have also given her a broad understanding of governmental matters additional to the diverse environmental issues and concerns that face Oak Ridge. She is committed to be part of a community leadership that recognizes the challenges we face and makes choices that maximize our assets and opportunities. [Read more…]

Letter: Congressional debate, candidate answers available online

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To the Editor:

Oak Ridge voters in the Third Congressional District might like to know that they can view the Monday night, October 27, debate between Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and Dr. Mary Headrick at https://www.facebook.com/EastTennesseePBS.

Voters might also like to see answers from City Council and School Board candidates to questions asked of them by DFET (Democracy for East Tennessee) following the Candidates’ Reception sponsored by the group on October 9 in Oak Ridge at www.dfet.org.

DFET Executive Committee:

Tom Burns, Leslie Agron, Joan Cassens, Virginia Jones

Oak Ridge

Letter: Fleischmann a good fit for Third District

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To the Editor:

I have known Chuck Fleischmann for over five years and know him to be a good family man and a person of integrity. Chuck Fleischmann has served nearly three terms in the United States House of Representatives and has never strayed from his conservative values. He has voted in a fashion that fits the values of the majority of the Third District of Tennessee. Chuck, quite simply, is a good fit for the district.

Chuck opposes amnesty, votes to protect the Second Amendment, and supports the free market. He has repeatedly championed our free enterprise system. Chuck is a committed conservative, which can be seen in his voting record.

His commitment to veterans can be seen in the three new Veteran’s Affairs clincs in our district. [Read more…]