Crangle the right man for state house - and more letters to the editors

Crangle the right man for state house

Tommy Crangle, candidate for the Tennessee House, District 27, brings a wealth of business management experience to the campaign.

A career TVA executive in charge of construction (and 400 employees), he received numerous awards, including Manager of the Year by the Council of Minority Hiring and Contracting.

A man of courage, Tommy was willing to go in harm's way six times by deploying to Iraq on behalf of the Department of Defense to manage the rebuilding of the Iraq electric grid. For this he was awarded the highest Civilian Service Commendation Award by the Joint Chiefs of our military. His experience and leadership were paramount in undertaking this enormous challenge.

I have known Tommy for 10 years. He is a dedicated Christian and demonstrates character and integrity in all business and personal actions.

As a statesman, he stands out among his peers as a conservative and believes the government has ignored the citizens all too often.

A vote for Tommy Crangle is a vote for the people of Tennessee. He is needed in Nashville to ensure openness and responsibility in government.

VANCE H. FRY, Harrison


Alexander hit on immigration vote

The Senate immigration bill, which leads to amnesty, was passed over a year ago. You may recall that it was sponsored by a gang of eight, though a couple dropped out along the way.

Obama is calling for its passage again. Fortunately, the Republican-led House has failed to bring up this bill for a vote. As surely as it would pass, some of the progressives in the Senate would amend it to provide instant amnesty.

Before you vote in the Tennessee primary, please remember that your Sen. Lamar Alexander voted for passage of that bill.

I believe Sen. Corker did also, but you can only vote out one of them this year.

HORTON HERRIN, Dalton, Ga.


Hazlewood top choice for state House 27

I am writing this letter in support of a great lady -- Patsy Hazlewood. I am not a resident of District 27, therefore I cannot vote for her, but I definitely want to show my support and encourage others to vote for Patsy Hazlewood for state representative of District 27.

As Meigs County mayor, I worked with Patsy while she was the Southeast Tennessee regional director of the Department of Economic Development, a position to which she was appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam.

In this position, Ms. Hazlewood worked with the mayors and county executives of 10 counties promoting industrial growth and development of these counties. Patsy also has years of experience in the private sector.

Before her position with Southeast Tennessee Department of Economic Development, she was an executive with AT&T.

Patsy Hazlewood would be my choice to vote for, and I hope it is the choice of the people of the 27th District.

R. GARLAND LANKFORD, Meigs County mayor, Decatur, Tenn.


Time for a change in 3rd District

After watching the candidates debate Wednesday, I am not certain that Weston Wamp will be a great congressman, but I am certain that he will be a tremendous improvement over Chuck Fleischmann. Wamp's positions were well thought out and clearly expressed. Mr. Fleischmann's only position seems to be: Republican good, Democrat bad, and there is no middle ground. That is the kind of thinking that has us in the mess we are in. It is time for a change.

ERNIE PIERCE, Ringgold, Ga.


City leaders should rethink speed units

Chattanooga's Germantown Road is our very own $50 toll road!

Our trusty leaders found a 30 mph speed limit sign posted on Germantown Road and decided to install a traffic camera, catch drivers coming off I-24, and have Big Brother take their picture going 40 in a 30 mph zone. It won't be used against your insurance if you send the money, and you do have your right to go to court, but who knows what could happen there.

Standifer Gap Road is a winding, curvy road with ditches on each side and the speed limit is 35 mph, so go figure. I really don't want people coming to Chattanooga for all of the great things going on in our great town to just think we are one great big speed trap, because I sure don't want to go anywhere. I am afraid I will get a ticket.

I would encourage city leaders to rethink the speed limit on Germantown Road and change to 35 mph and be as progressive as Hamilton County.

KAREN WEBB


Governor should expand Medicaid

I feel that the governor should reconsider expanding Medicaid in Tennessee because so many Tennesseans are in need. This service will improve the health of thousands and help the economy in the most economically disadvantaged areas in the state.

Denying earned benefits to our citizens is unfair, especially when those who have the power to deny have these benefits for themselves.

Why can't those American citizens who have earned the right through being employed, military service or senior citizen status reap what they have sowed?

Please reconsider expanding Medicaid in Tennessee.

IRENE W. DOWDELL


Bergdahl captivity not a 'vacation'

Even in this day of political hatred, which hasn't seen its equal since the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, it is astonishing to witness the lynch-mob fury of the right wing in this country over the release of Sgt. Bergdahl.

Is it not a cherished American principle that anyone accused of wrongdoing is presumed innocent until proved guilty?

The military is capable of determining whether Bergdahl broke the military code. Whatever this soldier did, he spent five years in hell in the clutches of Taliban barbarians.

To suggest, as one letter writer did, that his captivity, when compared to the Civil War prison Andersonville, was like "an all-expenses-paid vacation" is supercilious and stupid.

JOE STEVENSON, Tunnel Hill, Ga.


Soddy land preservation a plus

For 63 years, I lived in a house overlooking Big Soddy Creek.

As a child, I swam in that creek, climbed trees and hills, and built playhouses with dirt floors and tree branches. Sometimes we would go on hikes up in the gulch (not "gulf" -- no oceans there!), which was a few miles up the creek from my house. Sometimes we'd hike to Mansfield and Board Camp and Flat Rock, where we'd go swimming and have picnics.

The wide dirt path up in the gulch led to some of the old Soddy coal mines. Long ago there were houses up there, even a hotel. I remember ruins of a few old buildings -- a bath house for the miners, for one.

Big Soddy Gulch was a magical and peaceful place to many of us growing up there. And now we know it will be preserved in its natural beauty!

Many thanks go to Dr. and Mrs. Steven Quarfordt and to Soddy-Daisy city commissioners. It is a beautiful piece of our heritage, and I, for one, really appreciate this gift.

My parents and grandparents would be happy.

BONNIE BRYANT

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