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Bring Bowers back as mayor of all Roanokers

David Bowers would be the only choice for Roanoke mayor with his past 16 years experience as mayor and on city council. Bowers' common-sense approach and leadership ability would be a much-needed change to the leadership of the Roanoke Valley in this current circus of unnecessary spending and lack of fiscal judgment.

It's a poor decision to build an amphitheater in excess of $12 million on a flood site when a $3 million amphitheater in Elmwood Park would not wash away. Why did council have to hire a consultant group for thousands of dollars to look into this? I could have given them the right answer for $50. Bowers gave them the right answer for free in a news conference.

Why did city council approve a budget expenditure of $800,000 to build apartments in the former Grand Piano building for inner-city living when we have city residents struggling in neighborhoods all over Roanoke?

Bowers has an unsurpassed dedication to the city of Roanoke and all of its residents, not just a select few. I believe with the support of Brian Wishneff and Valerie Garner, they can make us all proud of our elected city officials again.

Re-elect Lea; he listens

I'm proud to say that in a time when people are more concerned about their own agendas, we have a councilman who listens to others.

Sherman Lea, as founder of the Western Virginia Education Classic, has heard the voices of troubled youth by emphasizing the need to return to school; heard the voices of the hurting by chairing the Domestic Violence Task Force to address policies and procedures affecting victims; heard the voices of the business community by supporting its efforts to enhance downtown so that businesses can thrive; heard the voices of those often forgotten by stressing that Alfred Dowe's seat be filled by someone from the Northwest community.

I'm proud to call him my councilman and I look forward to Lea's continued tenure because he listens and acts based upon what's best for all citizens.

Roanoke needs Wishneff, Bowers

I consider it divine intervention that revealed a council member abusing his city credit card. How else would Roanoke taxpayers know about the 700-plus credit cards handed out at city hall?

The mayor has been on TV, praising his accomplishments while on his watch. He doesn't mention the Orange Avenue boondoggle, does he? Nor why firefighters will take a budget hit, while there are plans to spend so much for an amphitheater.

Let's restore some leadership to our city by voting for Brian Wishneff for council and David Bowers for mayor.

Garner is ready to lead on council

When it comes to being prepared for leadership, Valerie Garner is a candidate with character. Garner is a graduate of the city of Roanoke's Leadership College. She is well known as a leader who frequently attends and makes presentations at city council meetings.

Garner has been known to study, question and ask for additional information when it comes to key issues that could have an effect on her community and the citizens of Roanoke.

Her commitment and service to the community has not been overlooked. Garner received the Dr. Perneller Chubb-Wilson Humanitarian Award at the Southern Christian Leadership Council's 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. banquet.

Please cast your vote on May 6 for Garner for city council.

Comments about pope were bitter, offensive

In response to Joy Carr's letter ("A party for a guest of honor who wasn't expected," April 22): Never have I read a letter so full of hatred, bitterness and sarcasm. The writer attacks both Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush.

Her remark about "his cute little popemobile" was uncalled for and certainly not clever. The writer signs her name Joy. The hostility and cynicism evident in her letter indicates Joy is a misnomer. As a Catholic, I am offended by the writer's comments and at The Roanoke Times for publishing them.

Salem needs some no-can-do leaders

For the first time in several years, the election offers Salem citizens a choice of candidates who could possibly give the voice of the people back to the people instead of the "good ol' boys" who like to vacation in West Virginia at taxpayers' expense.

A letter in support of Lisa Garst ("Garst has abilities that Salem needs," April 27), cited the need of her leadership for projects such as the electric building, improvements to City Hall and the civic center. Are they really necessary at this particular time?

The artificial turf installed at Salem's football stadium looks good. But when does progress cease to be progress?

My answer: when it becomes burdensome for those who have to shoulder the load.

Several years back, city council imposed a big rate increase on our electric bills. This increase was supposed to be temporary. It was never repealed and never will be.

Some candidates have expressed interest in lowering the tax rate. Great idea, but what we need are candidates with backbone who will "just say no" to the regime who run the city.

Make better use of what's there

I am not opposed to enhancing Mill Mountain. However, I think we should be very careful in how we do it. Rather than adding new facilities, we should enhance what we have.

Why build a restaurant or coffee shop when the zoo already has one, which, admittedly, needs improvement. Build a dual-use restaurant/coffee shop that will serve both the zoo and other mountain visitors. It could sit on the edge of the zoo and serve out of two sides.

Also, don't build another community room. The Discovery Center has space for the community to use already.

Finally, I think the city leaders should think long and hard before they go against the intentions of the Fishburn family in donating the land. What kind of message does this send to future benefactors of the city?

Removing children might not be wise

The more I read and think about it, the more concerned I am for the children of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Admittedly, bigamy, child neglect and sexual abuse are terrible for children, but is it really a good idea to take these children away from all that they have known growing up and from some very good aspects of their lives?

Of course, the government, in its usual infinite wisdom, cannot really turn back now. Bigamy and child abuse are against the law, and we can't very well say at this point that we've changed our minds and we will now look the other way.

These people of FLDS live in many ways, as they say, free of the "corruption and taint" in our society. They are, it would seem, not prey to our rampant materialism and immodesty in forms of dress. They don't suffer our citified existence, bad TV and processed food.

Are the children really suffering? I just hope the people who decide these things give serious consideration to each individual case and really decide in the best interests of the children.