Vote for incumbent sheriff in Roanoke

Vote for incumbent sheriff in Roanoke

Roanoke Sheriff Octavia Johnson has done a lot these past eight years to make the department work better, safer, with professionalism and with a smaller budget.

She has improved the technology, ensured that raises and promotions are based on merit, and raised the overall standard for the level of service we should expect from our local government.

We are fortunate to have such a dedicated civil servant with her integrity.

I encourage everyone to support Republicans Johnson and Roger Malouf, candidate for commissioner of the revenue, this November.

JOHN BRILL
ROANOKE

Senate Democrat is the obstructionist

Tom Joyce indicated the Republican Party is consumed by obstructionism (“The country is caught in Republican gridlock,” Aug. 14 letter). Look at what Republicans have blocked and the votes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has refused to let happen.

Both parties are guilty for some of the gridlock. However, the big block is Reid, who refuses to allow votes on anything not increasing taxes, lowering tax rates for all, or not pushing forward President Obama’s agenda.

In the last several years, the Republican-led House passed a budget every year after near-unanimous rejection of the Obama budget.

Approximately 53 percent of the population does not support Obamacare, and many have either lost health insurance or had premiums increase — indicating the promises have failed.

Yet the Democrats and Obama insist on going ahead with Obamacare.

That Republicans plan to fund all of the continuing resolution except Obamacare that is driving our budget to bankruptcy is not obstructionist, but is fiscal responsibility.

It is Reid who will be the gridlock source by insisting on something Americans do not want.

WILLIAM A. DAVIS
BLACKSBURG

Weather Journal

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