Your Letters: Wednesday

Vote for a change

On Tuesday, residents of Centre County have the choice to make a powerful change for the better in our District Attorney’s Office. We can elect a district attorney who possesses excellent skills as a lawyer and the management ability to effectively and efficiently run the DA’s office.

We have the choice to elect Stacy Parks Miller. When voters chose Michael Madeira to be the county’s chief law-enforcement officer, they were rewarded with a term of charges being thrown out, cases pursued to the brink of trial then dropped, defendants who fled the jurisdiction and several lawsuits against the office, potentially expensive for taxpayers. When voters bet on Madeira, they lost badly.

I strongly encourage voters to bet on Parks Miller this election.

Arthur James Westmore State College

Write-in right choice

This year my friends and I plan to write in Jeff Kern for State College mayor. We believe the borough needs to have an honest, nonpartisan leader.

Over the years, Kern has demonstrated a grasp of the issues facing the borough and a thorough understanding of the budget. He has shown leadership in moving council in positive directions. He has always been nonpartisan in his public actions — looking first at the borough’s needs rather than some political advantage.

We have worked with Kern as he served as judge of elections in our precinct. We are going to write in his name even if we have to stay longer to count the votes. We are asking others to make the same commitment.

Jody Bland State College

Question the challenger

District Attorney Michael Madeira’s opponent said she would be “... almost crushed by the weight of the responsibility ...” of trying someone for homicide. She is bothered by bad press the DA gets and criticized him for a lawsuit filed against him that was dismissed because it lacked merit.

Did she review all the evidence in these cases before she criticized?

Will she follow evidence if it leads to an unpopular prosecution? Will she have the courage to prosecute if the press criticizes her?

Pennsylvania’s rape shield law protects victims from the “she was asking for it” defense. Does she want to send the message to rape victims (or any victim for that matter) that if your attacker is someone popular or powerful, you needn’t bother to seek justice because the DA’s office is avoiding bad press or a lawsuit?

Can she sympathize with crime victims as much as she currently does with criminals?

Cheri Banks Bellefonte

Candidates offer balance

Charles Gable will get one of my votes for State College Borough Council. During his tenure on the Planning Commission, Gable has tried to preserve neighborhoods through a creative and careful balance between residential and business interests.

He is especially attuned to the needs of the work-force economic class that we want to retain as borough residents. Gable is personable, professional, a hard worker, open to new ideas and willing to compromise. I think council will make better decisions when his voice is included.

I also will vote for Elizabeth Goreham for mayor. In the CDT’s recent questionnaire to candidates, Goreham provided more substantive and insightful answers than her opponent. I support her belief that the mayor should pursue diverse strategies to expand the legally permitted range of sources for borough revenue.

Gable is a Republican. Goreham is a Democrat. I believe they can work well together for the welfare of the borough.

Zoe Boniface State College

Qualities of a leader

A good municipal council member or supervisor must exhibit leadership and common sense and must have a strong record of public service. Dennis Hameister brings these qualities to the office of Harris Township supervisor.

As a local government professional who worked with Hameister for years, I can attest that he not only has served his community with distinction, but he has thoughtfully considered the many issues that face our township. I am impressed that he brings a vision for Harris Township that deals with important and complex issues such as affordable housing, transportation needs, growth and development, the Spring Creek Watershed and open space.

He brings objectivity and no personal agenda. His 27 years of leadership and service to Harris Township and the Centre Region provide the knowledge and information base that cannot be matched by any other candidate.

I support Hameister for the office of supervisor and urge all residents of the township to do the same. We need Hameister to continue working for us to preserve the excellent quality of life we enjoy in Harris Township.

Peter Marshall Boalsburg

Judge is impressive

Judge Teresa Sarmina, serving her second term in the Court of Common Pleas, has earned the highly recommended rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

In 2003 she was assigned to the elite Homicide Program. Her distinguished career includes experience in the Attorney General’s Office (attorney with Pennsylvania Drug Strike Force) and as assistant district attorney in Philadelphia. Outside of the courtroom her community concerns show in her participation in the ACE program at the Paul Robeson High School in Philadelphia. She also is an outdoors woman and avid trail rider.

Sarmina earned a law degree at Georgetown Law Center, a Master in Social Work at the University of Chicago and baccalaureate at St. Mary’s College. Recognizing her scholarship, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court appointed her to the state Board of Law examiners.

Sarmina visited State College last weekend and impressed me. Vote for her for Superior Court on Tuesday.

Maria Sweet Patton Township

Environment needs you

Last summer, the U.S. House passed legislation to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that are triggering climate change and to take steps to safeguard natural resources and wildlife threatened by the changes in climate already set in motion. Now the Senate is moving on similar legislation.

However, reducing carbon emissions is not enough. Any comprehensive climate and energy legislation must dedicate 5 percent of the funding generated to safeguarding fish and wildlife and the natural resources on which we all rely. Our senators should know that their constituents expect nothing less.

Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife — changing, shrinking and destroying habitat, forcing wildlife to migrate or adapt or even threatening their existence.

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change warns that if we don’t take strong action to address global warming soon, 20 percent to 30 percent of the world’s plant and animal species will be at increased risk of extinction by 2050.

Grizzly bears, lynx, wolverines, big horn sheep, walruses, sea turtles and so many more animals are in need of our help.

Alexandra Gabriel Bellefonte