Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Letters to the editor

MYRTLE BEACH

Mayor, council get positive results

I'm writing to endorse the current mayor and City Council members running for re-election. In the almost 20 years of volunteer service to the Community Appearance Board and the Planning Commission, I've had a front-row seat in observing and working with several mayors and city councils. The past four years have been the most positive in many years, and this council is taking our city in a direction of progress, sustainability, promotion of tourism and jobs along with protecting our neighborhoods. Understanding the balance for residents and visitors is most important, and this council gets it.

Our mayor, Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Gray, Chuck Martino and Randal Wallace have always been available to discuss any city issue of concern with me and I appreciate that.

Sally P. Howard

Myrtle Beach

CAROLINA SHORES

Experience isn't always best

Your editorial regarding the candidates in Brunswick County cited one of the Carolina Shores candidates as one with "accomplishments and an extensive knowledge of the town." True, the man has years of experience as a commissioner, but he can be likened to a Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Nancy Pelosi of California and other long-term Washington politicians with the moniker I.K.E. (I Know Everything). It seems those who differ with his opinion often become targets for his defamatory fantasies, hence his derisive comments and rumors of those who oppose his pompous, self-acclaimed "extensive [and often erroneous] knowledge" of just about everything.

Perhaps it's time to follow the national impulse to introduce term limits to our local politicians.

Stuart Henderson

Carolina Shores, N.C.

NORTH MYRTLE

Hatley showed leadership in fire

Elections are all about leadership. It is not about scurrilous attacks on the candidate's family, or innuendo, it is about who was there at both times of crisis and at times of need.

As a Barefoot Resort resident, I witnessed leadership from Mayor Marilyn Hatley and her staff during those critical hours. I witnessed the outpouring of essential services being offered to those in need. I witnessed compassion for the people who were most affected by the fire, and I witnessed a tragedy, which did not result in the loss of any lives or injury.

I believe the mayor will be the first to admit that mistakes were made or things could have been done better. That is what leaders do, take responsibility, and fix what can be fixed, and strive to do better in the event something similar happens again.

Robert A. Hedesh

Barefoot Resort

MYRTLE BEACH

Secretive donors eliminate support

Mr. Mayor, I am closer to your age than to the age of the noisy party crowd that plays and spends in my home city. I have found you to be relatively normal and agreeable in many of your decisions as mayor, and I respect you. Now, I'd like to make a friendly commentary.

Why would you and your crew accept money from a secretive source? Who is paying for and buying this election? If you have lost your political mind to take this chance with your supporters (and fellow voting citizens) by hiding giant donations behind shell companies, you have, I believe, become a questionable politician.

I pledge not to give you my support until you shine the sun on your campaign contributors. By the way: If Myrtle Beach is the goose, then tourism, not retirement, is the golden egg.

Jim Hill

Myrtle Beach