Letters to the Editor (10/10)

School unification won't save money, improve education

Dear Editor:

If you think unifying the three districts will lower your taxes, it will not! I was a member of the Parent Unification Committee last summer that studied the idea. I am opposed to it. There is no evidence that it will improve the quality of education for our children or put more money into the classrooms.

Each of the three districts has its own unique population and goals. They each know what is best for their students. Tempe Elementary District's focus and needs are different from Kyrene's.

Kyrene already has more Excelling schools, percentage wise, than any other district in the state. I don't think Kyrene's families will want to lose their district's focus and emphasis and have funds from their excelling schools shifted to other priorities in Tempe's schools. 

In a recent article, Martin Shultz, the Redistricting Commission chairman, even admits that unifying would "enable districts to reallocate educational dollars" once they are merged. I think that's what we don't want to occur.

Shultz and his lobbyist friends want the measure to unify Tempe Union, Tempe Elementary and Kyrene Elementary to pass but nowhere have they made any provisions for the money that would be needed to do this scheme. We will have three districts trying to become one with no money and they will have to make cuts in programs, teachers and raise class sizes to make it happen.

Is that what we want? Is that maintaining quality education as Shultz proposes? I think not.

No matter how many times Shultz says it, there is no evidence unifying will improve education or save money. Just saying something doesn't make it the truth. Shultz says there will be plenty of time to unify the districts involved. But he doesn't tell you there will be no money to do it.

It really bothers me that a lobbyist comes into our part of town and tries to mandate what is best for our children.

Please vote "no" on redistricting. It only takes one district to vote this measure down. If one votes "no," it will not pass. Please allow our three districts to remain locally controlled and allow them to continue to work together in purchasing, calendars and aligning curriculums as they have already been doing.

Susi Fathauer

Ahwatukee Foothills parent, former teacher, community member

Truth and faith aren't the same

Dear Editor:

It seems so very apparent to me that religious faith is the problem in nearly all of our disagreements in the Middle East and here at home.

Faith is defined in most dictionaries as: "belief in something for which there is no proof." It seems a shame that in the 21st century, so many people are living with blind faith, when people don't have the moral backbone to question their own faith (most will readily question the faith of others, we end up with people willing to die for many things of FAITH that have no foundation in truth.

Truth and faith do not go together. Faith is what makes the Jewish people believe they are God's chosen people.

Faith is what makes Christians believe that the Bible is God's infallible word, and that someone else died for their sins.

Faith is what makes Muslims believe the Koran is God's guidance to them.

Faith is what makes Mormons believe that the same God waited for someone in the United States to write the final chapter in his many books.

All are willing to question the faith of others but aren't honest enough to question their own faith.

Let's hope that someday reason, logic, honesty and integrity will replace faith. People will be much more likely to accept different views, attitudes and values.

Maybe we will even find peace in this world.

Larry J. Kluth

Lt. Col USAF Ret.

Don't forget school board elections, Zita Johnson

Dear Editor:

The Nov. 4 ballot is going to be crowded. As a result, some important positions will be buried at the bottom of the ticket. One such buried position will be the critical race for Tempe Union High School District Board.

I urge everyone to vote to keep Zita Johnson on the board. She is captaining the district with her tremendous institutional knowledge, sound judgment and commitment to the students. Voters should keep Johnson at the helm as she guides the district through these financially challenging times. We need her knowledge, wisdom and expertise.

I also have had the good fortune of working with Johnson as a state senator, fellow school board member from Kyrene and, most importantly, as a parent. She is without question one of the most committed school board members I know.

Last week, I called her with an issue involving my daughter who has special needs and by noon on the same day the situation had been resolved. Johnson has also been a key figure in working out a loan with the State Facility Board to fund and solve the Corona air quality concerns. She gets things done.

Please join me in voting for Zita Johnson.

Slade Mead

School district observer supports Zita Johnson

Dear Editor:

I have never before written a letter in support of any candidate for any office but I feel so strongly about Zita Johnson, who is running for Tempe Union High School District Governing Board, that I am submitting my first.

I am a lifelong resident of the district and have volunteered my time to various district committees and advisory groups. For the past several years I have also been involved in awarding scholarships for worthy students at the various high schools. I have observed the district up close and one governing board member has always been supportive of efforts by citizens, Johnson. She pledges to "listen and work collaboratively", something I have certainly experienced with her.

Johnson has a passion for all children and for education while at the same time being fiscally prudent. She believes in investing in programs that are closest to the students in the classrooms. Her service to the community is unquestioned, her commitment to students has been demonstrated on a daily basis and her stewardship of our tax money has been competent.

Please vote for Zita Johnson for the TUHSD Governing Board.

John Ewing

Save the Kyrene school district

Dear Editor:

As a new homeowner and parent, I know the importance of a school district for attracting residents and maintaining property values.

After reviewing school statistics, we chose to look only at houses in the Kyrene Elementary School District and were willing to pay a premium price to live here.

If the Kyrene school unification ballot initiative passes, that will change. The Kyrene district will lose its identity and with it, its premium property values. Worse yet, our children will suffer.

Independent studies are very clear - large, unified mega-districts (like the 42,000 student district this ballot measure would create) are less effective and efficient. Just look at other Arizona mega-districts - Kyrene outperforms all of them in student performance, low administration costs and percentage of dollars going to the classroom.

I urge voters to educate themselves. Start with the voter guide - it has 17 arguments against unification versus two for unification. Then speak with school board candidates (all eight oppose unification) and real estate agents.

Finally, look at the data (you can find many studies online) - there aren't any that support the creation of mega-districts so don't look too hard for those.

For any informed voter, the answer is clear: vote "no" on Kyrene school unification.

Chip Zaenglein

Lemonade store entrepreneurs rock: Drink lady doesn't

Dear Editor:

After reading your letter in the Sept. 26 issue of the Ahwatukee Foothills News, ("Dampening the entrepreneurial spirit") I couldn't help but sit down and write this response.

Firstly, if all of you reading this right now were asked if you may have at one time or another sold lemonade at a homemade stand when you were a child, or sold anything for that matter, most of you would say "yes." I know I would be included with this group along with my husband. In fact, the entrepreneurial spirit remained in our hearts as adults, as we operate a family-owned business today. It affects our lives, it impacts this community, since many of our employees live in Ahwatukee, and it ultimately stimulates the economy for the positive.

My husband and I have taught our children the importance of being in business and they have always earned money from various business ventures. It's remarkable to see the life lessons it teaches them!

What happened to Austin and Grant Peterson on Sept. 20 was totally unacceptable and wrong. I am so outraged at the behavior of this woman. She should be disciplined for treating children this way. These were not "my" children, but they might as well been. How dare she frighten them in this manner? They were not trespassing, they were not damaging or defacing property, they were not being rude or disrespectful. They were merely doing what so many of us did when we were children.

We should be building up our kids and encouraging them when they behave like this. As adults in this community, we should always support children in these endeavors ... they are all of our children, because these are our future community leaders!  If there is a child selling something, I will always pull over and stop my vehicle to purchase what they have whether I need it or not. I will always tell them how proud I am of them for what they're doing!

The way I see it, the woman may have a job to do, but in the big picture, do you really think it was worth what she did to these outstanding children? They may have taken a little revenue away from her, but what she did so greatly outweighed her small loss in the negative message it gave them.

I hope I speak for the rest of this community, but until I see a letter of apology to Austin and Grant, our family will not ever consider playing golf at Club West golf course in the future, and I plan on letting all of our friends know about this too.

As for Austin and Grant ... you guys rock! Keep up the good work.

MaryAnne Mejdrich 

Flooding has been an issue for years

Dear Editor:

We read with keen interest the Sept. 17 report in the Ahwatukee Foothill News of the area flooding and the subsequent homeowner association/home owner discussion.

We thought that you might like to know that we on South Tomah Drive have also had our share of flooding. The same answer was always given. It was designed to handle a 100-year flood. HOA: "Not our problem contact the city of Phoenix" ... and so forth.

The developer-designed storm flood system, circa 1977. Massive flooding of multiple homes over the next few years resulted in the local HOA, working with developer Presley Homes, to redesign the runoff capabilities into storm drainage channels.

Periodic flooding continued to occur on a lesser scale over the next 25 years. As the city of Phoenix kept building the street higher and higher with each resurface the flooding got worse and worse. In our area the city streets act as the storm drain runoff system.

We began working through Councilman Greg Stanton's office, from 2005 through 2008, and we finally got the city of  Phoenix to redesign the street runoff at the north end of Tomah.

That work was completed this June, not a minute too soon.

During the recent monsoon storm season we still got a water back up from the street over our front sidewalk but at least our homes remained out of harms way.

The answer is not simple. It is necessary to locate and continually request response and action toward a satisfactorily resolution to this type of problem.

In our case many different departments reviewed and scratched their heads when looking into the problem. This last April we finally recommended that the city of Phoenix engineers just examine the south end of Tomah to better understand the problem.

Bingo! They finally saw that a simple reduction in the height of the street storm drain runoff entrance might fix the problem.

So far it appears to have worked. This was "that 100-year storm season" wasn't it?

Gordon & Sally Barnes

Conservatives have guiding principles, liberals don't

Dear Editor:

About that letter from Ernie Logan (AFN, Sept. 19, "That which we fear is what separates us") that was a response to Chuck Roger commentaries (AFN, Sept. 12, "Barack Obama: son of promise, child of hope").

Was it a lot of mumbo jumbo or did I miss the point? Did Logan really say that "Democrats have always made it a priority to balance the budget?"

Is that statement ridiculous and delusional or did I fall into a diametric universe?

It would seem that, as a liberal, Logan does not wish to be defined; probably because the truth hurts and he knows that discomfort can be avoided if you are a moving target. Conservatives are easily defined and, in fact, enjoy being called conservatives because they have guiding principals they truly believe in. If liberals "can't be defined by any made up list" as Logan states, then won't someone tell me how to do it.

Fact is, guiding principals can and should be on a made up list and liberalism can be defined; so it is no wonder that it's proponents try to hide in an esoteric fog whenever their "liberal" or "socialist" moniker pops up.

If you don't like conservatives outlining liberal ideology, how about quitting with the smoke and mirrors, re-thinking your principals if you can find any and then start defining yourselves. I think you will find that sanctimony and feel good idealist intentions do not precede any guiding principals that are serviceable.

So here are a couple of thoughts for the road from one of the all time greats, Winston Churchill: "It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." - "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results." - "If you're not a liberal at 20 you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at 40 you have no brain."

Brett Shepard

Re-elect McComish

Dear Editor:

I am writing to urge fellow voters in District 20 to cast their vote on Nov. 4 for John McComish, who is running for re-election to the Arizona Legislature.

As a longtime Arizonan, I am interested in integrity, competence and honesty in government. I want effective leadership. I want a representative who is focused on what matters to me, my family and our state. That candidate is John McComish, currently serving as the Majority Whip in the Arizona House of Representatives.

McComish has a proven track record of voting for legislation that supports the business community, education, fair taxation and necessary human and public services, health care and needed social programs. He is a former business owner and executive with the Chamber of Commerce. He understands what it takes to be successful in the business world. He knows how to create jobs and stimulate our economy and appreciates what is required to attract new businesses to Arizona and keep our companies here.

McComish has the experience and skills needed to promote and sustain Arizona's healthy growth. Please join me in keeping one of our top performers in the Arizona State Legislature in office. Your vote for John McComish is good for us in District 20 and it is good for all of Arizona.

Dave Cutty

Agrees: greed got us into this mess

Dear Editor:

Both my wife and I say Bill Schrank's letter is "right on the mark" to describe the real root cause of our country's current economic dilemma (AFN, Oct. 3, "Mindset, not party, started this financial mess").

For many years we both have been bewildered and, at times, disgusted by the mentality of "I want it, I want it all, and I want it right now!"

I personally have predicted that one day "it was all going to go bust" - and that day has come.

Please re-publish Schrank's article again to make sure more readers see it, and also please suggest that he forward it to The Arizona Republic so it can reach the brains of an even much larger audience.

Rick and Michelle Kluba

Editor's note: Bill Schrank's letter can be found at www.awhatukee.com under the opinion section.

Biden/Palin debate summary

Dear Editor:

He was running for vice president and she was running for homecoming queen.

Judy Wade

No brain for McCain

Dear Editor:

If Linda Turley-Hansen believes that voting for John McCain is a "no-brainer," (AFN, Oct. 3, "Why John McCain is our best hope") I have a suggestion. Perhaps Turley-Hansen can start a support group for other like-minded people. She could call it "People with no brain for McCain."

I think I will stick with the best candidate running for president, Barack Obama.

W. E. "Hank" Henry

Turley-Hansen: Spot-on!

Dear Editor:

Linda Turley-Hansen's McCain article in the latest Ahwatukee Foothills News (Oct. 3, "Why John McCain is our best hope") is spot-on! We will look up and review, at her suggestion, the "Lexington Project."

I am very concerned, based upon the latest polls, that too many of our fellow citizens just don't get it. They are prepared to put their children's and grandchildren's safety and future in the hands of an empty-suited rock star. This, and the fact that they seemingly are allowing a left-wing socialist media tell them how to vote.

Puzzling ain't it!

Billy Walker

Bush's advisors now surround McCain

Dear Editor:

All of the commentaries in the Ahwatukee Foothills News about the presidential election ignore the elephant in the room that is the critical issue on Nov. 4. Even Linda Turley-Hansen (Oct. 3) could not bear to mention he-who-shall-not-be-named, referring to President Bush as "the sitting president."

The president is only one person and an administration is only as good as the people who serve in the executive branch. The failure of the Bush presidency can be traced to his poor choices in selecting those who served him (instead of serving our country). The Bush administration appointed incompetent people like Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, Paul Bremer and Michael ("heck-of-a-job") Brown. Monica Goodling confessed under oath that she violated federal law by filling career positions in the executive branch based on political allegiance rather than qualifications.

When Sen. McCain's presidential campaign foundered during the primaries, he fired his staff and hired Bush White House operatives, starting with Rick Davis, a protégé of Karl Rove. If John McCain becomes president, the executive branch will remain filled with Bush's people who will continue to serve the interests of the Republican Party and not our nation.

Voting for John McCain will truly be voting for a third Bush term.

Clayton Esterson

Festival of lights too much in time of need

Dear Editor:

Each day our news is filled with powerful stories about our stricken economy and how people, even in Ahwatukee Foothills, are affected by job loss, foreclosures, hunger, lack of medical benefits.

It is with these issues in mind that we must comment on how disappointed we are that money continues to be spent to hang holiday lights on the cactus on Chandler Boulevard.

The lights are indeed festive and enjoyed by many, but we cannot help but wonder if the money that is being spent for this décor might have been better directed to people who are in need, many who are our neighbors.

Even if the Foothills subdivision, of which we are residents, decided to spend only half of what was spent in the past, and donate the other half to a food bank, homeless shelter or other charity, what an impact that money would make to others. And, the effects would last much longer than the holiday season.

Our economic crisis is not one from which we will quickly recover. As we all review our priorities, let us give thanks for our blessings and be considerate of those who are suffering and make better decisions.

Michael and Nanci Wilharber

You don't have to be intoxicated to get a DUI

Dear Editor:

Arizona is one of nine states in which a driver can be convicted of the crime of Driving Under the Influence without being under the influence! This may sound absurd, but it is true.

Under Arizona law it is a crime not only to drive a car while your ability to do so is impaired by alcohol or drugs, but also while you have a metabolite of an illegal drug, such as marijuana, in your system. A metabolite is what is left of the drug after the body has "digested" or metabolized it. Metabolites remain in the blood, and are excreted in the urine for some time after the drug has been used and long after the intoxicating effects have worn off. This time period varies between drugs. As an example, the metabolites of marijuana can remain in the body for weeks or even months after its use.

If a person were, for example, to smoke marijuana on a Friday night, and then drive to work on Monday morning he or she would most certainly be guilty of DUI under this statute (ARS 28-1381(A)(3) - "metabolite" DUI) even though the person's ability to drive is in no way impaired.

Unlike a conviction for a "standard" DUI, which carries a 90-day license suspension, a person convicted of DUI under the "metabolite" DUI law is subject to a license revocation of at least one year.

I recently spoke to a prosecutor in Arizona regarding this law and how it is being applied. I assumed that prosecuting authorities would exercise some discretion in plea bargaining cases charged under this law in order to avoid unduly punishing indisputably sober drivers more harshly than drivers who are in fact impaired. He told me that his office, and the courts, usually did not entertain plea bargains in these cases since a person charged under the "metabolite" law was easier to convict than a person charged with being actually impaired by drugs and/or alcohol. After all, he said, "We don't have to prove impairment."

The U.S. constitution protects citizens from prosecution under criminal laws that fail to provide reasonable notice of what constitutes a crime. No reasonable person would believe that they are committing the crime of driving under the influence when they drive a car when completely sober. Intoxicated drivers are the problem and the Legislature should stick to the subject when passing laws and not create new crimes that have nothing to do with the problem.

Curtis Shelton

Maricopa schools can use our help

Dear Editor:

We don't often know how lucky some school districts are until we visit another school district. In my continued efforts to serve the community my efforts have taken me down south of Ahwatukee to the town of Maricopa.

After having three children attend the Kyrene School District my youngest daughter is now attending a school in the Maricopa School District.

Many things that were the norm at the Kyrene School District are not the norm at my daughter's school in Maricopa like:  jump ropes, basketballs, baseballs and bats, computer programs, school supplies, snacks are also needed for some of the children in Maricopa.

So here goes a shout out to all my friends in Ahwatukee to help the little town just south of Ahwatukee. I recently was elected to be my daughter's school's first PTO president and with a new school and no money much is needed for the school children I am now helping. Volunteering is also needed to help supplement the learning skills the children will need to lead successful lives.

As I have represented the community of Lakewood and Ahwatukee in the larger picture I am asking for your support in efforts to help a school that has asked me to help its children in these important years of learning.

Some of Ahwatukee's finest can do wonderful things for the 600 children that are counting on me to help them during their school years from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Ahwatukee has many prominent citizens, many professional athletes and many entertainers that could have a concert to raise funds, and many businesses and other community leaders could also lend a hand.

Let's organize a caravan with community leaders and businesses to follow each other and head south to Maricopa to bring some hope to 600 students that need many things not listed in this editorial.

Ahwatukee should know I will always continue to help out when the call comes in, but today I need your help Ahwatukee. 

Thank you in advance for supporting 600 children in need.

John D. Rodriguez

Huppenthal helped after flooding

Dear Editor:

In reflecting on the anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts returned to how we, as Americans, felt we needed to band together as a nation and be there for each other. Sept. 11 showed the spirit of government and the community at its best.

My husband and I have undergone a trial. Flooding in our neighborhood from heavy rains resulted in serious damage to our property. The resolution required the cooperation of government and private entities. Unfortunately, coordinating efforts among the various entities became overwhelming for me and caught me in the middle of a bureaucratic nightmare.

On the recommendation of several friends, I called Sen. John Huppenthal's office. I can't say enough about the commitment and genuine concern I experienced when I contacted his office. Huppenthal personally took the time to come to my homeowner's association meetings to help communicate the problem to the board and to work on facilitating a solution. He worked with the city of Phoenix, the Maricopa County Flood Control District and my neighbors beyond any of my expectations.

I just want to share my experience with others in District 20 who may be caught in the quagmire of local and state government and who may need a helping hand from someone who takes his public service seriously. Huppenthal was there for me and my husband. He has been there for my friends who recommended him to me.

It means a great deal to my husband and me to know that we have Sen. Huppenthal representing our interests in the State Senate. The residents of Arizona need more people like him.

Political officials with his exceptionally caring personality are very hard to find in our world today. He embodies the spirit of 9/11 and the partnership citizens should have with their government.

Pat Parnell

For the records: Schmuck is ‘clean'

Dear Editor:

Frank Schmuck is declared "clean" in a decision handed down by the Clean Elections Commission on Sept. 18.

The commission investigated the complaints submitted by Dominic Cota and conducted hearings as required by law.

In addition to clearing Schmuck, the commission agrees that it would be productive for commission rulemaking to address the law regarding the use of community service rooms for participating candidate's fund raising.

In a letter to the Clean Elections Commission, the complainant withdrew his complaint, explaining that his complaint was prompted by his strong disagreement with Schmuck over his stances on illegal immigration, particularly the issue of Schmuck favoring securing the border, and since Schmuck did not advance past the primary, he could see no reason to pursue the matter any further.

With only a few weeks left before the general election, voters please be wary of potentially bogus accusations designed to influence your vote.

Marjorie Miner

GOP Precinct Committeeman

Legislative District 20