Published: September 29, 2008 06:47 pm      

LETTERS: Sept. 30, 2008

Hill needs to apologize



Baron Hill has reportedly said that Mike Sodrel should apologize to the people of the Ninth District for not turning over his constituent casework when he left office.

This, in my opinion, is the “pot calling the kettle black.” Baron Hill is the one who should apologize for the people of his district. Just four days before the primary, Baron Hill endorsed Barack Obama for President after repeatedly saying that he would not endorse either candidate until after the primary, and he knew the wishes of the people of his district. The 9th District voted overwhelmingly for Sen. Hillary Clinton, yet Baron Hill would not change his endorsement.

This was important since neither Obama nor Clinton had enough pledged delegates to win the nomination — the superdelegates would determine the nominee.

Baron Hill turned his back on the wishes of the people of his district when he endorsed Obama. Later, we learned that he had received money from Obama, Pelosi and Kennedy’s PAC funds. It appears that his superdelegate vote was bought.

It is despicable that Baron Hill would go against the will of his constituents and consider our voices irrelevant. To allow his vote to be bought is even more despicable. It is indeed Baron Hill who owes the people of this district an apology.

As a lifelong Democrat, who has voted for Baron Hill every time, this will be a year when I will change my vote as will thousands of others in the Ninth District. It is so disappointing to discover that the party I thought stood for higher democratic ideals is just another shade of greed.

— Alice Butler, Jeffersonville



He’s proud of community



The week after the wind storm was a very difficult time for our entire area. It has made us all realize how fortunate we are to live in such a great county where working together as friends and colleagues remains a top priority.

On behalf of our school board, our staff, our community, and myself, I want to thank Dr. Tony Bennett, superintendent of Greater Clark County Schools, and the American Red Cross, for opening River Valley Middle School to our residents for food and showers during the recent extended power outages.

I also want to thank Steve Morris, principal of Jeffersonville High School, and Tony Branch, athletic director, for allowing Clarksville High School to use their facilities for our football game against Salem.

A special thank you goes out the JHS Band Boosters who graciously agreed to provide concessions for those who attended the game.

Finally, we cannot offer enough praise for the hard work and dedication of the employees of Duke Energy for restoring power as soon as possible for our schools and residents. It is heartening that we are all able to work together in assuring that our communities are assisted in times of need.

On a personal note, I want to thank Dr. Dennis Brooks, superintendent of New Albany-Floyd County Schools, Tony Bennett, GCCS, and Monty Schneider, superintendent of West Clark Community Schools, for all of their guidance during this past week.

After we leave this challenging, unpredictable business of education, our friendships will last a lifetime. The past week certainly proves that point.

Being able to network with experienced professionals represents one of the most beneficial aspects of working in a close-knit, educational community where collective decisions can be made in ways that best benefit the students and families in our charge.

— Stephen G. Fisher, Superintendent, Clarksville Community Schools Corp.