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Tomhave responds to political letter to editor
Published Friday, October 31, 2008
I would like to respond to the letter to the editor on Rodger Heaton's behalf from Jinny Saul, being the "other male candidate".
When asked if I lean toward Pro-Choice or Pro-Life I stated Pro-Choice, and the phone call was over. No questions on any other issues pertaining to our city, just one on a matter that I don't believe will have much influence on the matters that the council will be addressing.
I could have answered Pro-Life in order to get her vote, as she stated that she was conservative before asking the question, but chose the truth instead.
I believe that the city council position is a representative one, where the duty of the person elected is to represent the feelings and values of people of the city, not our own.
That's why I'm running, not to push my own personal agenda, but to give a vote back to the people.
In response to Scott Lehner's letter, the question of raising property taxes never came up in the forum, and I do not recall anyone declaring themselves pro or con on the matter. It would be nice if, in a race for city council, we could keep to facts.
I encourage anyone with any questions to call me or other candidates, and be sure to vote on Tuesday.
Ron Tomhave - 4th Ward City, Council Candidate
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FFWoman (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was also interesting that no mention was made of all of the other candidate running in the 4th ward--JoEllen Thacker. Doesn't Jinny know there is another candidate or did she deliberatly choose not to mention Thacker?
I agree that whether or not a person is pro-choice or pro-life isn't a question to measure the capabilities of a candidate for city council.
Posted by PeterGriffin (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@FFWoman
I believe this comment was about Thacker, as she is the only female candidate running for council seat.
"One candidate, a female candidate for Ward 4 City Council refused to answer the questions I presented, and that is her right, but I believe that also says a lot to me as a voter. How much information would I be accessible to later?"
Posted by AmyO (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The letter and "Ginny" are both idiotic.
Unfortunately the very conservative make-up of Ottertail County means that many people are very susceptible to persuasion based on such irrelevant issues since people like Ginny assume they are indicative of the "strength of ones faith."
Just be sure that if anyone asks what you think of Keith Ellison in the next four days you tell them at you think, no wait, you KNOW he's evil.
Posted by pilsnerurquel (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS. I cannot believe the gaul of woman who would actually ask a candidate for County Commissioner what their personal beliefs on abortion are. Good for you for hanging up on her. That's better than I would have done.
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since when did the issue of abortion have ANY importance in local government? Ginny makes it sound like if we elect a democrat that they're going to open an abortion clinic on November 5th. Their religious views are completely irrelevant to what they can do to help our city.
Posted by HotFergusMan (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'm not picking sides and I really dont want to get in the middle of an "over talked about" conversation about abortion, And i wont write anything here after on this "letter to the editor" because then it would sound as if we're bickering, but I think some 'comment posters' have misunderstood what ginnys' point may have been. Now I'm not speaking on behalf of ginny but this is what I found about her writing; No candidate starts at the top and moves down (ie bush would not move down to city council). They start at the bottom and work up (ie stumbo started on city council and now going up to State Rep 10A [btw, congrats]). It would appear to me, and I agree with, that ginny wants to know what people believe NOW before they move up. Her (which I think is a her) big issue is aborotion. Who doesnt have an issue about something or someone? Now, in regards to tomhave, it's unfortunate that your opinions were not fully heard by her and therefore she is not an informed voter. Since aborotion is not an issue to what is relevant to city council (which I agree with) what is important to you as candidate for city council?
Posted by apple (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Ginny and Fergusman hit it on the head.
IF at the local level we are not allowed to know what party the people running are associated with, then as Ginny did, you need to ask probing questions of the candidates to see what their world view is. As she pointed out, once you are a local non-partisan candidate, you then have increased access to media, and can use it as a stepping stone to state level politics (like Greg Stumbo)
For Ginny, abortion was her litmus test, she decided that not valuing the life of a baby in the womb translates to values that she does not want representing her, and that’s her right.
Ginny, if you read this, I want to thank you for taking the time to talks to the candidates and reporting back to those of us who did not get to talk to them. Most people I speak with guess on the local candidates.
For others who are criticizing her, this is America, and she is free to vote according to her values. Her letter did not tell you who to vote for, only what she found out from all of the candidates that she spoke with.
The comments about bible thumping and keeping religion out of politics, are in my opinion, simply intolerant and shows your ignorance.
Posted by MNfrozen (anonymous) on November 3, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that last comment was a little rude.
What difference does it make where some one works??
Abortion, is NOT even an issue that gets decided on at local level.
What gives?
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