LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Police officer earns kudos Editor, the Leader-News:

We would like to commend and thank Officer Justin Sosa of the El Campo Police Department. Because of his diligence and attention, he was able to recover our stolen car less than 24 hours after we filed a police report!

Willie and Julia Bram

Trains not that big a deal Editor, the Leader-News:

To everyone reading this about the trains coming through El Campo - what's the big deal - other towns like East Bernard and Moulton, Shiner and Wallis have trains going through their towns and people still exist with the train. To run the track around El Campo is the most stupidest idea anyone ever could decide on. Let the trains come through like before, no one complained before, some things we have to live with.

Now another subject about the new big highway in Texas that's past dumb. Let the U.S. go and try to build such a highway in some other country (where they wouldn't benefit from it) you'd get kicked out before you got started good. As an example when the present 59 was to go through Pierce on Mr. Pierce's land, no way, you go around, and they did.

Read in paper where Mr. Perry will run for another term - he was to say NO to this big highway and keep 'Day savings time' out of Texas - then he may win, it's no savings time to get up by dark. We need to save our energy.

Your reader,

Alice Laitkep

Reader rebuts ad's views Editor, the Leader-News:

My friend, Jack Fisk, placed an ad suggesting that the citizens' water and sewer rates and ad valorem taxes would be increased as a result of the city's plan to deliver service to the newly annexed areas. Annexation will NOT result in a tax increase or utility increase for ANY of our existing citizens.

Both our recent city manager's report and a recent Leader News headlining story have explained annexation will add over $25 million in property tax values while not costing residents any tax or utility rate increases. The revenue derived from these areas is expected to pay for all construction.

Mr. Fisk also was unaware that the city enacted a tax freeze (the same as the school) for the citizens over 65 and those who have been approved by the appraisal district as disabled.

What Mr. Fisk omitted to tell all the taxpayers was that the Ryan et. al. unsuccessful suit against the school district to set aside the people's vote cost the school district several hundred thousand dollars in increased costs to construct the middle school in increased bond interest and legal fees.

The cost to the city to defend the Tim Ryan lawsuit in the District Court, Court of Civil Appeals and the Supreme Court was substantial. These costs to the school and to the city affect all taxpayers since the expenditures are paid from city and school revenue.

Mr. Fisk, your slate of candidates for the school board and the City Council have a private agenda that is contrary to the interests of the school and city. The candidates for school board who are working to improve the education of our children, provide fair compensation to the faculty and maintain and repair our school facilities are the incumbents.

The candidates for City Council who are working to grow the city infrastructure, repair and upgrade the streets, water and sewer facilities and manage tight budgets to make certain that expenditures do not exceed income do not include your recommended candidates.

Mr. Fisk, I join you in urging everyone to vote in both elections.

James A. Bouligny

City must embrace progress Editor, the Leader-News:

Growing up in El Campo was a great experience. As great as it was, I was one of the many graduates that went off to college with no specific plans of living in El Campo afterwards. When I married Sandie, who grew up in Conroe, we first lived in Fort Bend County, thinking that this would be the best place to raise a family. I was working in the El Campo area and Sandie was teaching in Fort Bend at the time.

Then a job opportunity opened for Sandie at El Campo High School and we took this as a sign that there was a better place to raise a family than Fort Bend County.

With three children now, we do not look back on our decision to raise our family in El Campo. During the past several years, many more friends that graduated and moved onto "greater" places have now made the same decision that we made and are now living in El Campo. While Sugar Land, Richmond and Rosenberg are decent cities, they simply don't offer the community feel that El Campo does.

El Campo offers an unmatched spirit and quality of life that we want our children to learn and experience in their upbringing. In Houston it is not uncommon to know only one or two of your neighbors. In El Campo, neighbors and neighborhoods can stretch for miles.

With the continued trend of graduates moving back to El Campo we should expect that debates over progress and growth are likely to continue, even after this election. Just as our parents wanted more for us than they had, we want our children to have the very best opportunities in life.

El Campo can only continue to provide these opportunities with a lean towards progress in the decisions we make as a community.

Please vote in the current election, and when you do, vote to keep a good thing going.

Coby Rod