Letters to the editor Oct. 2

Karen Abowd has right attitude to get things done

You've all heard the saying that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results ... that is what this city election is about.

Bemoaning the current economic situation is not going to change it. Taking positive creative action is the only thing that will make a difference right now, rather than just waiting out the recession and doing nothing, and just hoping that things will get better. I am a local business owner, and I can't afford to just sit back and wait.

We have four worthy candidates running for supervisor in November. I applaud each of them for throwing their hats in the ring in these tough times. But I haven't heard three of them propose any real solutions to our real problems.

Except for one candidate, they all focus on the negatives, on what we don't have, on what we can't do, on what we shouldn't consider.

Karen Abowd is different. She has a positive outlook. She has been actively involved in the community and gets things done. She focuses on what we have done, on the progress we have made. She cares about Carson City. And, she is willing to look at new ideas and new solutions to make things better. I like her attitude.

Like Karen Abowd said at the candidate forum, "doing nothing is not an option."

Becky Sarnowski

Carson City

Reid works to make Nevadans' lives better

To me the choice in the election for U.S. Senator is clear. We have the option of re-electing a public servant who believes the role of government is to help make our lives better or choosing someone who will vote "no" on everything.

During his time in the U.S. Senate, Harry Reid has brought more than $40 million to Carson City for a variety of projects that have made our community better. These include money for rebuilding the V & T Railroad, constructing the Carson City bypass, controlling erosion after the Waterfall Fire, improving the Carson City Airport, extending I-580 from Reno to Carson City, and assisting the education of our youth through grants to Western Nevada College and the Boys and Girls Club. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Sen. Reid's opponent Sharron Angle, a Tea Party activist, has one agenda: to say "no" to any government expenditure because she and those allied with her don't like to pay taxes. Angle and other Tea Party supporters forget that our American Revolution was not fought to avoid taxation, but to have a voice in which taxes we pay and how that money is spent. We have that voice in Harry Reid.

I would rather have a U.S. senator whose decisions make our lives better than one who simply says "no" without thought to improving our community. Thanks, Harry. You have my vote.

Ken Elverum

Carson City

Support children today, cut crime tomorrow

The report on the latest U.S. Census figures - one in seven Americans live in poverty - paints a grim picture of increasing poverty rates, especially among children. While most children who live in poverty never turn to crime, numerous studies, including a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, show that children growing up in poverty are at a greater risk of being involved in serious crimes than children living above the poverty line.

In Nevada alone, more than one in six children live below the poverty line. As the district attorney of Carson City, this is a concern where the evidence is clear that higher rates of child poverty today lead to more crime for our communities tomorrow.

That is why Nevada members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids are calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. John Ensign of the Senate Finance Committee to work to ensure that Congress extends the child tax credit. If key provisions of the current child tax credit are allowed to expire at the end of this year, 164,000 Nevada children will no longer be eligible for the credit or will see their benefits drastically reduced.

At-risk children at such an early age cannot be blamed for their circumstances and environment. As a community, we should work to improve it for them. Congress can simultaneously support low-income families today, work to improve the lives of children, and cut crime tomorrow.

Neil A. Rombardo

Carson City District Attorney

Sheriff Furlong fails to address speeding problem

How can we expect promises to be kept by our sheriff candidates? One never knows who will keep their word, but what I do know is that our current sheriff never kept his word about helping with the speeding problem on Division Street.

Rhonda Glisson

Carson City