Azar deserves consideration

I am writing this letter in support of Adam Azar for Vigo County Council at-large.

Adam is currently a social studies teacher at West Vigo Middle School. In addition to his teaching duties, Adam serves as the eighth-grade team leader and the athletic director.

As the athletic director, Adam puts in many hours preparing for games, meets and matches. He has worked hard to build and maintain our athletic budget. Under his leadership, new uniforms and equipment for every sport have been purchased.

Outside of school, Adam is actively involved in church. As the father of two children, Adam is a family-oriented man. His caring personality is reflected through his many community service projects.

For these reasons, please consider voting for Adam Azar for council at-large.

— Deniese Herring

West Terre Haute



Burger will put county on track

What an exciting time we are living in right now. At our fingertips in a few weeks will be the power to change our future. We can do this by voting for leadership changes in our local county government. How fortunate we are to have Rick Burger as a candidate for County Council. I attended high school with Rick; even then, his leadership qualities came shining through as he was our high school class president.

Rick went on to college and after graduation went to work for Public Service, aka Cinergy, aka Duke Energy, where he still is today, 35 years later. Rick is a family man, a grandfather, who sees the need for jobs in Vigo County that will last and be here for employment of our future generations.

Vigo County would do well to look at Rick’s platforms and plans for our county. He wants to see economic growth. Rick was on the committee to market the Pfizer property. He attended several meetings to speak with prospective companies and firms to persuade them to come to Vigo County. Rick believes in the residents of Vigo County and sees the potential for growth and for jobs in our community and is willing to do what it takes to get them here. Rick will be a leader for progress and growth for our county and for us.

Rick isn’t stingy with his time either. Rick serves on many various community boards throughout the city and the county. Rick is active with these organizations. You may recall seeing Rick on the roof of Baesler’s Market, in the freezing cold, raising funds for the United Way or at 100 Men Who Cook, helping to raise funds for the Children’s Museum — all of this, to make our community a better place.

I know who I am voting for Vigo County, do you? Take the time now to review the candidates and I am sure that you will agree that Rick Burger is the candidate that Vigo County needs now to create partnerships that will benefit our community, our county so that it can develop to its potential.

Rick will be a responsible, accountable and an active County Councilman. Your vote for Rick Burger will put Vigo County back on track.

— Melyssa Minnick

Terre Haute



Watch for Dems in name only

As a strong Democratic believer, I wanted to take the time to reach each and every one of you taking the time to read this. It’s hard to believe that sometimes during the voting season we have “fake” Democrats on the ballot. These impostors like to swoop in, lie to the great working democratic people of the county, and once the voting is over they switch their views to the Republican side only to spend the rest of their term doing the exact opposite of what they told us their beliefs were.

 Rick Burger is on the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce board, the same board that endorsed the right-to-work bill. When Election Day comes, ensure that all union workers remember the stance that the Chamber took with right-to-work.

The right-to-work bill was proposed and eventually passed in the state of Indiana. This is causing working union families, like mine, to re-evaluate who we have voted into our state and local government. On Sept. 23, 2006, during a speech to the Teamsters 135 Union Stewards Award Banquet, Gov. Mitch Daniels was quoted saying, “We cannot afford to have civil wars over issues that might divide us and divert us from that path. I have said over and over, I’ll say it again tonight: I’m a supporter of the labor laws we have in the state of Indiana. I am not interested in changing any of it. Not the prevailing wage laws and certainly not the right-to-work law. We can succeed in Indiana with the laws we have, respecting the rights of labor, and the fair and free competition of everybody.”

Just a few years from this speech, we are now a right-to-work state. I am sure you’re asking yourself why this would have anything to do with our local elections. There is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for County Council at-large that sat on a board that endorsed the right-to-work bill, that has values of a Republican but knows the strength of Democrats in Vigo County. He is using his “fake” Democratic views to only be voted on the council. As a county we do not need to fall for the insincere speeches or campaign propaganda. Always remember, the past will give you a glimpse into the future.

Ed Ping was there at the statehouse rallying for organized labor and for all working people of Vigo County. He is a man of value and integrity. He believes in the brotherhood and quality of work that our local unions provide. Ed was also a strong supporter for the passing of the Responsible Bidder Ordinance, giving us, as taxpayers, the quality of work that our hard-earned tax money pays for. I am not a fan of having my family’s hard-earned money in the hands of unlicensed and untrained contractors doing jobs for the city.

When you go to vote this May for our County Council seats, please remember, the actions of these candidates need to be seen even before election time to ensure we are going to have an honest glimpse of their intentions for this county.

Please take the time to look in the past. Who was there standing next to the brotherhood. Who was looking out for the members of a skilled trade? Who was protecting our tax money and who has the credentials to back his campaign up?

This man would be Ed Ping.

— Danielle Crim

Terre Haute



Vote for Azar is vote for future

Voters have an opportunity on Election Day to cast a vote for the future of Vigo County. Adam Azar, candidate for Vigo County Council, may be young by political standards — just 32 years old. But he became familiar with the workings of local government early in his life, having a father and an uncle who have held political office and contributed much to the good of their community over the years.

Adam and his wife, Stephanie, had the opportunity to leave Vigo County, but they chose to come back here to teach in the Vigo County School Corp. and raise their family — son Elias and daughter Amara. So, like many of us, they have a stake in the future of this area, but unlike most of us, Adam is willing to invest his skills, time and energy in making Vigo County the best it can be, with his willingness to serve on the County Council.

I’ve known Adam for about 25 of his nearly 33 years, as my son Andy’s best friend, and I’ve been impressed watching him grow into the intelligent, thoughtful and responsible man he is today. He’s a practical thinker, yet has a good view of the big picture. He also has an understanding of the importance of living within a budget, both for his family and for local government.

You will find that Adam’s goals for Vigo County are basic — fiscal responsibility for the county; working toward a “greener” community; and working with all local entities in the effort to create jobs, jobs and more jobs — because he believes this is the best legacy we can leave to our children. Let me assure you, when it comes to getting things done, he’s willing to roll up his sleeves and do what it takes with integrity.

I would encourage you to get out and vote on May 8, and be sure to use this opportunity to vote for Adam Azar for County Council and the future of Vigo County.

— Cathy Hendricks

Terre Haute



Elect a true and faithful official

Rick Burger would make a fine Vigo County councilman.

Over the years, he has shown superior leadership abilities both at work and as a volunteer for many nonprofit organizations in the Wabash Valley. I have personally known Rick for over 10 years, and have seen firsthand his commitment to the community. His dedication to organizations like United Way of the Wabash Valley, Junior Achievement, Terre Haute Children’s Museum, Downtown Terre Haute, Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank, Union Hospital Foundation, Vigo County School Corp., Indiana State University School of Technology, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Terre Haute Economic Development Corp., St. Mary’s College Friends of the Wabash, as well as many behind-the-scenes supports for other organizations.

For example, he organized a Duke Energy Global Service Event for the West Vigo Community Center that resulted in a much-needed refurbishing of the center that included new doors, windows, sidewalk, painting, etc. Rick’s dedication to the people of Vigo County in the past is a good indicator of the type of councilman he would be — a true and faithful representative of all the people, not just a select few. He will work hard to promote economic growth in our community; he has the skills and the work ethic to do so.

Please make your vote count by voting for Rick Burger on Election Day.

— Frank Hill

Terre Haute



Charged up about Burger’s candidacy

It’s time to electrify Vigo County politics with a change at the county level. Rick Burger is the man needed to charge our county and community with positive ideas and leadership.

I have known Rick for more than a decade. I’ve had the privilege to work with him professionally through Duke Energy and with various community organizations. He truly has the best interest of Vigo County at heart and wants to see our area grow and thrive.

I have given serious consideration to running for a political office over the past year or so. I was ready to throw my hat into the county council arena when I learned that my good friend, Rick, was planning to do the same. I told him, “you go for it and you will have my support.” I know that his hopes and aspirations mirror many of my own as a resident and parent living and working in this community.

We need people to bring fresh ideas and methods to Vigo County. It’s time to take the next steps to making this area one of the most sought after by business and industry in the Hoosier State. We need people to look at Vigo County with “new eyes” and see that things aren’t just “status quo” and stale. Rick Burger can generate enthusiasm amongst county and city leaders and with those outside our area looking to bring benefits to all of us living here.

Please, take the time to learn more about Rick Burger and get out and vote for him for County Council at Large this May. Vigo County deserves a fresh approach, and Rick Burger is the man who can offer it and more.

— Julie Henricks Mahurin

Terre Haute



Focus on facts, not on noise

Want a reliable way to identify someone who actually knows some facts and what they mean? In the current political climate, lots of folks state what they claim are the “facts,” but many of the same people disagree with each other.

It’s really simple: the louder someone talks, or the more name-calling he or she uses, or the more barely contained anger there seems to be, the less likely it is that the speaker or writer is sure about what the facts are. The calmer and more reasoned the statement, the more likely it is that the facts presented are really facts.

The old advice to trial attorneys (apologies to some attorneys I know) was simple: “If you have the facts on your side, pound on the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound on the law. If you have neither, pound on the table.”

Eric Hoffer, a longshoreman who reputedly taught himself classical Greek in order to read Plato in the original, suggested (The True Believer, 1951) that the loudest, most strident, least willing to consider different views, are those who are the most uncertain or uncomfortable about their own views.

So the next time you read a letter to the editor, or listen to someone on talk radio, or watch any of the news channels, from Fox News to MSNBC, look for the loudest, most angry, name-calling folks, the ones squawking the most. And ignore them: they are just making a lot of noise. As dumb ducks do.

— John Paul Maierle

Terre Haute



Protect history, don’t destroy it

Once again, I have heard of another atrocity that may take place in Terre Haute.

Thompson Thrift may destroy part of the historic landmarks in downtown Terre Haute to build a new building. Destruction of  historic buildings has to stop and we as citizens of Terre Haute have to speak out against this.

Yes, the buildings in question on Wabash Avenue have set empty and need repair, but if torn down those historic elements will be gone forever. Indianapolis saved the facade of the buildings when Circle Center Mall was created and Bloomington has retained the historic architectural character of the city.

Thompson Thrift needs to step up and not create another “cookie cutter” building and stay true to the architecture of downtown Terre Haute.

— Brenda G. Simmons

Terre Haute