Letters to the editor

Candidate rebuttal

This is a response to your endorsement of April Griffin for the Hillsborough County School Board.

While I believe it can be useful for board members to have spent time on the job and have a background that may be helpful in understanding the family issues facing our lowest-performing students, that is simply not enough in this economic environment.

We need school board members with a strong commitment to the academic achievement of our students. We need leaders with the business and educational background to encourage greater use of technology and stretch a dollar.

Most importantly, we need leaders with a strong sense of civility and personal character to deal with hurting people.

I am surprised the editorial staff did not take into account Griffin's outbursts and leaving meetings in the middle of critical issues. I believe a more thorough look at the candidate's character, skill and position on the issues would have led to the choice of Terry Kemple for the Hillsborough School Board, District 6, endorsement.

TERRY KEMPLE

Brandon

Don't forget Roberts

I am very moved by the response of our citizens to the Curtis and Kocab families. As the wife of a former Tampa Police Department officer, I have lived with the fear of knowing my husband could be on the memorial wall.

Lately, I have wondered how Mike Roberts' widow must feel; it will only be one year ago that she lost him. I am sure she is reliving her horrendous experience. I also wonder if she feels left out and perhaps forgotten. There seems to be many more fundraising functions for these two fine officers than there were for Mike.

Please, let us not forget the Roberts family and those before them and continue to support them. The pain will be forever. May all who loved and miss these officers find some peace and the ability to reclaim their lives from this trauma.

PATTI LEMUS

Wesley Chapel

Hayward's empire

It was indeed great news that Tony Hayward is being replaced by Robert Dudley as CEO of BP. He initially tried to minimize the extent of the oil leak and the environmental effects of the spill. When thousands of people in the Gulf states were worried about their livelihoods, he wanted his life back.

It is more than half a century since the forced liquidation of the British Empire, but this typical "the-sun-never-sets-on-the-British Empire" mindset has not changed.

YESHAWANT GINDE

Tampa

Here's why

Why should every red-blooded, pro-business Republican vote for the upcoming Hillsborough County transportation investment tax? It's easy.

Short term: thousands of new jobs. Long term: to avoid gas-guzzling gridlock.

Enough said.

D. FRANKLIN

Tampa