Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 10, 2002, edition 1 / Page 12
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12 Tuesday, September 10, 2002 Board Editorials Vote Lee for Senate... Sen. Howard Lee is the candidate best positioned to address the numerous hurdles facing the University community in the coming years Orange and Chatham counties need a senator who can implement his ideas, a senator capable of not just voicing our community’s concerns but also doing something to solve the problems. UNC needs an influential senator to protect its funding from the budget writers’ axe. The Daily Tar Heel enthusiastically endorses Sen. Howard Lee, D-Orange, for the Senate District 23 Democratic primary as the candidate best suited for meeting the community’s current and future needs. Lee is an influential political figure with experience on both community and state levels. He has served six terms in the state legislature and was the first black mayor of Chapel Hill, serving from 1969-75. Lee is a co-chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and vice chairman of Committee on Education/Higher Education - two positions that direcdy shape the University’s future. While UNC was being threatened with severe budget cuts, Lee played a large role in shielding funding and holding die cuts to less than 3 percent, first in his capacity in the Senate and then as a co chairman in the Joint Conference Committee charged with ironing out the differences between the budgets passed by the House and Senate. Lee is rated the seventh most effective state sen ator by the non-partisan N.C. Center for Public Policy Research based on evaluations from fellow legislators, the capital press corps and lobbyists. ... Not Kinnaird Sens. Howard Lee and Ellie Kinnaird, both D- Orange, are experienced legislators who have served the community faithfully throughout their terms. Realizing that many residents and students would have a difficult time choosing between the two candidates, The Daily Tar Heel decided to break with tradition and endorse a primary candi date. Both Lee and Kinnaird were questioned about the University community, the state’s eco nomic woes and their visions for the future. Kinnaird has several interesting ideas but does not have the legislative clout to implement them. Kinnaird, serving her third Senate term, is not as well-positioned as Lee to shape the University bud get or to advocate for the interests of Orange and Chatham counties. Compared to Lee’s myriad lead ership positions on Senate committees, Kinnaird’s positions as chairwoman of Children and Human Resources and vice chairwoman of Pensions & Retirement and Aging fall woefully short. Speaking Your Piece Regardless of their political beliefs, University students, faculty and staff should exercise their right to determine the state's elected leaders and influence the future. You might think today’s primary elections are unimportant. They might even seem irrelevant. Actually, there has never been a better time to influence how our campus and community are run. The contentious year in the N.C. House and Senate shows how government impacts students. The latest version of the UNC-system budget, completed informally Monday, comes two months late and with funding reductions of 2.39 percent. Even this small amount will have a massive impact on day-to-day life at UNC-Chapel Hill by resulting in more crowded classes and fewer sections. Besides, the decisions elected officials take direcdy affect what is taught Look at the provision sand wiched into the House version of the budget that denies state funding for a summer reading program EDITOR’S NOTE:The above editorials are the opinions of solely The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board, which were reached after open debate. The board consists of eight board members, the assistant editorial page editor, the editorial page edi tor and the DTH editor. The 2002-03 DTH editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials. Readers' Forum Editor’s Note: For more endorsement letters, visit http://www.dailytarheel.com. Kinnaird Only Senator Willing to Fight for Workers’ Interests TO THE EDITOR: More than half of all Americans have no pension plan except Social Security. U.S. wage-earners collectively have less health coverage and less maternity leave and get the shortest average termination notice of all workers in the Western world. From 1980-99, the 500 largest U.S. cor porations tripled their assets and their prof its and enlarged their market value eight fold as measured by inflated stock prices. During that same period, those corpora tions eliminated 5 million American jobs, many in North Carolina. Do you really believe those corporations will create more jobs? If you do, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Although corporations rate tax credits very low on the list of reasons for relocating to a state, many of our legislators still want to offer them. And who do you think will pay for those firuidess breaks? Not the cor porations. In fact, corporate tax loopholes in the next two years will cost more than com panies will pay in income taxes. So, don’t tell me there is no corporate welfare! If The Daily Tar Heel welcomes reader comments. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words and must be typed, double spaced, dated and signed by no more than two people Students should indude their year, major and phone number. Faculty and staff should include their tide, department and phone number. The DTH reserves the right to edit letters for space, darity and vulgarity. Publication is not guaran teed. Bring letters to the DTH office at Suite 104, Carolina Union, mail them to P.0.80x 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or e-maii forum to: etfitdesk@unc.edu. Aside from his lengthy resume, Lee has the elo quence necessary to fight for the community’s needs on the Senate floor and the influence to win the sup port of his fellow legislators in committee meetings. In a Thursday interview, Lee said he takes pride in his ability to compromise when needed to pass important legislation and to set a firm line at other times to protect University and local interests. He said he also has developed friend ships with both Republicans and members of die House - partnerships vital given the partisan spirit blocking legislation for the past year and the communication prob lems between the House and the Senate. Lee also is in position to mold the future Sen. Howard Lee of the Triangle and the state through his dual roles as vice chairman of the Commerce and Transportation committees and as a Smart Growth proponent The state is facing severe economic problems brought about by a decline in the traditional eco nomic fields of textiles and tobacco. Lee has a mixed approach of finding niche markets for struggling tex tile companies such as producing fabric for automo biles and using University research to jump-start new businesses. Lee also takes care of the future through his plans to hold a Visionary Economic Summit to discuss where the state should go in the coming decades, regardless of the primary’s outcome. Based on his influence and feasible plans, Lee is the best candidate. Additionally, Kinnaird lacks influence in the leg islature and in her own party. Earlier this year, she proposed implementing taxes on soda, beer and tobacco. When her plan failed to pass a Senate dominated by fellow Democrats, Kinnaird then voted against the entire budget - the only Democrat to do so. Her political courage is commendable, but Kinnaird demonstrated in the vote that she is more attached to lofty principles than concrete action. Admittedly, the Senate budget did harm sever al government agencies. But the budget also pro tected the UNC system and management flexibil ity from the worst threats of budget cuts. It’s often said that politics is the art of compro mise. Kinnaird’s hesitancy to practice that art weakens her voice and ability to represent the res idents of Orange and Chatham counties. There’s no point in having a senator filled with ide alistic promises that she ultimately cannot deliver. about religion unless it teaches “all known religions.” Legislators are also planning to implement a lot tery referendum by shoe-homing in an amendment to the budget rendering obsolete all that debate over whether there should be a public referendum. Past tuition debacles and a lack of student protests have left many legislators believing that students are apathetic. if this year’s voter turnout records show a marked student increase, how can legislators pos sibly claim that we do not care for the welfare of this University? There’s no better possible way to show your commitment to issues that affect you than to get out and vote. Apathetic people don’t vote. Activists do. And the only person I see in the N.C. Senate who really works for workers is Sen. Ellie Kinnaird. She fights for us even when she has to stand alone to face the corporate schmoozers and users. If you really want honesty and integrity and fairness in government, then repeat after me: Kinnaird can and Kinnaird wilt. By the way, Howard Lee could but the fact is, he hasn’t, and probably won’t help those who earn less than SIOO,OOO a year. He might have been effective ... but only for the wealthy. Figures taken from Wealth and Democracy by Kevin Phillips. Tana Hartman Administrative Director for Psychiatric Education Former Mayor Waldorf Urges Voters to Return Lee to the State Senate TO THE EDITOR: I write in support of Sen. Howard Lee’s re-election as our district’s state senator. We have been friends with Howard and Lillian Lee for a long time, but this election is too important to be decided on the basis of friendship alone. We support Howard for many reasons. Though many legislators have voted for Editorial Page Kim Minugh EDITOR Office Hours Noon-2 Friday Lucas Fenske editorial page edit or Kelly Lusk SPORTS EDITOR Terri Rupar COPY EDITOR Adam Shupe ONLINE EDITOR If you have any concerns or comments about our coverage, please contact Ombudsman Michael Flynn at mlflynn@email.unc.edu or by phone at 843-5794. UNO's Response to Terrorism Only Increases Gap With N.C. Rebuilding relations between UNC and the rest of North Carolina was one of the main highlights of Chancellor James Moeser’s State of the University Address on Wednesday. And for once, I couldn’t agree with him more. It is of utmost importance that all North Carolinians feel a sense of ownership in UNC. After all, this is the universi ty of the people, and the people should be proud of the institu tion their tax dollars go to sup port. Most state residents beam with pride at the mere mention of the word “Tar Heels” yet cringe when people start talking about the politics of Chapel Hill. I think N.C. Republican Party Chairman and former UNC Director of Athletics Bill Cobey best summed up these ambivalent feelings when he said, “People across the state love Chapel Hill, but they hate the politics that come out of there.” I suppose by now people expect a cer tain amount of left-wing rhetoric from this place given its long activist history. But the divide between UNC and the rest of the state became crystal clear fol lowing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks last year when several University faculty members sponsored a series of teach-ins that, among other tilings, explored the ways the United States might have “pro- improvements in the public schools - high er teacher salaries, lower class sizes - Howard Lee is /A* Senate leader in the fight for public schools. In the area of public transportation, Howard began his distinguished advocacy as mayor of Chapel Hill, when he founded the state’s first city-run bus system in the 19705. He pushed through the General Assembly the first dedicated source of funding for the Triangle Transit Authority in 1991. And last year, his leadership was key in the reallocation of $l2O million in Highway Trust Fund money to public transportation systems. Howard Lee’s effectiveness on behalf of the University has been exceptional. His leadership as co-chairman of appropria tions has enabled him to target state resources to the UNC Health System to improve access to health care for North Carolinians, including residents of Orange and Chatham counties. The people of our district will lose an accessible and effective representative if Howard is not re-elected to the Senate. We will feel that difference in large and small ways. Please join Gary and me in voting for Howard Lee for state Senate on Sept. 10. Rosemary Waldorf Chapel Hill cEhu Smlg cTetr lini Established 1893 • 109 Years of Editorial Freedom www.dailytarheel.com Alex Kaplun MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Thigpen UNIVERSITY EDITOR Aaron Fitt SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR Kimberly Craven PHOTO EDITOR Sarah Sanders WRITING COACH Yoked” the terrorist attacks. When news of the “teach-ins” hit the headlines and the University caught heat from alumni and concerned citizens around the state and nation who were appalled at the prac tice, administrators, in usual fashion, dismissed the criticism as a call for censorship. Now don’t get me wrong. I certainly understand the need for and support free speech in our country, especially at our nation’s institutions of higher learning, regardless of how left wing, crazy or just plain idiotic the views expressed might be. MICHAEL MCKNIGHT RIGHT OF WAY Generally these three descriptives are synonymous. However, I am also a believer that there is an appropriate time and place for everything, and in the days following the SepL 11 attacks the so-called “alternative” views expressed in the “teach-ins” were unnecessary and utterly disrespectful to the thousands of people who lost their lives that day. One can only hope that things will remain more mainstream and respectful during the Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies scheduled for Wednesday. It is the least the University can do to ameliorate the outrage many felt after learning of some of the campus events that followed Sept. 11 last year and would be a great place to begin the process of Kinnaird Is a Candidate Who Practices Topics She Preaches About TO THE EDITOR: Ellie Kinnaird is the best candidate for N.C. Senate District 23. She has been a sen ator for six years. At times in the face of pow erful opposition, she has bravely stood for the interests of her constituents. Asa former mayor of Carrboro, she understands the importance of parking and transit to our local communities, particularly to UNC stu dents and employees. She understands the many other factors surrounding issues of local growth and development and has a demonstrated ability to balance the some times competing interests of town and gown. She has a solid record on education, the environment and health care. The senator stands firmly for working families and small business owners. Perhaps most of all, she not only supports campaign finance reform, she practices it She limits contributions from individuals to $l5O and from PACs to $250 -a clear difference with her opponent. For details see “Campaign Finance” at http://www.seanc2s.org. Please support Ellie Kinnaird for re-election to the N.C. Senate. Steve Hutton Epidemiology Programmer Jon Dougherty' CITY EDITOR Addie Sluder FEATURES EDITOR Beth Buchholz & Tiffany Pease DESIGN EDITORS Michael Flynn OMBUDSMAN rebuilding the bridge between UNC and the rest of the state. But I’m not holding my breath. Catherine Lutz, one of the professors who participated in last year’s “teach-ins,” reit erated some of the same anti-military, anti-Bush and anti-America rhetoric in an op-ed piece in Monday’s Daily Tar Heel that would make Osama bin Laden proud. I have no doubt that there will be more “teach-ins” in the coming days to “edu cate” students on the “evil” nation that is America. And when state taxpayers criticize them, University administrators will rush to defend these educational endeavors while labeling detractors as “unenlight ened” and/or “close-minded.” It is fine and necessary for the University to present students with alter native views and even to challenge tradi tional ones. However, University administrators should be sure that they are respectful of the more traditional beliefs that are held by the majority of state residents who pay their salaries. If UNC officials want to begin the process of building ties with North Carolinians, I’d say Wednesday is a great time to start. Michael McKnight is a junior journalism and public policy major. Reach him at mmcknigh@email.unc.edu. Lee Best Answer for Solving State’s Slate of Widespread Problems TO THE EDITOR: A point deserving a lot of careful thought in the current N.C. Senate campaign is the performance difference between Sens. Howard Lee and Ellie Kinnaird. Lee uses his extensive experience in government, his political savvy and his negotiating skill to enact legislation of clear benefit Sen. Lee has gone to the mat and come up victorious for public education, growth management, UNC and other issues. His accomplishments have positioned him for future success. Ellie Kinnaird is a bright, personable indi vidual, and it’s understandable that she has many friends. But North Carolina, including Orange and Chatham counties, is in a terri ble state of crisis: financial, unemployment and legislative. Admirable personal qualities notwithstanding, we just can’t afford the lux ury of electing a senator who’ll respond to those crises with little more than rhetoric. We need capability, leadership and ded ication to getting the job done in the General Assembly. We need Howard Lee. James W. Lea Professor Department of Family Medicine G% Daily (Ear Hrri Lizzie Breyer PROJECTS EDITOR Elyse Ashburn STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR Nick Parker ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Cobi Edelson GRAPHICS EDITOR
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 10, 2002, edition 1
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