Viewpoints

by State Senator Mike Breitbach

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
Reading the report of the Waukon City Council meeting in the Standard Newspaper of Wednesday April 22, 2015 I saw where Bruce Torkelson and Steve Pladsen expressed their disappointment that the City Council decided to purchase two new vehicles from Brown’s Sales and Service in Elkader. Our Mayor Loren Beneke said the Council had not done much study before approving the purchase (shame on the Council and the mayor). Then the Mayor threw Police Chief Phil Young under the bus by saying they followed the recommendation of the Chief. The Chief was not at the meeting. The Mayor and the City Council members are the elected people. They are the ones who should take the blame not the Chief.

Steve Paul
Waukon

To the Editor:
I wasn’t going to write any more of my opinions, as I’m supposed to be nice or it doesn’t get printed. But it’s OK for Mr. Engle and Mr. Schilling to write many very one-sided remarks degrading our local Representative from this district and President Obama. It appears Mr. Engle turns out to still be unhappy with the election results and I never saw in any print in 12 years in The Standard by Mr. Schilling about the invasion and 12-year Iraq war, the loss of innocent lives and the use of torture, according to the laws of the Geneva Convention. I believe both men should read the laws of the Geneva Convention.
Oh, I know all about elected officials and am reminded of the fact that they leave themselves open for negative remarks. I believe Waukon’s City Council is also elected by the citizens. And I was wondering about the City Council and Waukon Economic Development - who’s running who or who’s in charge?

by State Representative Patti Ruff

by State Senator Mike Breitbach

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

Rev. Duane Smith

To the Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor from Lowell Engle, he stated that Rep. Patti Ruff’s efforts to secure adequate funding for Iowa schools was a “pet project” for “big spending politicians.” So educating our children for the future and continuing to provide them with a world class education is a pet project?

by State Senator Mike Breitbach

The following is by my clerk, Barbara, who has been helping me with my work this legislative session.