I have appreciated the Anchorage Daily News during this election season. Your series of Q&As to the candidates is always helpful, and this year’s series was no exception. Although the format allows the candidates to put themselves in the best light and to speak in fluff and generalities, the Q&As still provide a valuable window into each candidate’s views.
The low this year was not in the candidates’ responses, but on the editorial page. On April 1, candidate Randy Sulte essentially accused his opponent, Assemblyman John Weddleton, of being personally responsible for a vicious stabbing that had occurred at Loussac Library, just from the very act of being a member of the Assembly. The accusation was illogical, and it was disgusting.
Making such an allegation should automatically disqualify a candidate in the minds of voters. Such a person has no scruples and cannot be trusted to protect the general interests of our community. Unfortunately, flies are attracted to the dung heap. We are now in an age where politicians of one party casually accuse members of the other party of being pedophiles, so it was just a matter of time before the same slime dripped down to local elections. The person who hurled it will now be sitting on the Assembly.
Now that Mr. Sulte has won, he stands in Mr. Weddleton’s shoes. By his logic, he is now personally responsible for any murder or assault that occurs in Anchorage. We will expect him, therefore, to admit to personal responsibility for any harm to any citizen. He will need to be vigilant. One good place to start would be to spend his days at the Loussac Library, patrolling there all day to make sure that no one suffers another knife attack. While he’s there, perhaps he could check out a “how-to” book on civic decency.
— Michael Hershel
Peters Creek
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