Opinion

EDITOR,

 EDITOR, Annette Marcum has for several decades been a towering icon of both the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley communities. Her exhaustive and selfless work on several fronts, most notably as the leader of Valley Churches United Missions, has made each of our neighborhoods a much better place to live, particularly for those of us less fortunate. On May 11, Marcum published a letter in the Press-Banner (“Candidate’s experience worth gold”) which reflected her support for Bruce McPherson for 5th District Supervisor. Since then, she has received several malicious, obscene or intimidating phone calls, apparently from members of our community who are opposed to McPherson’s candidacy for supervisor. The calls have been serious enough to trigger an investigation by the sheriff’s department, which is currently under way. Of particular note was a difficult call she received from 5th District Supervisor candidate Eric Hammer, wherein Hammer emphatically stated how upset he was that she was supporting McPherson in the race for supervisor. Hammer’s call was highly improper in that it forced Marcum into the difficult and unnecessary position of having to defend her choice against his unsolicited challenges, on the fly and without warning or preparation whatsoever. We need real, competent and ethical leadership in the 5th District if we are to successfully navigate the difficult times in which we currently find ourselves. Hammer’s call to Marcum reflects an apparently different leadership style.

I am writing this letter to give our personal thank you to each and every one who prayed for us and gave us your thoughts, sent cards and flowers and whatever else you could have possibly done to help us through the two months of hospital stay and this last month of home recuperation we have endured.

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

Cheers to County Supervisor Dene Bustichi in his commentary last week about school funding. But why a parcel tax? It’s time to turn off the tax spigot and force government at all levels to live within its means — that is to say, within our means. Is it really unreasonable to have to choose between attracting and keeping good teachers and funding new facilities? Families and small businesses make choices like that every day.

Letter: Prather, Hammer, and Ratcliffe slate needed for SLVWD’s future

It began as a request from a private citizen.