Letters: Vote for competence and experience; Keep critical thinker on SCASD board
Editor’s note: The CDT welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the May 16 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 11. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.
Vote for competence and experience
The most important race in the May 16 primaries is for judge of Centre County Court. Only one candidate has the necessary experience. Julia Rater has practiced law in Centre County for 27 years. She is experienced in family and civil law and cases involving criminal matters. She has over 1,000 court appearances. Her opponent has never tried a case in a Centre County court.
Julia has served on the Board of Governors of the Centre County Bar for 15 years. Her opponent applied for membership last year! Julia helped create a program for needy individuals to receive representation for free or low cost. Julia is experienced in mediation and collaborative law, methods that help clients avoid litigation and save money.
Impressive as it is, Julia’s record in the justice system does not overshadow her record of community service. She has served on the board of directors of Strawberry Fields for 16 years. She served on the board of the Bellefonte EMS. She is a volunteer for the Special Olympics. Her volunteer record is remarkable. Understandably, Julia’s opponent, who has served only two years of his four-year term on State College Borough Council, has not had time to match her record of public service because of his much more recent move to Centre County.
It is troubling that someone with no record of cases in Centre County court would be running for election to the court that has the most impact on the lives of Centre Countians. Vote for competence and experience. Julia Rater for Judge!
Ronald Filippelli, State College
Keep critical thinker on SCASD board
In her three terms on the State College School Board of Directors, Laurel Zydney has consistently been an independent and conscientious voice for the voters of this district.
Laurel often casts the lone dissenting vote in board decisions, because she believes strongly that her role is not to be a rubber stamp, but to ensure that issues are considered carefully and thoroughly, with accountability to students, parents, teachers, staff, voters and taxpayers.
Just recently, Laurel was the only board member who voted against authorizing the district to effectively write a “blank check” to a Philadelphia law firm by hiring them with no estimate of the final bill.
She has often called for more discussion before board votes to allow for more input and consideration of alternatives.
Laurel cares deeply about the district’s students and parents and about looking at issues from all sides. She has prioritized transparent communication and community involvement on important issues such as school construction and renovations.
On May 16, vote to keep Laurel Zydney and critical thinking on the board.
Hilary Appelman, State College
Feinstein must resign
Have we learned nothing from Justice Ginsberg’s stubborn refusal to step down, resulting in Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment to the Supreme Court and the subsequent overruling of Roe v. Wade’s constitutional right to abortion by a 5-4 vote?
Justice Ginsberg was a remarkable Supreme Court Justice, so it saddens me to say she tarnished her reputation by staying too long and her obstinacy will hold us back for decades.
Dianne Feinstein is a groundbreaking Senator and has accomplished a great deal during her tenure in the Senate. Unfortunately, her stubbornness is blocking the appointment of federal judges. After Trump and the Senate Republicans got through stacking the courts, we need Biden’s slate of judges now.
Senator Feinstein has offered to temporarily step down from the Judiciary Committee, but she can only be replaced temporarily with the consent of McConnell’s Republicans. If she would resign permanently from the Judiciary Committee, Schumer could replace her, and the Judiciary Committee could break the logjam.
Calls for her to either resign from the Senate — or at least from from the Judiciary Committee — are not sexist, ageist or opportunistic. Her resignation is what’s needed for the greater good, a concept she fought for throughout her long and productive career.
Karen Stoehr, State College
