WHY WAL-MART?

Excellent story about the possible Wal-Mart coming to Soledad. The residents of Soledad should view “The Story of Stuff” with Annie Leonard at www.storyofstuff.com as well as the documentary about how Wal-Mart destroys communities. If I had the choice between paying more for diapers or a destroyed community, I would pick paying more for diapers. A Wal-Mart in Soledad will be the biggest mistake that town will have ever made. Please tell the residents of Soledad to invest in their community and that they do not need more cheap stuff. –Jamie Fox | Pacific Grove

JUDGE AND JURY

Todd Hornik is the best choice for Monterey County Superior Court Judge. I have known Todd for the past four years, and worked with him in the criminal courts for the past two. I have found Todd a professional legal advocate and dedicated to justice. He is also a person of his word. If Todd says he is going to do something, you can consider it done.

Although Todd and I have worked on opposite sides of the courtroom, I have always found him to be objective, thorough and courteous. Todd’s 17 years’ experience as an attorney speaks for itself, with 14 of those years as a Monterey County prosecutor. Todd has a vested interest in the Monterey County Superior Court system, and he has an established professional relationship with the Monterey County Superior Court judiciary. Between the two candidates for Judge in Monterey County, Todd Hornik is the obvious, and only choice.I wholeheartedly endorse Todd Hornik for Monterey County Superior Court Judge. –Geoffrey M. Buckles | Monterey

ON THE OTHER HAND…

Mark Hood is the clear choice for Judge.He’s the only candidate who has worked as a criminal prosecutor and civil attorney, with 19 years of criminal experence.As parents of four young children in Salinas, we areconcerned about crime. Mark has a reputation for delivering tough sentences to violent criminals.He hashad success in prosecuting thousands of cases involving murder, manslaughter, rape, domestic violence, kidnapping, identity theft and more. These are issues we read about daily in our local newspapers, and we as citizens of this community need to feel safe in our own neighborhoods. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to elect someone with such diverse legal experience.Mark is a man of impeccable integrity who has the right judicial temperament. Local judges agree– Mark has the overwhelming support of the Monterey judges.

Vote November 4th for Mark Hood. –Lisa & Mark Silacci | Salinas

ADVANTAGE: CORT

In his letter to the editor, Mr. Wilson criticized Pacific Grove City Manager Jim Colangelo and its mayor, Dan Cort, for firing city employees, failing to properly maintain the city’s infrastructure and being arrogant.

When Colangelo and Cort came aboard, they inheritedtwo bona fide disasters: The first was a new golf course clubhouse with a bonded cost of $276,000 a year for 30 years, the equivalent of two full-time city jobs for 30 years. The second was a bill for $19 million for the employees pension plan, the sum CalPERS had cost the city in the stock market bubble at a cost of $1.3 million per year for 30 years, the equivalent of 10 full-time city employees for 30 years. Wilson didn’t tell us where he would have acquired the $1.6 million per year to pay for the employees that Pacific Grove was forced to let go. –John M. Moore | Pacific Grove