Letters to the Editor: Primate rescue, Roe v. Wade, and your favorite candidates

Primate Rescue

I recently had the great pleasure of volunteering at the Primate Rescue Center in Nicholasville. I can say this experience changed my life. I am from Virginia and was able to be there for almost the entire month of April. The staff and caregivers are the most dedicated, passionate and hardworking people I have ever known. The rescued primates at this sanctuary now have a safe, healthy and happy life in a beautiful secluded location. I was able to participate in and learn how to do the daily activities of cleaning, sorting donated produce from local grocers, preparing meals, and putting together special enrichment activities for these fascinating animals. To witness the personalities and relationships that exist among these chimps and monkeys touched my heart. I will never forget April 2022. I plan to move to this area so I can continue to be part of the Primate Rescue Center volunteer program. It is that special.

Mark Roberts, Roanoke, Va.

Bitcoin mining

Reading your information about bitcoin mining, I found a lot of static and fuzzy information about whether it is a good thing to have bitcoin mining companies come to Kentucky. So I have simplified the information for my own working knowledge. Basically… bitcoin mining companies are locating in Kentucky because we have cheap electricity. We get our electricity from mining coal from our mountains.

The more bitcoin mining we welcome the more electricity we sell. Kentucky’s coal and Kentucky’s mountains are non-renewable resources.

Selling our non-renewable resources is different than selling our renewable resources which we get from the sun, soil and water - like lumber, horses, livestock, beans, corn, wheat, and bourbon.

Bitcoin mining companies are basically a new market for coal and the mountains.

Kentuckians/Americans/Industrialists/Environmentalists have yet to agree on a reasonable balance of non-renewable resource utilization. Bitcoin mining is another facet of the same issue that it would be nice for us to resolve with justice for all.

Suzanne Zivari, Lexington

Overturning Roe

The U.S. Supreme Court has its legal undies in a bundle because its draft decision on Roe vs. Wade has been made public. Remember Judges, this is the reality of politics in America today. The only consolation I can offer you is the same one offered in the “Godfather” - “This is the life you chose.”

Ralph Derickson, Lexington

Pro-life

In Kentucky and America, men are supposed to be equal and free, and have a right to privacy. In Republican Kentucky and America, however, women are not equals to men; they don’t have a privacy right; and they need to do what they are told. If you are happy with that, be sure to vote for Republicans this year. If that utterly disgusts you, register and vote for people who live in modern times. There are no pro-life Kentucky Republicans in Frankfort or Washington because Republicans allowed over 44,000 Americans die of gun violence in America last year. There are no pro-life Republicans as long as Kentucky has a death row occupied by people waiting to be executed. What we have in Washington and Frankfort are Republicans preaching morality not because it’s the right thing to do, but because they think it will keep them in power to control what happens under a woman’s skirt and in her bedroom. Remember to register and vote.

Gene Lockhart, Lexington

Brilliant satire

Roger Guffey’s April 29th Op-Ed letter on Florida and their ban of math textbooks initially had me reaching for my high blood pressure meds. His ridiculous statements supporting the ban of some textbooks using religious explanations to condemn them had me coming out of my chair. I wondered how a retired college math teacher could possibly support such lunacy. Then I Googled his name and came across a list of his articles and Op-Ed pieces published over the past few years. I had a sudden epiphany. Mr. Guffey had written, and I had been suckered into, a superb piece of satire of the crazy things going on in Florida and the way they were trying to use religion to back up their arguments. It was a golden tongue-in-cheek creation that fooled liberal me. I tip my hat and bow to his skills. Please continue to write these brilliant pieces.

Dan Smith, Lexington

Income Tax

I want to thank Somerset Mayor Alan Keck for his March 13 commentary supporting the Kentucky legislature’s actions and desire to reduce – and someday abolish – the state’s income tax. He points out that 50 percent of Kentuckians make enough money to pay income tax. He is one of them and so am I! Getting rid of that tax will save me (and also members of the legislature) money. It also will shift the cost of government to our poorer citizens. Maybe they deserve it. Many don’t vote in their own self-interest — they keep electing Republicans whose primary goals are to stay in power and make rich people richer. Republicans achieve these ends by lying, gerrymandering, and espousing fake Christianity, and many Kentuckians keep falling for these ruses. Keck points out that the money I keep for myself is better for me to have rather than it going into government. After all, such funds might be used for frivolous things like early childhood education, care for abused children, clean water, and decent salaries for K-12 educators. So RIGHT ON Mayor Keck. I assume you will save a bundle of money too!

Michael Kennedy, Lexington

Linda Gorton

Mayor Linda Gorton has become an experienced pro in the field of city governance. It began in 1998 with her first election as 4th District council representative. Having known her as friend and neighbor throughout her years in office, I have concluded that she was born with a heart for public service and the ability to address the disparate needs of all citizens.

Because our local government is non-partisan, she, along with the LFUCG Council, is free to make decisions void of special interests.

Never afraid to tackle complex issues, Linda is savvy, well-informed, and collaborative. Instead of impulsively rushing decisions, she seeks first to deeply understand the issue and ensure that all stakeholders have a say. No grandstanding, no self-promotion; just quiet, deliberate leadership.

We must keep Linda Gorton as our Mayor.

Ann Garrity, Lexington

Mary Diane Hanna

In the May 17th Primary Election, I ask all Democratic Voters to cast their vote for Mary Diane Hanna for Fayette County Judge-Executive. She is a long time Fayette County resident and very interested in the issues that affect the county. The position of County Judge-Executive still has important duties and requires a person who supports our merged government.

Mary Diane Hanna has the dedication to perform this role in an honest, ethical manner. She resides in the rural part of our county and will focus an informed interest in our rural road system.

Vote for a qualified, ethical, honest candidate for County Judge-Executive.

Donald W. Blevins, Sr., Lexington

Sheriff Kathy Witt

I’m honored to support my friend Sheriff Kathy Witt in her campaign for re-election this year.

Lexington — she is the right choice. Sheriff Witt leads with experience, with excellence, and with integrity. I wish everyone could see, as I have, just how much she blends compassion and self-sacrifice into her style of leadership, guided by professionalism and earnest prayer. Early in my professional career, Sheriff Witt provided opportunities for me in leadership and in service to Lexington. Most recently, I served as her Chief of Staff, which provided a front row experience to the diligence, professionalism and fiscal responsibility she demonstrates every day. I’ve met no one who loves Lexington more than Sheriff Witt.

Jamie Ross, Springboro, Ohio

Tucker Bulleit

Looking at the Democratic primary race for Sheriff of Fayette County, I would like to endorse the challenger Tucker Bulleit over the incumbent Kathy Witt. Our current Sheriff has been in office for 23 years – a perfect example for a case for term limits. I feel a breath of fresh air is needed within the Office of Sheriff. Also the staff and current deputies need a break from the heavy-handed tyrannical leadership that the incumbent uses to lead this office and its employees. So, Fayette Voters please consider voting Tucker Bullet for Fayette County Sheriff. You will not be disappointed.

James Jeffrey Coleman, Lexington

Larry Roberts

I support Larry Roberts for re-election as Fayette County Attorney. I have known Larry as a law school classmate, as an Assistant when he was Commonwealth’s Attorney , and as a litigator when I was serving as a Fayette District Judge and most recently as a Fayette Circuit Judge. Larry is not only one of the hardest working and most prepared attorneys I have known, he is one of the fairest. Fayette County needs to retain Larry and his experience and dedication to this important position.

John R. Adams, Lexington

Larry Roberts

I am writing this to voice my support for Larry Roberts as Fayette County Attorney. I continue to see misinformation posted in various forums insinuating that his office is an instrument of the systemic racism that people of color face in their everyday lives. I have been a practicing attorney for 27 years, primarily engaged in the area of criminal defense. I can say unequivocally that I have never seen an instance where Mr. Roberts or any member of his staff have treated a “marginalized person” differently than anyone else. He simply wouldn’t tolerate it. An interesting observation that I have made is that the very persons who are spewing these falsehoods are rarely, if ever, engaged in the practice of law in an area that involves the office of the Fayette County Attorney. Larry Roberts is a fair, even handed public servant who happens to have one of the most diverse staffs of any public office I have ever seen. To continue to utter these falsehoods is irresponsible and misleads the public. Vote Larry Roberts for Fayette County Attorney.

Christopher Spedding, Lexington

Larry Roberts

As a now retired Fayette County Circuit Judge , I know the value of experience when holding an important position. Prior to becoming a Circuit Court Judge, I was Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and a District Judge. These positions prepared me to be able to conduct the business necessary for my Circuit Judge Position.

Larry Roberts has been a Public Defender, Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney, a private practicing attorney and your County Attorney for 16 years. He has used all of these experiences to develop many programs within his office to benefit all citizens of Fayette county.

I urge you to not overlook the value of his experience and to vote for Larry Roberts for County Attorney in the primary election.

Rebecca M. Overstreet, Fayette Circuit Court Judge, Retired, Lexington