The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and include name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one published letter every 30 days. Send letters to P.O. Box 670, Athens AL 35613 or email to adam@athensnews-courier.com. The deadline for letters is Thursday at noon.

A question of loyalty

Dear Editor:

Other countries have tried in the past to make people pray to the state, or the head of state who considered himself to be the state.

Germans pledged allegiance not to Germany, but Hitler. Imperial Japanese forces pledged personal allegiance to the emperor. Communism replaced God with the almighty state.

Consider where they wound up before you attack the Constitution of the United States. Our Founding Fathers were far wiser than most of us today, having seen first-hand the excesses of a physically and philosophically remote King George III, and having written into the Constitution checks and balances meant to prevent a president of the United States from becoming too arrogant to fulfill the will of the people.

Trump is demanding from his subordinates personal loyalty to himself, not the Constitution that every elected and appointed official is sworn to “preserve, protect and defend.”

Sincerely,

David Williams

Elkmont

Candidate makes pledge

Dear Editor:

I am Hanu Karlapalem, candidate for the Third District Limestone County Commission seat.

During the past five months, I have visited many churches, attended many events, supported many causes, shared many meals, engaged in social justice discussions, found solutions for systemic problems and used my campaign web site and social media platforms to share a brighter future.

I have talked about the real challenges our county is facing. My campaign media is full of encounters with every demographic in Limestone County because every demographic is important to me.

What has Jason Black done? He has no official website to tell us (although his signs state that he does), and no official campaign Facebook. He holds no regular meetings with us so that he can tell us in person. He is great for audacious claims about his importance, but where does he back that up with an actual record?

Sometimes Jason Black is responsible for thousands of new jobs, and sometimes those jobs are a happy accident. Never does he tell us what demands those jobs will make on our schools, utilities, first responders and roads and bridges. Never does he ask how we would like those problems solved. Isn’t that his job?

Jason is using his personal Facebook page for his campaign, a violation of Facebook policy. I am glad he did, because it taught us some things about him. His page has no path forward for our county. Also, there is not one person of color in his personal photos on Facebook. Is he representing all of his constituents, or only some?

Jason had his chance to be open with us, and he blew it. He had his chance to prepare a real, effective long-range plan to protect us, and he did not do so. He had his chance to work effectively with Huntsville, Madison and Decatur, but he seems to have no interest. He had his chance to turn the Limestone County Commission into a real asset for the citizens of our county, and he let it pass. He once declared HE is Limestone County. He is not. We, all of us together, are.

I, Hanu, will be honored to be your Third District representative on the Limestone County Commission. I will even do my job. Every. Single. Day.

Sincerely,

Hanu Karlapalem

Madison

Vote for Black

Dear Editor:

Our local government needs representation that can get the job done and have a voice when meeting with all levels of government officials. Jason Black has shown his leadership since day one of his tenure as Limestone County District III Commissioner.

Within a month of taking office in 2014, Jason became part of a team to recruit Polaris Industries into Limestone County. In the months and years to follow others have chosen Limestone County as their home and this is directly related to location and those who work as a team to recruit.

The companies that have chosen Limestone County to build are Mazda-Toyota, HDT Global, Polaris, GE Aviation, Woodbridge, Shape Corp. and Carpenter Technology expansion. Through the development of the industries Limestone County schools have received over $4 million and the area has over 7,000 new jobs available.

Limestone County must be led with a sound voice, a strong mind and a heart to protect our people from unwanted pressures from others who may not have Limestone County in its best interest. Working with other municipalities and county leaders is no longer an idea, it is now a requirement for a successful partnership.

Jason has been appointed and/or nominated to federal and state committees. This is a sign that he is a great representation of the people in Limestone County. The recent invitation he received to the White House to meet with President Trumps’ cabinet members is a prime example of having a voice. It is our belief that experiments in leadership cannot happen and we should require our elected officials to be involved with the best interest of Limestone County at the front.

We believe that Jason is the best candidate for the job. He is determined to continue recruiting jobs, providing safer roads, protecting the people, and guaranteeing our children receive a quality education. Our goal is to provide support to local officials who have our best interest at heart.

Jason is the candidate that we have endorsed for Limestone County and we believe that our future is bright and that our quality of life will be second to none. On Nov. 6, vote for a common-sense leader. Vote for Jason Black

Sincerely,

Citizens for Economic

Progress

Athens

Vote for Redd

Dear Editor:

Hi, My name is Eddie Fulmer. I’m the President of Bama Carry. Bama Carry is the premier organization defending your Gun Rights in Alabama.

It’s a pleasure for me to endorse Eric Redd for Sheriff in Limestone County. Eric is a proven leader and public servant.

After the tragic 9/11 terror attacks, Eric enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his nation as a Squad leader and gunner on the M1A2 Abrams Tank. After his time in the Army, Eric has worked in numerous jobs in the public and private sectors, including working as Project manager on multimillion-dollar projects, and earning his certification as an instructor of awareness and prevention in alcohol / drug and domestic violence.

Eric has the credentials and experience to do the job, but even more importantly, Eric has the heart to do the job. Eric will bring a unique perspective to the office of sheriff.

You see, Eric sees the job of sheriff as a job of public service, protecting the community within the confines of the Constitution, treating everyone equally and with honor and respect. People say that a Republican can’t win sheriff in Limestone County. Well, people told Donald Trump he couldn’t beat Hillary Clinton… look what happened!

Eric will be a champion for your gun rights, and a tireless public servant that is always strong on fighting crime, always protecting your rights, and always compassionate. But, just like Donald Trump, Eric can’t win on his own, he needs your vote. Eric needs Limestone County to stand with him and say no to corruption, and no to good-old-boy-style politics.

Eric needs you to stand up and say yes to the 2nd Amendment, yes to honesty, integrity and transparency, yes to constitutionally limited government, yes to a fiscally conservative county budget, and yes to Eric Redd your Republican candidate for sheriff.

Remember to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6, your vote does make a difference.

Sincerely,

Eddie Fulmer,

President

Bama Carry