"I'm not sure what planet Bonnie is on" (Public Forum, Oct. 28), or how "inane" George Hulstrand (Public Forum, Oct. 27) thinks she is, but I'm right there with her. When the election is over hopefully she will be our new representative.
I looked at my old junior high annuals from Willmar, 1966-68. We had homeroom teachers back then and they usually taught social studies. I did some random counts and came up with class sizes anywhere from 27 to 35 students.
Our teachers taught us without any paraprofessionals or aides. We still received a great education. Maybe Wilhelm is right. Maybe there are things to be investigated before we assume throwing money at the education issue is going to solve all the problems.
Hulstrand criticized Wilhelm because she said she would follow the governor's lead. He thinks it would be "inane." He made this comment the day after the West Central Tribune gave Gov. Tim Pawlenty its glowing endorsement. The Tribune said, "Pawlenty balanced the state budget by eliminating a massive deficit, rewrote state academic standards, maintained his commitment not to raise taxes and moved the state out of the top 10 in state and local taxes."
If the Republican governor is doing such a great job that this liberal paper endorses him, maybe following his lead isn't inane; maybe it's just good common sense, or is the Tribune inane also?
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As for Wilhelm listening to her constituents, I know it's a shock, but it might be the first time in years that independents and conservatives in this area actually have a representative or senator listen to them with an open mind. We might actually get responses to our e-mails and phone calls. I believe that once Wilhelm has listened, she will take action and work for the best interests of west central Minnesota.
Minnesota is not better off after 10 years of Al Juhnke. It is time to stop making politics a lifelong career. Experience and seniority mean nothing if they only produce the same negative results. Vote for Bonnie Wilhelm on Nov. 7.
Rick Chambers
Willmar
