There are four people running for president within the Republican and Democrat parties and everyone is familiar with three of them. They are status quo candidates. Every day they promise what all politicians promise, change. But their voting records prove otherwise. Unfortunately there is far too much mudslinging between them, more unfortunate is that they have provided one another with so much ammunition.

There is one presidential candidate that the media and the GOP have successfully tried to keep from the spotlight. His popularity was founded on a small grass roots campaign and he has become wildly popular among people.

He is an honest man with a proven track record of putting people before special interests. Ron Paul is the people’s choice. He is not a media creation, lobbyists have long given up on even going to his office, and he thoroughly understands the responsibilities of government. His platform is based on a brilliant document created many years ago that the other candidates pay little attention to – it’s called the Constitution.

Open a newspaper or listen to the news and you will hear about the Democrat nomination race or the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator McCain. The reason Senator McCain is called the presumptive nominee is because he has not yet won the nomination. That is decided at the National Convention in September. It’s important to remember that the GOP race is still undecided and to vote for the BEST candidate running.

On the issues that we all face every day Ron Paul is the people’s champion and the Constitutions champion. He is against illegal immigration, consistently votes for lower taxes, he’s pro-environment, has a brilliant economic plan (without raising taxes), and is the only candidate to consistently vote against the Iraq war.

Other candidates talk about the economy or energy prices, but only Paul has a long history of showing WHY this is happening and voting to correct it. He has a fundamental understanding of the issues the others simply do not have. The voting records prove it.

He is a doctor, he has owned a small business, and been in Congress defending the Constitution for 20 years. He has extensive foreign policy and economic experience. He is an accomplished author with his writings explaining in depth our current foreign policy situation, our declining dollar, and high energy prices. His current book, “The Revolution,” is on the New York Times bestseller list for a reason. Anyone who has bought gas or groceries lately can relate to what’s happening and should look forward to the solutions Paul has been advocating for two decades.

As concerned Americans we feel it’s our responsibility to let people know that there is one great candidate running for president who would represent the people’s interest, not his own.

Keith, Karen, Kiley, and Kohl Kaiser

Wilsonville

Kevin Mannix has explained the issues well

My name is Justin Copisarow. I am 12 and I would like you to endorse one of the politicians who is running in the Oregon election. His name is Kevin Mannix.

Kevin Mannix is a conservative Republican who is running for Congress. He’s running against another Republican for the party nomination called Mike Erickson. You’ve probably heard of him before.

I like Kevin very much because he has agreed with everything that I agree with. Also he has explained a lot more on some of the most important issues in America today than Erickson. For example: he wants to lower taxes and to make the Bush Tax Cuts permanent. Also Erickson has an attack ad against Mannix saying that he voted to raise taxes. Of course this is not true, so watch out for that. You don’t want a guy who lies, do you?

Even though I’m too young to vote, I’m still volunteering in the Mannix campaign and I would like you to endorse Kevin Mannix so he can win the Republican nomination and maybe win the general election.

Justin Copisarow

Wilsonville

Kevin Mannix is ‘a friendly person,’ according to this reader

My name is Emma and I am 10 and in the fifth grade. I am homeschooled and I love politics!

This month I have been helping Kevin Mannix run for Congress. Kevin Mannix is a Republican and his Republican opponent is Mike Erickson.

Kevin Mannix is a friendly person and a family man, and he likes to meet and help people. He met me last week in his spare time which was very nice of him.

In politics some people tell lies about other people which is bad. Some of the things that Mike Erickson is saying about Kevin Mannix wanting more taxes are not true.

If people are not going to be honest, they shouldn’t be elected.

Emma Copisarow

Wilsonville

Fifth District would benefit from Mannix’s experience

I am writing to urge you to endorse Kevin Mannix as the Republican candidate for the 5th congressional district, of which Wilsonville is an important part.

Mr. Mannix has had vastly more government experience than his opponent, and although running a business, as Mr. Erickson has for some time, can be a valuable asset, being one of 435 congressmen requires someone who is a true team player. And as all our nation’s federal laws are initially written and introduced in Congress, having a candidate with strong experience in law and in negotiation is paramount.

Kevin Mannix has both of these credentials - from his years of experience as a respected attorney in Salem, as well as serving in both the Oregon House and the State Senate, and also being the author or central proponent of several Ballot Measures, including Measure 11 - the Mandatory Minimum Sentence Act.

Kevin has received ALL the key endorsements from people and groups who care about tax and government reform:

Taxpayers Association of Oregon, Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon State Police Officers Association, Oregon War Veterans Association, Crime Victims United, Oregonians in Action, Oregon Right to Life PAC, Oregon Family council PAC, Freedom Works, AG-PAC.

Voters can count on Kevin’s trustworthiness and work ethic, and for him to be a strong advocate for our 5th District. I encourage you to join me in voting Kevin Mannix on May 20.

Wendy Copisarow

Wilsonville

U.S. Congress showing bad track record with following the law

Imagine working for a company with a little over 500 employees of whom:

• 29 have been accused of spousal abuse

• 7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks

• 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

• 3 have served time for assault

• 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

• 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

• 8 have been arrested for shoplifting

• 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

• 84 have been arrested for drunken driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

It’s the 535 members of the U.S. Congress.

So please consider endorsing Kevin Mannix to save the day!

He is experienced, independent and trusted.

Kevin Mannix truly deserves our support on May 20.

Richard Copisarow

Wilsonville

Fred Meyer proposal may mean demise of Old Town

Thank you, Steven Van Wechel for taking the time to write an intelligent, realistic interpretation regarding the “Fred Meyer Invasion.” Finally, someone writes an article that explains the frustration that Old Town residents constantly experience with these maniacal developers.

One thing that bothers me is how there is always this discussion to widen Boones Ferry and Wilsonville Road to accommodate Fred Meyer. Has anyone bothered to notify the people who will be taken out when these roads are widened? You need land to widen a road. Where is the land going to come from?

I also have a conspiracy theory: Fred Meyer bought this land (13) years ago when there was no chance of development. Who does that? Then the water situation changed several years ago that allowed Fred Meyer to develop, but still nothing happened to this land. Why wasn’t anything said about a giant apartment complex that Fred Meyer wants to build, until the plans were finally revealed after (13) years of silence?

I suspect that someone or several people working for the city, suggested to Fred Meyer, that in time, maybe, all of Old Town could be removed under eminent domain; clearing the way for a shopping plaza and high density apartment complexes that would then fit Fred Meyer’s plan. If you are laughing, be careful, because anything is possible, and don’t ever think that it won’t happen to you.

Old Town already has a mini strip mall that violates city right-of-way because it is not 30 feet back from the center of the street. If someone has already built stores in Old Town that are not within code, future developers will not be required to follow the rules either.

Note: If anyone wants to verify this violation, ask someone who works for the city. I don’t have to reveal my reliable source, but this person had nothing to gain from telling us about this violation, and he doesn’t live in Old Town.

It is anybody’s guess what they will do to us and get away with it. Be afraid, very afraid.

Terry Snyder