Abortion rights

Abortion rights

On Oct. 16, Steve Schuh and Steuart Pittman engaged in a county executive debate at Maryland Hall. Capital Gazette Editor Rick Hutzell was moderating the debate.

As an advocate for women's rights, the question of abortion was important to me and thus the text to Hutzell in the last 15 minutes of the debate. Schuh responded first, he said he was pro-life but that abortion was not a county issue. He then went on to speak about county issues relevant to him.

Steve Schuh pivoted well but it is important to remember that Schuh made it a county issue when he supported an abortion resolution drafted by County Council Chairman Michael Petrouka. If passed the resolution would have served to erode women's rights in a multitude of ways.

Fortunately, the resolution did not pass but the fact that Schuh would support it is very telling regarding his stance on women's rights.

I personally want a county executive that will stand up for women's rights. I believe Steuart Pittman will do exactly that. Pittman has thus far shown himself to be an advocate for women's rights by standing up to Schuh and an archaic resolution.

He has vowed to fight for us and our families. Steuart Pittman's values align closely with mine and that is why he has my vote. Pro-Choice, Pro-Pittman.

JULIE BUCKLEY

Annapolis

Editor's note: Julie Buckley is the wife of Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley.

Schuh endorsement

I want to commend The Capital for its endorsement of Steve Schuh for county executive (The Capital, Oct. 25). Steve has restored dignity and honesty to the office after a tumultuous eight years of failed leadership.

I'm an independent voter who voted early for Steve because he did exactly what he said he would do, which is quite refreshing! Steve lowered our taxes every year, he's building Crofton High School, and he's made our communities safer with record investments in our police and fire departments.

He's also made our schools stronger by investing in our hardworking teachers and adding more teachers to our growing county. I also commend The Capital for setting the record straight that teachers have received pay increases every year, and they are about the same as surrounding counties (The Capital, Oct. 29).

It's unfortunate the special interest groups want to distort Steve's record with their own version of lies so they can line their own pockets. I'm scared by what promises have been made to these special interests because these promises certainly will require higher taxes, which no one wants.

We need Steve for four more years to keep our taxes low.

LEE ANDERSON

Edgewater

Divisive rhetoric

Last week, Robert Bowers carried out a vicious attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, during Shabbat services, taking away the lives of 11 innocent worshipers. This deadly attack on the Jewish community came after the shooter proclaimed anti-Semitic slurs such as "All Jews must die."

The rise of lone wolf hate crimes following divisive politics in our country are extremely alarming and arguably the gravest challenge we face today. Perhaps, in this case, the attack was not directly perpetrated by our leadership, but it is unequivocally clear that the seditious rhetoric President Donald Trump is proliferating has created an atmosphere that is influencing lone wolf attacks.

With great power, comes great responsibility; responsibility that is being undermined as of late. The continuous divisive rhetoric in our country like separating migrant children from parents, proposed travel bans, and slashing the refugee cap to its lowest level in over 30 years (45,000), has led to dangerous rippling effects.

By no coincidence, these were the same things Robert was searching before he carried out this violent attack.

And that's a problem.

JARIULLAH ADNAN

Severn

Caption: Capital Gazette Editor Rick Hutzell asks for a moment of silence for the five victims of the newsroom shooting at the start of the Anne Arundel County executive debate Oct. 16 between incumbent Republican Steve Schuh and Democratic challenger Steuart Pittman.

Jen Rynda/Baltimore Sun Media Group