The magic man

Why is Donald Trump so afraid of debating? | Another voice, Sept. 26

Former President Donald Trump doesn’t want to debate and doesn’t need to. He has no valid answers to the topics raised, just like he had no replacement plan for Obamacare when he won in 2016, although he promised one. What scares me more than Trump is his base of nearly 40% of Republicans, along with those in Congress who support him, despite his four indictments and over 90 criminal charges. If he debates, he won’t gain any voters, and not surprisingly, won’t lose any, either, despite being clueless on policy issues. He states he can design a better fighter jet than the military. Really? Maybe with a bit of magical covfefe.

David Lubin, Tampa

Keep Pasco as is

Pasco residents want rural character, natural resources | Sept. 26

My parents moved to east Pasco County in 1965, and I came in 1987. We have been voting and telling our elected officials that we want to keep the “rural character” of Pasco since we’ve been here. The powers that be don’t listen: “People can’t buy those 40-foot lots fast enough.” They aren’t the current residents of Pasco. They want cheaper housing no matter what it does to the area.

Planning Commission chairperson Charles Grey says that we don’t understand where the money to run the county comes from. Maybe if we retained our rural atmosphere, we wouldn’t need so much money for increased schools, roads, police presence, etc. And I thought the taxes and impact fees from all the development were supposed to pay for the increased public needs. Your vote matters. Please look long and hard at where you place development. We are stuck with the results.

Fern Williams, Zephyrhills

Balance the cartoons

Editorial cartoons | Sept. 26

By my count, Tuesday’s editorial cartoons totaled four Republican, one Democratic and one neutral. You seem to favor artists whose work, in my opinion, is Republican-leaning. Is there any chance of equal treatment?

Clifton E. Williams, Valrico

Help public schools

What this school board member thinks about ‘book bans’ | Column, Sept. 26

So, the formerly registered Republican school board member says Pinellas County students and their parents trust our schools to make the right decisions about books and uncomfortable teachings, and that we need a renewed commitment to high-quality public education. I totally agree. We should quit diverting funds from public schools to private schools and allow our public school teachers to teach.

David Burg, Tampa