VISION: Widmyer definitely has it

What kind of leaders should we elect for Coeur d’Alene? Vision is a critical component of effective leadership, and two candidates lack both of these qualities.

Mary Souza states she’ll make decisions through advisory votes. Had she been governor of a Civil War-era southern state, she’d have argued that her constituents favored owning slaves, and she therefore supported slavery. Doing what’s right doesn’t enter into her equation. Her statements abdicate a leadership position, and they reveal nothing about vision.

Joe Kunka noted that hundreds of people disagreed when Coeur d’Alene added sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination ordinance, stating that LGBT individuals now possess special rights. Ms. Souza would hold an advisory vote. Neither of these candidates cares that the 14th Amendment, Section 1 in the Bill of Rights states that all naturalized citizens shall be treated the same under the law.

LGBT individuals ask to be treated the same under the law as everyone else. So who is asking for special rights? Asking to discriminate against people means to treat them differently, not the same, under Constitutional law. Those seeking exemption from the law in order to discriminate are asking for special rights, not the other way around. At least Mr. Kunka states a position.

However, denying the Constitution and asking for special exemption from the law are not signs of leadership; they signify a lack of integrity, along with a fundamental misunderstanding of our founders’ Constitution.

For leadership and vision, I’m impressed with Widmyer, Evans, McEvers and Miller.

JOE JACOBY

Coeur d’Alene