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... Bringing up Obama's past and present relationships is not slinging mud, nor is it negative campaigning. Do you not think you should know what kind of people Obama's associates and friends are? ... Didn't your mother ever tell you that you are judged by the friends you keep? ...

I do know why young people are voting for Obama. He is a silver-tongued orator. He says everything you want to hear. He is a charmer and he is young. Most young people haven't appreciated the wisdom that comes with age and experience. Kids are frightened about the future. They have to worry about finding jobs and going to college and how much gas and food cost. Change sounds good. But I expect adults to be able to discern truth from lies. He is not the Messiah ...

Dorothy Thomas

Hamilton

'Mass appraisal never perfect'

In the past two months, this office has been working 12-hour days to help get the message out to property owners in Butler County on how a mass appraisal works and how much this office cares that it is run in a fair manner.

Mass appraisal will never be a perfect option. When you purchase or refinance a home, the bank charges an average of $250 for an appraisal performed by an appraiser entering your home and viewing all of the rooms. If we were to perform this kind of appraisal, it would cost the citizens of Butler County more than $40 million. I don't believe anyone wants to see a tax increase that would be enough to cover this kind of expense nor would they want their privacy invaded.

I was asked by the JournalNews, "How can two houses, side by side, have one go up in value and one go down?" It is not that uncommon for this to happen — for two reasons. One is when you have two dissimilar homes side by side. A small ranch next to a two-story colonial could go up in today's market since it is cheaper and more affordable, while the larger and more expensive two-story home could go down as banks tighten abilities to get loans.

The second issue is house size. I was asked how two Tudor homes side by side can vary. The two I was asked to look at vary in size. One is 3,780 square feet and the second was 5,767 square feet. This is a difference of almost 2,000 square feet. The average home size in Butler County is 1,796 square feet. This means the two properties vary in size by greater than the size of an entire home ...

I was taught by my grandfather, who was Butler County auditor from 1958 to 1974, that "a man comes into this world with one thing, his name ... What you make of that is up to you." So I truly mean it when I tell you that Mr. Reynolds, the staff and I know that mass appraisal will never be perfect. We truly wish it to be fair and will work with you to either explain why values change or fix it if we feel it is wrong.

Michael J. Tilton

Chief deputy auditor

Butler County Auditor's Office

'One-party mess'

... The goal of Jack Zettler's campaign is to restore integrity to a county where there are no checks and balances. Jack used Jolivette's house in a mailer; (it was) not a personal attack, but an illustration of how properties have been unfairly valued.

Reynolds now claims he knew these values were wrong and will fix them after the election. Imagine that! He has blamed the state, Kay Rogers and the appraisal company for the inconsistencies. Why did he sign off on values he knew to be wrong? Now, he tells us, we have to protest in order to get our property values right. It's his responsible to do them right, not the taxpayers ...

Let's end this one-party mess and elect Jack Zettler Butler County auditor.

Julie Holderbach

Fairfield

'Fair, honest'

I recently retired after 30 years from my position as chief deputy clerk of the civil division of Hamilton Municipal Court. During that time I worked with many judges, magistrates, referees and acting judges. Most of them were good people but more than a few were rather full of themselves. I understand the position tends to change people that way.

For six of those years, I had the privilege of working with Jack Zettler, who is a candidate for county auditor. Jack, like many of the judges, was intelligent and well-versed in the law. I am sure most judges are. But what I'd like to share with the employees of the auditor's office (as well as the general public) is that if Jack is elected, you will be working with (not for) a man who is fair, honest, hard-working and, above all, down to earth.

You will not have to put up with an "I am better than you attitude." He'll be appreciative of your hard work and will expect you to do a fair day's work. He will work hard and he'll expect you to do the same. He will lead by example.

The position will not go to Jack's head. Quite frankly, I don't think Jack could be a snob if he tried. The citizens of Butler County will be well-served by Jack Zettler as county auditor.

Toni Roddy

West Chester Twp.

'Nothing to say'

Outrageous. That's the only word I can use to describe Jack Zettler's guest column on Oct. 2. Filled with whining, innuendo, childish name-calling and outright lies, Jack seems to have nothing to say to the voters about what he would do for us as auditor ...

Jack doesn't give one specific example of any of the supposed injustices that he claims are being committed in the auditor's office. Instead he stoops to name-calling and lying by defaming the Republican Party Central Committee ... It is an absolute lie that he was "hand-picked by the same group that picked the last auditor."

Let's get some facts straight here, Jack. First, Reynolds was elected by the Central Committee. Reynolds had two opponents. He had to win the appointment. It was not handed to him and it wasn't won easily. To call the entire Republican Central Committee, a group of more than 200 honest, hard-working people, "greedy" is beyond contempt ...

... It is comforting to know that the voters of Butler County are smarter than that. They know that the right man for the job is county Auditor Roger Reynolds. Reynolds has worked hard for our county over the last five months and has shown that he will fight for all county taxpayers ...

Nancy Riggs

Hamilton

'Beguiled' by Obama

This is to urge our younger voters, who are said to be overwhelmingly in support of Barack Obama to reconsider that support. We've been beguiled by Sen. Obama's charisma. We've been hypnotically drawn in by his smooth style. And with more than a little help from the national media, we've been denied the chance to adequately and openly learn more about him ...

And before you cast that ballot, please consider: Sen. Obama says he is not a socialist, but his words, policies, actions and associations all say otherwise ... Think about what will happen to the value of your parents' homes when Sen. Obama begins to use their money to pay for the failed mortgages of his base constituents — those who took out mortgages without a prayer of repaying them ...

John Belanger

Fairfield

'Close to socialism'

The JournalNews' lead editorial on Oct. 27 "Socialism not the issue in this race" omits a huge fact when it says "... offering his (Obama's) own tax cuts to the middle class and the poor." The omitted fact is that between 30 percent and 40 percent of tax filers pay no income tax.

The senator wants to give these people a tax rebate on taxes they have never paid. This may not be socialism in its purest form but it most certainly is redistribution of wealth. This comes as close to socialism as anything that I can recall in our history.

I expect both sides in this campaign to tell half truths and exaggerations. It's called politics. I do not expect this from our newspaper. I can respect the JournalNews' opinion when I disagree. However, I do expect their conclusions to be based in fact ... The JournalNews should not be a campaign organization.

Robert Baesel

Hamilton

'Want more pie?'

"Bigger piece of the pie" and "spreading the Wealth around"? Would someone with a public voice please explain to these political ignoramuses what is involved with growing the ingredients for and actually baking the pie, and the work that is required to create wealth in the first place?

Want more pie or a larger share of the wealth? Get off your backside and get to work. A little work at keeping these thieving politicians away from the fruits of your labor might be worthwhile as well.

Emmette Boone

College Corner

'Vile expressions'

... It is time for us as a nation, a community, a neighborhood to finally understand that these venomous, vile expressions of hatred and abysmal stupidity can no longer be tolerated. It is more than 140 years since the end of slavery — long enough that, by now, we should be horrified that it is a part of our nation's heritage. Yet it appears that it has been just long enough to have been forgotten. Racism cannot be legislated away and at the same time we can't wait until it dies away, because racism is not inherent. It is taught over and over by people like (Julia) Ward and (Mike) Lunsford and their ilk.

We can no longer go on sweeping these events under our community carpet like a dirty secret. We must expose them for what they are and make them targets of shame and humiliation ... and we must question those who in positions of governance who do not speak out against these people.

William T. Stevens

Trenton

'Not a good thing'

The Talawanda bond issue, Issue 16, is not a good thing for the people of Talawanda Local School District.

Miami University has a freeze on almost everything because of the economy. The taxpayers have the right to have a good home, keep food on the table, to have enough money to pay for prescription drugs, and to see their doctor.

There is an increase in the amount of students receiving reduced (price) and free lunches, due to parents losing their jobs and their 401(k) accounts. That tells you that the taxpayers of Talawanda do not have the money to pass Issue 16 ...

Marvin Gabbard

Hanover Twp.

'Book of socialism'

Voters, please wake up and see what Obama is running on. He waved a flag when he was 4 years old and that makes him a patriot. Elect him because his mother was a single mother. His grandfather helped raise him. If these things make him qualified, so are hundreds of others.

Now he says I am going to give you free health care, money and everything that is in the book of socialism ...

Fred Kelley

Hamilton

'Desperate person'

Please, Mr. Zettler, your attacks on Mr. Reynolds, day after day, are very disgusting ... Intelligent voters are aware of the state mandate that Mr. Reynolds was forced to obey.

Politics is a dirty business but Mr. Zettler you must be a desperate person to sink to this level.

Mr. Reynolds has the votes from this house. You are not up to the task since you seem to be so negative, Mr. Zettler.

Mary L. Williams

Hamilton

'Face reality'

... Sarah Palin accused Sen. Joe Biden of stating that Sen. Barack Obama would be unable to handle an international crisis if elected president. She lied. He said, "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy ..."

... Sarah, face reality. You are not qualified to be president. Pet rocks were OK in their time, but where are they now?

Gloria Harrison

Hamilton

'Travesty of justice'

To change the misguided direction we are headed, make sure you let your congressional reps and senators know that they are in jeopardy of losing their constituents. That job means everything to them. It is their prestige, their retirement, their reputation and their future.

We the people must not allow this travesty of justice to continue. Make your voices heard by using the newspaper and any forum you can muster. If it requires shame to get action, so be it. Vote your intelligence, not your religion or political affiliation ...

Cliff Schneider

Hamilton

'Do more with less'

On Nov. 4, voters in Fairfield and Fairfield Twp. will determine whether their property taxes go up or down. You guessed it. There's a school levy on the ballot.

Even though we're in a recession, the board of education wants us to approve this tax levy. Never mind the mounting job losses and plant closures. Never mind the record foreclosures and falling home prices. Never mind the many families and senior citizens who have reached their breaking point.

In my humble opinion, the board could not have picked a worse time for this levy. Just what were they thinking? They had a wonderful opportunity to prove that they can get along with fewer tax dollars. But they blew it big time.

Instead, the board wants homeowners to pay millions in taxes over the next five years. I believe it's time to say "no!" It's time to tell the board to do more with less, especially during these uncertain times ...

Thomas Schmidt

Fairfield

'Too much light'

I have never been more convinced that we need Zettler for auditor as a watchdog than I was after reading the Oct. 26 JournalNews. It's amazing to see how rats run around in circles and squeal when you shine a light on them ...

In this one-party town, the officeholders are accustomed to doing whatever they want and their dirty deeds never coming to light. When facts are brought out, the good ol' boys club goes crazy. They see their way of life coming to an end. It appears their greatest fear is having their greedy conduct made public.

It's not too difficult to see why they fear Zettler as county auditor. Too much information flows through that office. Too much information that can be made public. Too much light for the rats to stand ...

Dorothy Weiser

Hamilton

'Deeply committed'

In 2003, Judge David Niehaus asked Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans to serve as a magistrate in his court. Since Kathy had spent 18 years in the Juvenile Division of the Butler County Prosecutor's Office and eight years as a teacher, Judge Niehaus knew that Kathy had the knowledge, experience and passion the job required.

After the untimely death of Judge Niehaus in 2008 and with a full understanding of her devotion to our youth, Gov. (Ted) Strickland appointed Kathy to replace Judge Niehaus.

Kathy is deeply committed to building strong families to improve the future of our children and grandchildren. Please join us and vote to keep Kathleen Dobrozsi Romans as Butler County Juvenile Court judge.

Larry and Lois Wood

Middletown

'Socialist regime'

... (Obama) has a plan that will not "spread the wealth," as Sen. McCain mis-spoke about. His plan will redistribute the wealth. This is the new socialist regime. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor sounds noble-ish and all Robin Hood humanitarian, but will cause big business to leave and small business to fail ... Neo-socialism is on our doorstep.

Tim Herzog

Hamilton

'Many angles'

... It has been interesting to watch the many angles (Roger) Reynolds has taken regarding his role in the property valuation dilemma. First the appraisal was sold as his good work in a fancy, expensive brochure. Then as his failure became known, the state was to blame and his hands were tied; then it was the fault of the appraisal company; later the prior auditor was to blame. Now, he says he'll do it right next year. Come on — give me a break!

Stephen Glasmeier

Fairfield

'The right man'

Shame on the editors of the JournalNews for your simple-minded endorsement of Jack Zettler in the race for Butler County auditor. In your endorsement, you completely ignore the outstanding job Roger Reynolds has done since becoming auditor. You discount the money Reynolds has saved the county, the money he returned to the taxpayers and use the word "contend" when talking about Reynolds' efforts to reform and return integrity to the auditor's office, as if these things are fabricated.

You admit in your endorsement that you "don't know" what kind of auditor Zettler would be and say that the only reason you have for endorsing him is "to break the GOP's monopoly on county government."

Your endorsement should be about who would be best in the office of the auditor and should have nothing to do with the party he represents ...

Roger Reynolds has more than proven that he is the right man for the job by cutting spending, creating transparency in the office, holding other county offices responsible for their spending and returning thousands of tax dollars to the community. What has Zettler done? Nothing, except make false accusations and lie.

Jane K. Schlichter

Hamilton

Worthy successor

Butler County lost a caring, compassionate advocate for children on July 31 with the death of Juvenile Court Judge David Niehaus. I volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with PARACHUTE for several years in Judge Niehaus' court and I was constantly inspired and amazed by his genuine concern for the children in his courtroom.

Many of the children were there not because of their own misdeeds but rather because their mothers and fathers were unable, or unwilling, to parent their children with the love and stability that children brought into this world need and are entitled to ...

It takes a special, compassionate person to sit on the bench and mold these children and families into responsible, functioning citizens.

I think attorney Tim Evans would be an excellent successor to Judge Niehaus ...

Our juvenile court judge needs to show fairness and sometimes toughness with his youthful offenders. Having raised his own children by these same standards, he is more than qualified to demonstrate these same attributes in the courtroom.

I see in Tim many of the same characteristics as I saw in Judge Niehaus: compassion, sensitivity, fairness and toughness when the situation necessitates ...

Carolyn Lemon

Hamilton