Our Town needs visionary leadership from our Mayor and Council during this time of economic hardship. The national economic woes are affecting Smyrna in many ways; people are losing jobs and their homes, community businesses are struggling and new businesses scarce. The State and County are wrestling with their own fiscal woes and have few resources left for Smyrna. We complain of high taxes and higher electric rates, while Town staff struggle to provide adequate services with out-of-date infrastructure. So, what do we want in a Mayor for these tough times?

Let me begin by saying that Governor Markell, you are wrong. It astounds me that you believe cutting 8% of state employees’ salaries will solve Delaware’s economic crisis. You claim that this will share the burden equally and prevent people from losing their jobs. Yet, as a teacher, I am still not assured of this as my district controls my job. Any district in the state for that matter could still cut employees. Your proposal will not help this state. In fact, it will in all likelihood do more damage than good.

Brooks Banta, President of Kent County Levy Court, discusses the overwhelming turnout at "I Love the Smyrna School District Day," the county budgeting process, and Safe Driving Month.

Under a new, pro-growth “flat tax,” a family of four would pay no taxes on the first $36,000 of income. Taxes would be charged at 17 percent after personal income reached $36,000 per year and would continue to be charged at 17 percent as income increased. There would be no tax on Social Security income, no tax on pension income, no tax on personal savings. Capital gains taxes would be zeroed out. Barriers to risk-taking would be lowered. Political corruption would be reduced in Washington as trading tax loopholes for campaign cash would cease.

With the state and county cutting back and revenues declining we won’t get much help from them. What makes you think Smyrna is so resilient? Current management likes to compare us with other towns as far as employees, etc. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Some towns hire more employees whereby others contract work such as janitorial, landscaping, etc. It’s not what others do, it’s what Smyrna wants and needs.

Our world, as legitimate American citizens, is about to be turned upside down, without our standing up and speaking out for our Constitutional Rights.

By any objective measure it is clear this current economic crisis has been caused by government intervention and ensuing policies that have hamstrung business, and if history is any guide our economic crisis will not be solved by government intervention based on an abandonment of free market principles.

The overall effect of the News Journal's recent series about Delaware's volunteer fire companies is highly critical of the current practices and procedures now in use by the companies. The writer of the articles should first walk in the shoes of emergency service personnel before telling them what is wrong with what they do.

Councilman Bill Raynor discusses town manager, committees, and budget concerns

Councilman Gene Mullen responds to letter from Councilman Bill Raynor

Letter to the editor by Sandi Voss

Opinion by Rep. Bill Carson, D-28th District, Smyrna

Letter to the editor by Loriann M. White

Letter to the editor by Sally Wojcieszyn

Letter to the editor by Scott Cole