Mailbag

Voice should have come earlier

Regarding the Glendale News-Press weekend story, "Teachers Rally against Quintero," it was newsworthy of the Glendale News-Press to note that one of the Democratic Assembly candidates, Frank Quintero, apparently said he supported school vouchers in a recent debate. Most teachers oppose vouchers. They also make up a key part of the coalition of voters that the Democratic Party counts on to win elections locally and nationally. But the writers waited until the third-to-last paragraph of the story to give the explanation for the candidate's mix-up. Earlier in the coverage, the leader of the Burbank Teacher's Assn. received considerable space voicing his shock that a Democrat would support vouchers. A casual reader might get the impression that there was no explanation for the answer given at the debate.

I can only hope that the readers read the whole story. Or, better yet, the coverage could reveal crucial facts earlier in the piece. Otherwise, our candidates will have second thoughts about saying anything to the public.

DEAN HARTWELL

Glendale

Candidate's response leaves doubt

Saturday morning, teachers from Burbank and Glendale held a news conference at the headquarters of Assembly candidate Frank Quintero ("Teachers rally against Quintero," Saturday).

The purpose of the news conference was to make voters aware of an issue that clearly defines the differences between Quintero and his opponent in the Democratic Primary, Paul Krekorian, who is endorsed by the 335,000-member California Teachers Assn.

On Monday at a voter forum, Quintero responded "Yes" to a question asking whether he supported school vouchers. Later, he amplified his answer by stating that he was a "reform candidate" and he would be "interested in anything that challenges the status quo." The California Teachers Assn. has long been opposed to privatization schemes like vouchers that would siphon money away from already underfunded public schools. Quintero's campaign staffers have tried to retract his statements in favor of school vouchers, saying he was tired and misunderstood the question. We don't know if he was tired, confused or just speaking truthfully from his heart when he didn't have his hired political consultant to frame his answers for him. Regardless, his response raises a serious red flag as to his ability to unfailingly support public education if he is elected.

We held the news conference because we needed to be sure voters were apprised of this crucial information.

We are confident that if Krekorian were awakened in the middle of the night and asked if he supported school vouchers he would immediately respond, "Of course not, why did you wake me with such a stupid question?" This is not a complicated question. Quintero's response is deeply troubling.

KIM ALLENDER

Glendale