Marrs Only Helps Waddell’s Efforts
As I was sitting at the kitchen table, I just had to read my wife portions of the Back Page (“Tainted Representation,” Aug. 17) by Mac Pence — especially the part where Delegate Brad Marrs is quoted as saying, “I don’t meet with constituents” and “all they wanted to do was argue.”
As my wife said, “There’s a real man of the people.” I suggest that Katherine Waddell consider sending a contribution to Brad Marrs. He’s doing more to single-handedly boost her campaign than anything anyone else could possibly do.
Vic Hines
I’m glad that my fourth-grade classmate, Mac Pence, is a wealthy businessman who can afford to donate $10,000 to Katherine Waddell.
I’m pleased that he’s secure enough in his sexual orientation not to publicly shy away from it. When I need a new car, I plan to do business with Pence Auto. My only regret is that I don’t live in the 68th District so I can participate in voting Brad Marrs out of office.
Jane W. Ballard
Big Money From All Sides
In “The Race Is On” (Cover Story, Part One, Aug. 3), the question was asked [of the gubernatorial candidates], “Who is your biggest campaign contributor?”
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine’s answer is wrong according to the Virginia Public Access Project (www.vpap.org). As of June 30, the Democratic National Committee gave $1.5 million dollars to the Kaine for Governor organization. As for Sheila Johnson, she donated a total of $404,490 to Tim Kaine. The first question in the article, “How would you define good government?” Jerry Kilgore’s reply, “Honest government.” Priceless!
John Davis
Corrections
We misspelled the name of Dr. TherŠse M. Duane, assistant professor of surgery in the trauma division at VCU Medical Center (“Blood Rush,” Cover Story, Aug. 17).
Greta Harris is program director at Richmond Local Initiatives Support Corporation (“Ukrop Takes the Hot Seat,” Street Talk, Aug. 24).
The “Ask the Mayor” feature on the city’s Web site (“Dear Doug,” News & Features, Aug. 24) was an idea originally proposed by www.richmond.com, not by city staff. Also, the answers appear online bimonthly, not weekly.
Style regrets the errors.
From the Editor
As journalists, we do our best to earn our readers’ trust and hold it close. When we stumble, we work to set the record straight and be open with you.
That’s how the Richmond Times-Dispatch handled an apology last week for visually plagiarizing the cover presentation of our Dec. 22 issue. It ran a note to readers, launched an investigation and shared the results publicly.
Managing Editor Louise C. Seals wrote in the Aug. 28 commentary section that the photographer responsible had been dismissed.
Several text passages, written by a Times-Dispatch intern, also had been plagiarized from the Style Weekly story by Edwin Slipek Jr. Seals wrote that the paper would review its writing and editing processes, along with other newsroom practices.
No newsroom is infallible. As colleagues, we are well aware of the potential for pitfalls. We appreciate the Times-Dispatch’s apology and openness with readers. If we were to confront the same situation, we’d aim to be just as forthright. — Jason Roop
Letters to the editor may be sent to: letters@styleweekly.com
