Letters to the Editor for April 10

Here are today’s Letters to the Editors…

Submitted by Aaron Webb of Lower Southampton

Suzi Drake’s March 11th letter “Wolf in Democrats’ Clothing” seeks to discredit Ritchie Webb as a candidate for State Rep by using wild and unfair accusations.  What Ms. Drake didn’t tell you is that she is a member of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) who was in a 5-year contract battle with the school board.  The NFT had refused to pay towards health care and sought to increase their existing pay and perks during the worst recession in our lifetime.  During this lengthy contract battle, Ms. Drake showed her unwavering support of her union’s unaffordable demands by bringing the battle to the students and their parents by working to contract, picketing at Back to School night, and striking.

Taking out her frustrations on school children – is that really the example Suzi Drake wants to set as a model Democrat?

Another thing Ms. Drake conveniently leaves out of her letter is that eventually the NFT had to concede to the school board’s offer, and this resulted in savings of millions of dollars to the bottom line.  Now this money can go towards classroom education, possibly towards the funding of a full day kindergarten program next school year.  All this was accomplished by Ritchie Webb and the school board without a tax increase to burden Neshaminy homeowners.

For the ten years Mr. Webb was on the Neshaminy School Board he was the voice of reason working with members from both parties for the good of the community.  Mr. Webb never allowed political parties to interfere as a Republican, and he will never do so as a Democrat either. His voting record and accomplishments on the Neshaminy School Board of Directors speak for themselves.  Mr. Webb is all about doing the right thing and he is greatly disappointed with the Republican party in Pennsylvania for not doing the right thing, in particular the PA School Employee Retirement Fund (PSERS) which will have a direct financial impact on every school district and taxpayer if not addressed.

Mr. Webb also believes that Harrisburg has failed its citizens by raising the gasoline tax and not doing enough to stimulate the economy to create jobs during a time when people are struggling to make ends meet.

Ms. Drake tries to spin that Mr. Webb is a business person with connections to the billionaire Koch brothers and other extreme conservatives, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, as long as I have known him, he has worked a full time job, and along with his wife operated a small catering business (now closed), tax service and food safety training service in his spare time.  I’m not sure why a good work ethic doesn’t fit in with Suzi Drake’s core values, but I believe voters will see Mr. Webb’s hard work as a strength instead of a weakness.

Ritchie Webb comes from a very humble background, from the hills and hollows of West Virginia, the son of a union coal miner (something he is very proud of). He is the father of five children, two of which are union workers including myself, a dues paying member of the Carpenters union, Local 1462.  Mr. Webb is the treasurer of a PSEA meet-and-discuss group, and his union dues are deducted from his paycheck (which is something Ms. Drake falsely accuses him of opposing).

No doubt people like Suzi Drake want to paint Ritchie Webb in a bad light because he doesn’t serve their special interests. I believe the community knows Ritchie Webb as someone who will fight for taxpayers and their families. As for me, I am proud to call him my Dad.

Aaron Webb,

215-239-5086, Lower Southampton

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