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I have been trying to reach Gov. Mike DeWine’s office to express my opinion on critical issues. No matter the time of day or night, calls are routed to a voicemail system with a full mailbox. Purposely denying a voice to constituents is an outrage. Is it that he doesn’t care because he cannot run for governor again, or is it that he lacks the courage to face criticism? He is supposed to work for us. Yeah, right. — Austintown Having given his pal, the murderer Vlad, an official state welcome to a summit that accomplished nothing, 47 took to Fox to tell the world that it’s now ...

Still awaiting a fix for gerrymandering

DEAR EDITOR: I had to laugh at a recent article that said both political parties will try to use gerrymandering to control the state of Ohio. Former Gov. John Kasich had a meeting closed to the Democratic Party behind closed doors to ensure a Republican majority. Many years ago, the Ohio State Supreme Court ruled the district had to be corrected. That was in 1997. They did the same thing three more times. Nathan DeRolph was 14 in 1997. He is now 42 years old. We are still waiting. HAROLD J. WILSON Austintown

We can, should rein in our federal spending

DEAR EDITOR: In 1960, Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling. By fall 2025, 78 debt-ceiling increases and $37 trillion in debt later, Congress will soon be asked to raise it yet again. Horrific consequences come from our executive and legislative branches, from Eisenhower to Donald Trump, continuing to “kick the debt can” down the road. No solutions offered. Two recent national articles have sounded an alarm: the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to run out of money (The Hill, Aug. 6), triggering a mandatory 23% cut in ...

Tilting the scales of justice in Columbiana

DEAR EDITOR: The Columbiana County Board of Elections certified petitions of candidacy, including those that after lawful examination, passed. However, other filings were having some very unorthodox handling and outcomes. Among them was a petition filed for fiscal officer in Unity Township. This invalidated, fatally flawed petition filing was by my now-opponent in the same race. Having been appointed to the position in December 2024, Ohio Revised Code Election Law requires this person to run in the Nov. 4 General Election. As reported, the petition failed in requirements long ...

Union representation can help the underpaid

DEAR EDITOR: The Pennsylvania Republicans want to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $11 in 2028. For a 40-hour work week, that would be $22,880 a year before all required deductions. It tells me that greedy employers are paying employees $11 per hour now or a smidgen more in our 2025 economy. The Pennsylvania Republicans say $11 per hour is a “good start.” Can the Pennsylvania Republicans show consumers where all the “starter stores” are located? All American workers need to unite and organize, and join any American labor union. It’s your only path into the ...

Why shouldn’t priests be allowed to marry?

DEAR EDITOR: In 1984 I wrote this letter to the Catholic Exponent. I found it to be prophetic. An article “Priest shortage helps spur growth of lay ministries” may lead readers to think that the priest shortage does not have detrimental consequences on parish life. One must consider that the enrollment in seminaries has dropped two-thirds from 1964 to 1984. One priest of every three priests under the age of 50 during this same period has resigned to marry. (In my 1975 ordination class of 10 men, only one continues to be a priest. Five have died. Two left to marry. Two were expelled ...