Editor:

In a recent article in the Gazette questioning Capito's ethics regarding her trading during the financial crisis, Capito's campaign manager Kent Gates attempted to conveniently change the subject. Gates accused Capito's opponent Howard Swint of failing to be transparent and "refusing to file personal and campaign financial information." Gates further said that Swint's campaign is likely to have already spent more than $5,000 in filing fees, websites, ads, yard signs and campaign trips. Being as Gates resides and works in Pittsburgh, I wonder how many "Swint for Congress" yard signs Gates passes on his commute home? I'm guessing not many.

Howard Swint has said many times that he is making his campaign a hallmark for campaign finance and lobby reform. Even though he had yet to reach the $5,000 threshold that requires filing with the FEC, Swint nevertheless submitted the FEC Statement of Organization (Form 1) and FEC Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) on Oct 4. Everything should be available for public review, including the income and expenditure totals that will demonstrate that the campaign has remained under the reporting threshold throughout this election cycle. Swint is well ahead of the required filing deadline contrary to claims from Shelley Capito and her highly paid handler Gates.

As a reminder, "Swint for Congress" consists of dedicated, unpaid volunteers who simply want what's best for their beloved state of West Virginia. In comparison, Capito's campaign committee is run by well paid, out-of-state firms such as Brabender Cox. Swint has also refused to accept corporate or PAC money. As of mid-October, Swint for Congress has spent less than $5,000 while the latest Capito FEC report shows $1.59 million raised, $746,692 spent and a $1.4 million war chest remaining.

Swint's disclosure should hopefully return the discussion back to the multiple breaches of the public trust on Capito's behalf, while returning Howard Swint to the high road. He is actually applying his campaign finance reform principles to a real race for Congress. Swint's campaign is based on the issues and not special interest campaign contributions that fund expensive spokespersons to merely write-off opponents as "liars."

Jamin S. Jones

Scott Depot

Republicans say no to a chance to help veterans

Editor:

The Sept. 20 Gazette ran an Associated Press article titled "Senate Republicans block bill to put veterans back to work." It said the goal of the $1 billion jobs program was to help veterans find jobs tending U.S. federal lands and in local police and fire departments.

The Republicans, long known for their ability to count dollars, said "no" to a chance to support those who chose to support their country on the front lines. Too bad for the vets! Maybe the next young person will think twice about serving in the military and expecting support on the home front when they return. And maybe they'll think twice about who to vote for this November.

Jim Hatfield

St. Albans

Voters need to listen to both sides

Editor:

There have always been lies in political campaigns but it used to be they were relegated to a few cranks on the political extremes. It seems like lately we've turned a corner and outright lies are being propagated by pundits who claim to be part of the mainstream media. This is alarming; it muddies the water so that some voters don't know what to believe. Even scarier is the fact that the Romney campaign is endorsing some of these lies in their political ads, paid for by big corporations.

There are grave problems facing America and the world and it's more important than ever that both parties work together to find solutions. The climate of divisiveness perpetrated by Fox News is tearing the country apart and making it harder to elect leaders who are willing to compromise and reach consensus.

Voters need to listen to both sides and make their decisions with the advantage of being fully informed. And moderate Republicans need to take back their party from the extremists. This lot of Republicans have nothing to offer but more factories outsourced to China, more mountains blasted to rubble, more tax cuts for the very rich and less security for seniors.

William Dwyer

Glenville