Election: Thomas strongly qualified to be legislator

Re: “Sawyer, Kirby in District 29; Darneille in 27th,” (TNT, 9/14).

I was disappointed over your omission of some significant points in your recent endorsements of Democratic candidates David Sawyer and Steve Kirby for the 29th Legislative District.

While you point out that Rep. Sawyer was correctly criticized for having created a GoFundMe page to bankroll his trip to the Democratic National Convention, a procedure frowned upon by the Public Disclosure Commission, you failed to mention anything about the extremely distasteful primary campaign waged between Sawyer surrogates and his Democratic challenger Branden Durst.

Far more disappointing was your omission of Durst’s letter to your paper in which he not only expressed disappointment over the mean-spirited personal attacks by Sawyer surrogates but, more critically, in which he endorsed Independent Republican candidate Rick Thomas as a more principled, civil and suitable candidate for public office.

I have had the honor of serving with Thomas as a Green Beret officer responsible for special operations across the Pacific theater. His qualifications are unmatched by any other candidate. He is a gentleman, scholar and compassionate leader.

This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Election: Thomas strongly qualified to be legislator."