The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and should include a name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Send letters by noon on Thursdays to P.O. Box 670, Athens, Ala., 35613, or e-mail to kelly@athensnews-courier.com.

Yancura not good choice for Athens

Dear Editor:

As a Madison resident and one who knew Chuck Yancura well, I’d like to convey my apologies to the citizens of Athens.  

We Madisonians had no idea that Chuck would seek office in Athens after we got rid of him. He had been my friend and neighbor, but when he ran against my wife for mayor, it was hard to believe the level of mudslinging he stooped to. Turns out we weren’t the only people he turned against to get what he wanted. He did that to just about everyone.  

It was so bad that people organized the ABC (Anybody But Chuck) campaign when Chuck ran for re-election in 2000. Eighty percent of Madison finally got sick of Chuck’s dishonor and helped get him out of office.  

Chuck ran two years later for the state senate and again was defeated by a 4 to 1 margin. There are many reasons for this: his lack of ethics, use of profanity, even in front of an elementary school class, getting sued for sexual harassment while in office, relations with special interests including putting a developer buddy on the Planning and Zoning Board, constantly sticking food in his pockets at social occasions and taking it home, and consistently taking credit for others’ work.  

Yancura never spearheaded one bit of progress. All of it was the result of others’ work. But he always took the credit.

When he comes to your door, he’ll tell you what you want to hear to get your support. Part of that might be to write a letter to the editor. I invite that. It will give me, and probably others who Chuck has threatened, offended, disappointed or told stories about, the opportunity to get into specifics.  

However, a better option would be for this paper to do an in-depth look at Chuck’s embarrassing past. Athens’ voters deserve no less.

Sincerely,

Victor L. van Leeuwen