New College board trustee responds to column demanding his resignation

Trustee offers thanks for column

I offer you my thanks for the column demanding my resignation from the New College Board of Trustees ("New College trustee owes all women an apology before he steps down," Oct. 25).

It is quite exciting to find one's picture in the newspaper.

Mark Bauerlein, New College of Florida board trustee, Coloma, Wisconsin

Don't limit access to books

Our children are dying.

They risk their lives every time they walk into their school or play in the local parks.

More: Herald-Tribune: How to send a letter to the editor

They risk their lives when they go to the theater. Or a store. Or a concert.

And yet for some reason the governor of Florida, school boards and local groups are far more concerned with what books are on the shelves of our libraries than they are about who has access to guns.

This is so wrong.

I would like to thank Carrie Seidman for her Oct. 29 column ("Sarasota County's culture warriors have found a new enemy: Libraries"). Yes, books will never kill you. In fact, they may save a life.

I read once that we read to find out we are not alone. We read for many reasons, but this truly is one of them. Let’s make sure people continue to have access to all that libraries have to offer them.

Parents can oversee their own children’s reading, but they should never have the power to limit the ability of other parents to decide what their children can read.

The professionals who select the books that fill the shelves of our public and school libraries know what they are doing.  Let’s let them do their jobs and start focusing on keeping our kids alive.

Mary Ginley, Venice

DeSantis should withdraw, endorse Trump

It's time for Gov. Ron DeSantis to give former President Donald Trump his endorsement and full support in the 2024 presidential race.

As a presidential candidate, Desantis has been neglecting his duties as a governor. He is getting involved in the Israel-Gaza crisis when he should be dealing with the insurance crisis here in Florida.

He should be focusing on the struggles affecting the working-class folks of this state.

DeSantis should be investigating boards, homeowners associations and other organizations that may be overcharging, spending money recklessly or pocketing dues.

And DeSantis should be dealing with the fentanyl and mental health crises that are plaguing the cities and small towns of Florida.

Elizabeth Martin Sullivan, Braden River

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College board trustee reacts to column demanding his exit