Strong and fair Flip the 4th

As two retired officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department, we have more than 62 years of police experience. So, let’s set the record straight.

Local developers and the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association are accusing Jody Wagner of being anti-police. Not true. They raised about $110,000, much of it from big-money donors, under the pretext of supporting the Virginia Beach police. Some of that money is funding a vicious TV ad falsely accusing Wagner of being a radical liberal Democrat, and if elected mayor, Virginia Beach will be in flames, literally.

Wagner has been a member of the business community for 37 years. She served as Virginia’s state treasurer and secretary of finance. She is far from radical.

Wagner is on the record, including in a questionnaire sent to the Police Benevolent Association, saying that the Virginia Beach Police Department needs additional funding, not less. Under Mayor Bobby Dyer’s leadership, the department has been underfunded, resulting in retention and recruitment issues.

The police serve with the consent of the community, the whole community. There should not be a choice between a strong police force versus fairness and social justice. They need to coexist. We need an open, fair and equitable community and a strong police department. We believe our community has had enough of the fear-mongering political attack ads; we’re better than this. People should do their own research on candidates, and we’re sure most will conclude, as we have, that Jody Wagner is the best mayoral candidate in this race for public safety and the entire community.

Frank La Porta and Bobby Mathieson, former presidents of the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association, Virginia Beach

Back in December, Democratic Congressman Donald McEachin suggested that Gov. Ralph Northam send out the National Guard to enforce gun laws if local law enforcement didn’t. McEachin advocates siccing the National Guard on citizens, he supposedly represents, who are exercising their Second Amendment rights.

According to “Trump-supporting pastor wants to turn Virginia’s 4th Congressional District red” (Oct. 8), McEachin feels he is the best candidate for Congress because he can “stand up to Trump.” Wouldn’t it be more productive to have a congressional representative who can work with the president and other members of Congress?

Republican Leon Benjamin believes in America, the Constitution and the American people. Flip the 4th, Virginia! Vote Leon Benjamin for Congress.

Robin Gray, Suffolk