Upper Arlington News, September 14, 2005, page 7A:

To the Editor:

Commenting on the Library issue last June, Upper Arlington City Councilman Rankin was quoted as saying he "knows what's right for Upper Arlington."

More recently, in regard to the library board's unanimous decision regarding gay publications, Mr. Rankin was quoted as saying, "There was a lot of talk about doing what's legally right ... it's up to the board to do what's morally right ... I think (the board's decision) doesn't reflect the values of Upper Arlington ... If we have to put people on this board who reflect the values of this community, we'll do that."

When I cast my vote for a candidate for city council, I am not exercising a moral right; I am exercising a legal right.

I am voting for people whom I think have sound management and planning skills, who will exercise sound financial judgment with the legal framework of our city charter and other applicable laws.

It is alarming to me to think that as a councilman Mr. Rankin will be making moral judgments on my behalf. Morality implies lawfulness, yet Mr. Rankin has publicly aligned himself with Mark Bloom, who bragged about stealing copies of the publications in  question with his children.

It is alarmint to me to have Mr. Rankin threaten --- when he does not agree with the unanimous lawful decision of the library board --- to "put people on this board who reflect" only his personally held values. What about my personally held values?

If he runs for political office in the future, I will financially contribute to whomever runs against him; he is unfit to be a steward of my tax money.

----David Russack