Second chances not gift for all, if a gift at all
I could not help but notice your editorial on Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn’s second chance with his DUI 24-hour jail sentence [“Dorn’s second chance,” April 6] contrasted with the front-page news of the tragedy of Mike Turner’s three-fatality crash over the Easter weekend [“Crash kills 3 friends who loved muscle cars,” page one, April 5].
However, substitute Dorn’s name in Turner’s story and think about the headlines and the public outrage. Although Dorn’s alcohol assessment confirmed his lack of a “drinking problem,” drinking under the influence of alcohol increases the chance that drivers will continue to take innocent lives through impaired judgment.
My sympathy extends to all the families involved. Until we as a society fully comprehend the waste of lives fostered by second chances granted in DUIs, The Times will continue running front-page, tragic stories about the results of impaired behavior.
— Mark Wilson, Seattle
Resignation better example than fine and jail time
School Superintendent Randy Dorn calls his DUI arrest and conviction a teachable moment — for whom? [“School chief Dorn pleads guilty to DUI charge,” NWSaturday, April 3.]
If he really was this “stand-up guy” who chose to face the consequences of his actions instead of trying to “lawyer” himself out of it, he would do the honorable thing and resign. That would set an example for students about consequences for negative actions. An $866 fine and a suspended jail sentence does not send a strong enough message about the horrors of drunken driving.
Resigning an elected office after failing to live up to the enormous responsibilities of that office —while far from the most damaging event that could occur while driving drunk —would still be a learning experience for him and others. If you want to serve the public, you are held to a higher and more demanding standard. If your office represents the children of this state, that bar cannot be set high enough.
If Randy Dorn truly cares about young people in this state, he should resign. Parents, students and citizens of Washington should demand and expect nothing less.
— Ben Stearns, Seattle