Dear Editor:

Writers of recent letters to the editor in support of candidate Curt Nisley have referenced the past service of David Kolbe as the prosecuting attorney for Kosciusko County.

Mssrs. Moser and Refior (a former fellow member of David Kolbe in the local Christian Legal Society) referenced David Kolbe’s past service as Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney. These writers, however, failed to provide truthful and accurate characterizations of the facts. I know that they failed to cite the truth because they were not privy to the facts as I was, as a part-time deputy prosecuting attorney.

Mssrs. Moser and Refior want you to question Kolbe’s suitability for office based upon false characterizations of past cases that most folks simply do not recall. Voters, do you want smoke and mirrors or do you want the truth?

Interestingly, neither of these writers attempted to explain why voters should believe that Curt Nisley is competent to serve in our legislature even though when asked by Kolbe to debate the issues at a formal debate, Nisley declined. A Nisley supporter, former County Treasurer Kent Adams, did offer to act as a proxy for Nisley in a debate with Kolbe.

If one is unfamiliar with the process of making laws, be assured that that process involves debate and a readiness and ability to speak in front of others persuasively to gain support for one’s position. At a public forum, Nisley was asked about those legislative committees in which he had an interest. Nisley answered noncommittally which suggested that he was either unfamiliar with the committee structure in the legislature, or he was unwilling to disclose his political agenda.

Now, let us look at the facts regarding David Kolbe.

It is a fact that David Kolbe took more criminal cases to a jury trial, and won, than any other prosecuting attorney in our county in the last 30 years. What does it take to stand your ground, as an attorney, to take a case to a jury trial?

It takes competence, courage, preparedness, intelligence, the ability to know that the case needs to be heard by a jury and that you will be able to speak in front of people persuasively and eloquently, in order to win.

Perhaps I am biased because I am also an attorney and I happen to think there may be very good reasons why the majority of presidents, senators, members of congress and legislators are attorneys. We need intelligent, courageous and competent legislators.

Unlike Nisley, David Kolbe has had the courage to speak to the public eloquently and competently about his political views. No other politician or community leader offered to debate on Kolbe’s behalf because the mere thought of that is, yes, absurd. How can there be any question about who should get your vote? Just look at the facts.

Joanne M. Kolbe-Taylor
B.A., M.Div., J.D.
Warsaw