Letter to the Editor: Elected vs. appointed

Dear Editor:

A History and Government teacher for most of her career, my wife taught some very important lessons to thousands of students, including me, that are pertinent to recent articles in this newspaper.  

In the city of Downey, City Council members are elected. Planning commissioners are appointed, and serve at the pleasure of the elected official. When the elected official chooses to appoint another commissioner, the former appointed commissioner thanks the elected official for the opportunity to serve.  

If an appointed official wants to have a stronger voice, that person has the choice to run for office and become an elected official.  It is just as simple as that.

Hal Nelson
Downey