Mayor’s Race: Report more on pensions

Oh, puh-lease! So much hyperventilation out there over the mayoral campaign having gone "negative."

There is before us a contentious issue — pension reform — that needs to be addressed immediately and decisively. And, oh, my!—one candidate dared to compare and contrast the two different visions in a flier, and the other candidate dared to launch a response. And now danders are up.

Let us all take a cleansing breath. This is a healthy situation in a democracy. It is to be encouraged — specifically by The Bee — which has been sitting quietly on this issue, while devoting much ink to the lesser issue of who is/who's not a developer.

Most Modestans are big boys and girls who can tackle learning about — and voting on — contentious issues. I think it has an obligation to revisit the pension reform issue in a fair and balanced way.

The Bee does a disservice to its readers if it waits to visit this issue late in the election cycle. For Modesto's sake let us, news media and the readership together, air this issue now while there is still time to make an impact and a well-informed decision.

ROB BEASLEY

Modesto