Second chances are earned

To the editor:

If nothing else, Vic Kohring’s “comeback” attempt will make for interesting reading. Wasilla voters, please make sure it is only an attempt.

Wasn’t the whole embarrassing fiasco about vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin enough? People of Wasilla, do you really want to be known as the city that voted both Palin and Kohring into a public office? There is already enough ridiculous media coverage about Alaskans, please don’t add to it!

Jan Bass in her letter published in the Aug. 4, 2013, issue of the Frontiersman, said it aptly: “Kohring is a professional victim, a con and a narcissist.” Add to that descriptive list “liar.” Kohring, by his own admission, is a liar. Kohring pleaded guilty. Yes, he deserves to be forgiven, as do all who come forward and admit their sin. However, do you really want to put him back on the public payroll? Forgiveness is one thing, forgetting is something else.

Being an elected official is a privilege, not a right. Being trustworthy, honorable and dependable are character traits that should be a prerequisite to being elected. Kohring has not demonstrated the good character worthy of a public official. Kohring has not earned trust. Kohring has not earned that privilege.

If Kohring believes he has something to contribute, let’s see him contribute several thousand hours of community service time to help offset the public expense of his trial and prison time. Let’s see him become a volunteer serving several years on a committee serving the city of Wasilla or the Mat-Su Borough. Let’s see him prove his worth, rather than expect the public to go on his word that he is reformed and can be trusted.

Kohring, be quiet and volunteer! Let us see you give back to your community the equivalent of the expense you cost us with your greed, stupidity and lies. Let us see you quietly cleaning up roadsides, public bathrooms and dog feces, doing stream remediation, volunteering at the recycling center and doing manual labor for the betterment of your community.

Let us see you give back the value of the salary and the excessive per diem you drew for the years we did trust you. You want the trust of your neighbors? You had it and lost it. Now, you have to work twice as hard for twice as long to earn it. You don’t deserve a second chance unless and until you have proven that you are worthy.

Vicki Kluever

Palmer