LETTERS

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REMEMBERING STRATTON In your Dec. 25 issue, Mr. Bill Ward wrote (“The name game,” letters) that the main distinction of Gov. William G. Stratton was that he was the only governor tried for corruption and acquitted. Ironically, in that same issue, in “Remembering the lives they lived,” you profiled Dr. David Kenney, who, among many other accomplishments, wrote a very fine biography of Governor Stratton, A Political Passage: The Career of Stratton of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, 1990. Also, there is the book Mostly Good and Competent Men by Robert Howard and revised by Peggy Long and Mike Lawrence, The Institute of Public Affairs, UIS, 1988. A reading of both books demonstrates that contrary to Mr. Ward’s assertion, Governor Stratton had an admirable record as governor.

As the dust jacket on Dr.

Kenney’s book stated, when Stratton became governor in 1953, the state had built neither highways nor educational facilities for more than 20 years. The General Assembly had not been redistricted since 1901. The judicial system was antiquated and state revenues were not adequate to fund state services. The books demonstrate that Governor Stratton responded to these challenges with energy and intelligence. Howard wrote, “Williams G. Stratton was a hands-on administrator who, more than any other governor before him, was an authority on Illinois and its governments, state and local.” I recommend that Mr. Ward read both books so he is able to write letters based on knowledge instead of ignorance.

I was fortunate to have been friends with Governor Stratton during the last 10 years of his life. In my experience, both in and out of state government, I had never met a more spirited, honest and kindly person than Governor Stratton. Bruce Finne Springfield

A PLEA FOR CLEMENCY Our outgoing governor pardoned multiple murderers, another man who shot at multiple police officers and he commuted the sentence of Carlos Villarreal, who sold multiple kilos of cocaine. Despite letting these men go free, Governor Quinn wouldn’t even give me an answer. So now I am asking for yours.

I have served 12 years of a 30-year prison sentence for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

To be clear, I’m 100 percent guilty and I was arrested more than once. But I was only a teenager when the ordeal began and I have never been violent. However, like many at that age, I arrogantly believed I knew everything, and in hindsight, even I can see why law enforcement wanted to make an example of me. But I am now 33, and far removed from my youthful mistakes.

In 2010, after having numerous officials in the Illinois Department of Corrections tell me that my sentence was appallingly long, I filed for a governor’s clemency, which has been pending longer than Mr. Villarreal has ever been incarcerated. I’ve posted my clemency petition on the Jason Spryres Supporters Facebook page. I’ve also posted a letter from a retired correctional officer supporting my position, and my prosecutor’s letter opposing it.

I’m asking you to review the above and then email Governor Rauner with your thoughts. If you determine that my sentence is just, tell him that. But if you decide that my 12 years already served is enough, then ask Governor Rauner to consider me, Jason Spryes, for clemency.

I am simply asking for an answer. Jason Spryes Inmate K-99397 Taylorville