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Letters to the Editor, Jan. 4 Wednesday Jan 4, 2017 at 12:01 AM The facts on Winters As the family of murder victim Dave Lewis, our interest in justice is monumental. It is imperative that fact-based information regarding Mike Winters is considered. Winters ran unopposed in 2010. He had less than 30 percent of the vote in the 2014 primary. In his 12 years as sheriff, there were in-custody deaths, jail escapes, improprieties and lawsuits wasting taxpayer dollars. Winters vindictively turned in his competition to the Department of Justice during the election. His own colleagues called his "retirement a very wise decision." Winters created 66 layoff notices, which deputies attributed to his lack of leadership abilities and his style of "leading through fear and intimidation." Winters forced citizens into court for beeping horns during the teachers strike and flashing headlights to warn of ticket-traps. Street-gang and cartel crime occurred while he was pulling pot plants, costing millions of dollars in wasted manpower, equipment and unnecessary helicopter operations. No one wants kids on dope, but his decisions profusely wasted taxpayer dollars. He called himself Zebra One! Sheriff Falls worked hard to erect the $25 million-a-year sinking ship Winters created. The  interim sheriff needs to be selected based on truth and facts. A zebra doesn't change his stripes. Linda Lewis Ashland Equal pay narrative false A recent Mail Tribune featured Tonia Moro's reflections on her losing campaign for an Oregon Senate seat. During the race she peddled the false narrative of "equal pay for equal work" for women. Ms. Moro also salted her piece with allusions to things she had "heard" which pointed to what she felt was a general lack of information for voters. An actual fact or two might have strengthened her arguments. Insofar as the "equal pay" question goes, her appeal was to a widely debunked idea. Women's actual pay is tied to their positions and is fixed in stone by law. Their "earnings," on the other hand, reflect life choices — education, years of experience, hours worked, and the fields they choose. For example, ask your local female veterinarian or biochemist if she is unhappy with her choices. Hubert Smith Jacksonville