READERS RESPOND -- Trustee’s ‘mistake’ draws discussion

Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee Jim Ferryman was arrested

on suspicion of driving under the influence. In the Daily Pilot article

(“School trustee suspected of DUI,” Oct. 1), Ferryman apologizes for this

and calls it a “mistake.”

Another trustee interviewed for the article said that drinking and

driving is a crime, period. This is not true. Having a blood alcohol

level above 0.08%, while operating a vehicle, is a crime. I was arrested

for this offense not too long ago because I called the police after

someone from Newport Beach driving their big Mercedes intentionally

bumped my car. My mistake was trying to be a good citizen, doing what was

right. My mistake was me calling the police.

The courts will decide if Ferryman and I are guilty. But I for one

will never make the mistake of calling the police after even having one

drink near home and be arrested for someone else’s actions. I do not

condone drunk driving, and when drinking and driving results in injuries

the penalties should be severe. Nobody should ever drive drunk. But it is

not against the law to have a drink and drive, otherwise 90% of the

people in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa would be criminals.

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach

Regarding school board trustee Jim Ferryman: Outrageous. He should

resign.

RON WINSHIP

Newport Beach

Should Ferryman resign (“Trustee: Ferryman should resign if guilty,”

Oct. 5)? Absolutely. Without a doubt. Why wait? He should be immediately

transferred to another school district’s school board. No questions

asked: zero tolerance. Leave him on the curb and let him be picked up

with the trash. He is an example for our youth. If they don’t get a

second chance, why should he?

While we’re at it, let’s call for the resignation of President Bush,

who was arrested and convicted of DUI before he became president. Why

stop there? From now on, anyone who is arrested for an alcohol or drug

offense should either resign from their jobs and positions or face

dismissal.

As ridiculous as all of this sounds, it is as ridiculous as the

“zero-tolerance” policy is. Good men and women make mistakes. Good kids

make mistakes. We’re not saying that alcohol and drugs should be

tolerated in our schools or on our roads. They shouldn’t be. We’re saying

that, thankfully, we live in a country in which we are all individuals.

Each case presented should be handled with compassion and common sense.

Should Ferryman resign or be dismissed? We don’t think that one mistake

should erase all the good that a person does for his community. Should

the “zero-tolerance” policy be revisited? Absolutely.

BONNIE and JEFF KIRKPATRICK

Costa Mesa