Ell-Piret Multer, Grand Forks, letter: Letters distorted Mock’s college writings

GRAND FORKS — As a resident of District 42, I was disappointed to see the Herald print a coordinated attack on one of my representatives, Corey Mock (letters, Page D3, Oct. 10).

This attack included a letter written by the executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party.

Mock, the Democratic candidate for North Dakota secretary of state, is outstanding young man. In addition to his role in the Legislature, his time spent as the executive director of Third Street Clinic — a nonprofit, free clinic that provides health care for low-income residents of our area — gives him the credentials to run for the office of secretary of state.

The three letters that the Herald published distorted columns written by Mock while he was in college. I would hope that the editors would have read the articles in question and seen that they took Mock’s words and twisted them, taking them out of context.

One of Mock’s columns discussed an overall theme that supported the idea that God exists outside of organized religion, and that we each are entitled to our own beliefs. I certainly think most of us can agree with that sentiment.

My larger concern is that some are presenting religious beliefs as a qualification for office. This harkens back to an earlier era in American politics when many were stigmatized, including Catholics.

The voters of North Dakota deserve better than this sort of political gamesmanship.

Ell-Piret Multer

Tags: in the mail, corey mock, secretary of state, elections 2010, nd secretary of state race, opinion, politics