Tony Beilenson’s Years in Congress

* Re “Time Is Right to Solve Key Issues,” Jan. 26.

I was a very proud supporter of Tony Beilenson, having worked on his successful campaigns in the past. I believe it was a sad day when he decided not to run again. I understood it though, because when I asked him about the turmoil during the early 104th Congress, he implied it was eating him up. It was eating up many of us, and it was difficult to see how it was going to get any better in the near future.

Now, maybe, there is some hope on the horizon, and I so wish that Tony was back there to bring some sanity to the proceedings. Anybody who watched his work, such as on the Rules Committee, will know how much he’ll be missed.

Beilenson’s well-reasoned column in [the Jan. 26] paper furthers his reputation for thoughtfulness and my wish that he represented the public--not one party or the other but “us”--in Washington.

I sometimes wish he would run for senator, but then I think, “No, he’s done enough.” Maybe we could get him to head the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which he helped start and so well championed in Congress. That would be a fitting recognition for his service.

DAVE STODDARD

Westlake Village