I am thankful letter writer Bill Mullen (Oct. 8) didn't actually fall out of his chair when he learned that Quincy mayoral candidate Tom Koch doesn’t have a college degree.

This “revelation” is hardly worth the risk of an injury.

I graduated from a major local university with high honors and a Phi Beta Kappa key. I routinely deal with other college graduates in both professional and social situations, and I can assure him that a diploma from an institution of higher learning doesn’t necessarily bestow upon the recipient competence, wisdom, or even common sense.

If Mullen doesn’t find my own experiences persuasive, I would remind him that the two most egregious foreign policy fiascoes in our nation’s recent history - Vietnam and Iraq - were conceived, planned and executed by college graduates.

ROBERT WOODS
Quincy

I feel letter writer Bill Mullen (Oct. 8) puts too much emphasis on a college degree.

I once worked with a college graduate in retail sales who could not make change for a dollar without using a calculator.

Furthermore, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Ted Turner of Turner Broadcasting and Richard Branson of Virgin Industries, who happen to be chief executive officers of three of the world’s largest conglomerates, do not have college degrees.

In closing, yes, Mayor Phelan is the CEO of a large company; it is called the City of Quincy.

Being a tax-paying shareholder of the City of Quincy, I would have voted to terminate his services for costing the company $46 million.

STEVEN HOLLER
Houghs Neck

I think it is time for Quincy to join other towns that ban political signs on lawns.

I am not influenced by who has more signs, or what candidate is being endorsed by a particular neighbor.

It seems as soon as the signs go up, there are complaints that a sign was put up without per mission, or someone has more than the allow able one per lawn.

I would like to think that most voters will lis ten to the debates and read the local papers to find out who would be the best candidate that best meets their own views, and at the same time end the campaign sign clutter.

JIM NICHOLS
Quincy

Tom Koch, mayoral challenger in Quincy, doesn't have a college degree.

So what?

Education does not equal intelli gence, as we know from the mess our country’s leaders have made.

I have a master’s degree from Bos ton University, yet most of my practi cal knowledge has come from on the job experience.

I met Koch at a candidate’s coffee hour in August. He impressed me as intelligent, experienced and having a good grasp of how Quincy operates.

Koch has strong plans for improving the city’s function.

He was courteous and respectful, even when his opinion differed from mine.

Koch has my vote.

PATRICK BARRY
Quincy

I am responding to the Oct. 8 letter by Bill Mullen, “A degree of nonsupport in Quincy mayoral race.”

Mullen’s views are obscured by Phelan green.

He insults not only mayor challenger Tom Koch’s intelligence, but the many Quincy resi dents without college degrees.

A college degree is not a prerequisite for suc cess. Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Dell computer’s Michael Dell, and Virgin Group’s Sir Richard Branson are all CEOs with budgets far greater than the City of Quincy’s, and they seem to hold their own.

There is no substitution for experience.

This city needs a leader who will not only lis ten to it’s residents, but treat everyone with re spect, as well.

That leader is Tom Koch.

FRED SOUSA
Quincy

Back in the days when the patriots of the colonial days destroyed the British flag, they were hailed as heroes.

We view the Communist flag as disrespectful to this country, as well as this City of the Presidents.

But for the people who lost their flagpole to what is called vandals and continue to fly the Communist banner over Beal and Hancock streets in Quincy, they call it vandalism.

I call what the people did, Patriots.

This country is known as a democracy, not a doctoral state, as is China. If the Chinese United Association wants to fly the Communist banner, let them fly it over their home property - China - not here in The United States of America.

Why do all the Quincy politicians keep their mouths shut about this matter? Mayor William Phelan allowed the Communist banner to be flown over that building for months, and no one said a word except our veterans.

We have an election coming, and not one word from any one person now running for office.

What is everyone afraid of?

Losing the Asian vote.

No comment from mayoral challenger Tom Koch about the banner, as he is supposed to be against Phelan. Kind of makes you think what kind of leader will he be, if he won’t speak against the Communist banner flying over Quincy.

The other candidates running for councilor have not said a word, either.

I will vote in this election, but not for either mayoral candidate. As of this date, I will write my own name in. At least I am not a politician, and I love this city and my country.

CHARLES DENNEHEY
Quincy

I am responding to the Oct. 11 letter from Mary Coughlin. I am a sophomore at Quincy High School, so I am too young to vote, but I had to laugh at Coughlin’s comparison of may oral challenger Tom Koch to Ted Turner.

I have been playing softball on the City of Quincy’s teams since I was 6 and now play Var sity on the Quincy High School team. We have been playing at Mitchell-McCoy Field for the past few years. We begged Koch when he was parks direc tor to finish the bathrooms at the field. Instead, we had to use the Johnny on the Spots, which were never cleaned out.

It took Mark Jaehnig, who was appointed by Mayor Bill Phelan as the new parks direc tor to finish the bathrooms and get them running.

At least Ted Turner had the common sense to put running bathrooms in Turner Field.

OLIVIA M. BERRY

The Committee To Elect Tom Koch takes great pride in the way it has conducted itself over these last nine months, and has made every effort to play by the rules in all matters, both serious and fun.

This includes the legal anchoring of a boat by a supporter in a Coast Guard-sanctioned anchorage area in Quincy Bay, a location entirely appropriate and legal to drop anchor.

The skipper moved the boat, but only because the heavy-handedness of our opponent has placed the city’s harbormaster in a tough spot.

Chapter 12.26 of the Municipal Ordinance of the City of Quincy governs this matter. Section 020 of that chapter gives the boat owner 30 days to apply for a mooring permit, which he has timely done.

The harbormaster, pursuant to Section 130.02 of Chapter 12, must give written notice of a violation in writing, and the owner has 10 days to appeal.

No such notice was sent.

The Koch Campaign has fully complied with the law.

JACK NIGRO
Houghs Neck Chairman
Committee to Elect Tom Koch
Quincy