To the Editor:

“When opportunity knocks, open the door” is a widely known expression, and many times we do not realize that we have missed an opportunity until after the fact.

In less than a week in our 4th Congressional District of Virginia, and on a larger scale, our nation, we will have opportunity knocking on our door. The approaching elections represent such an opportunity as a starting point to improve our lives today.

The vote on the 4th District congressional representation is our local opportunity, though at the same time, we should pay close attention to what takes place in other parts of our nation as they will elect representatives who will make decisions that will affect us as well.

We may feel that politics is a distant subject from our daily lives, though would any community member feel the local mill closure as distant? Politicians have the power to issue new laws, new regulations and implement tax changes that do affect how small and large businesses plan for profitability and their future.

This November, open the door to the opportunities at hand and ensure that we put candidates in office who bring with them common sense, realistic

initiatives, and best of all, a pro-

business outlook that is the only way any government will ever assist in creating a single job.

Jonathan E. Varnell
Franklin