DEAR ABBY: The letter from the woman who believed candidates would not vote for themselves out of "humility and old-fashioned manners" struck me as humorous for two reasons: First, in evaluating the current political landscape, from all appearances it seems that humility and old-fashioned manners are nowhere to be found.
The second and more compelling reason comes from my experience in a November 1992 local election. Although I currently serve as vice mayor of my community, in that election I lost my initial bid for office by only one vote out of over 11,000 cast. I can only imagine how I might have felt if I had lost the election and NOT voted for myself!
Of course politicians vote for themselves, and why shouldn't they? If they are trying to convince the electorate that they are the best candidate, then they must believe it also. A vote is too precious to waste frivolously. I know. -- L. STEPHEN GIZZI, VICE MAYOR, BENICIA, CALIF.