It's difficult to understand why Don Clavin, Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes, sent out a recent mailing on challenging property assessment. On the cover of this brochure, which was prepared with taxpayers' money, Clavin says in underlined words that the Town of Hempstead does not set property assessment but he goes on anyway to give details on challenging assessment.

Here is my message for Don Clavin:

Don, you were elected to take our money so the politicians could spend it. Leave assessment alone - it's confusing enough without you. Instead, tell us why the Town of Hempstead has become a refuge for politicians who were booted out of office by voters. Why are we paying these people six-figure salaries?

While I served overseas during the "big war," I told the troops under my command that we are fighting for democracy and the right to vote for our political leaders. Now I find that Kate Murray was selected to be the supervisor of the Town of Hempstead by Republican bigwigs in a back room. Why wasn't I given the chance to vote for my town leader?

Don, help cut waste by not giving out proclamations at every birthday and retirement party. Those certificates don't grow on trees. You seem to be the new poster boy for the Republican Party. Just like Tom Gulotta, your photo is in all the community newspapers. You remember Tom - he ran up a staggering $2.7 billion debt, driving Nassau County into near financial meltdown in a time of economic boom.

Also, let us know why the town raised taxes 5.3 percent when you told us before the election that we have a $50 million budget surplus.

Our economy is in shambles. New York State is facing the worst fiscal crisis in a lifetime, requiring cuts in state aid to the elderly and the poor. How about doing your part, Don, by cutting some of the fat out of the Town of Hempstead's budget? That's what you should be spending your time on when you aren't collecting money from us.

George Rand