Editor,

Letter writer Jerry Terstiege is absolutely correct about Don Horsley’s reneging on his promise to forgo his salary as a county supervisor. Horsley’s current pension of $215,000 a year, plus generous benefits, is added to the $120,000 pay, plus more benefits, of being a supervisor — bringing his annual income to $335,000 — again, with perks and benefits almost no one in the private sector has.

Horsley claims he is not “rich” and needs the additional $120,000 per year to pay for his mother-in-law’s medical care. What in heaven’s name does he think his constituents do when their parents need care? Reach into someone else’s pockets to pick up the tab?

He feels justified in taking the extra $120K because the county is financially better off than it was. The only reason San Mateo County is doing “better” is because taxpayers (through Measure A) added another half-cent to the county sales tax to prevent onerous cuts to services for the poor and needy. I guess Horsley decided his “needs” were greater than those of his constituents. Shame on him.

Donna Bischoff

San Mateo