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Thursday
September 2, 2010
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Why we endorse candidates
Published October 28, 2009
A recent survey showed 36 percent of nondaily newspapers in Georgia endorse candidates in local political races.
The Walton Tribune is among them.
This paper began endorsing candidates in local races a couple of years ago. The practice will continue with the current races in Monroe, Loganville and Walnut Grove when our endorsements run in Sunday’s paper.
Some people believe newspapers shouldn’t endorse candidates because of our duty to be unbiased observers and reporters of the news.
It’s true that we should present the news fairly, but I also believe newspapers have a duty to be the place a community gathers to discuss events of the day.
I also believe newspapers should do their best to get to know each candidate and what his or her platform is.
Honestly, it would be easier for us not to do endorsements. The candidate interviews take a lot of time — Managing Editor Brian Arrington and I have spent hours together interviewing politicians — and there’s a chance of upsetting somebody.
But we believe it’s more important to get to know the candidates and understand what each believes is best for the community he or she seeks to represent. I hope each candidate we’ve spoken with would tell you we asked tough, but fair, questions.
We haven’t decided upon our endorsements yet. There’s still a lot of campaigning to do.
When we make our recommendations to you, please know it’s done after hours of discussions, research and thinking.
And it’s not meant to tell you how to vote. You’re capable of doing that on your own. Instead, it’s a way for us to tell you what we see.
When you read Sunday’s editorials, you might be upset with what you read, but please take a minute to stop and ask yourself, “Could they be right?”
I’m not asking you to assume automatically that we are right, but at least consider our opinion or any you hear about the races.
You may then decide the candidate you supported first is still better for the job, and that’s fine. But the more thought you put into your vote, the better everybody is for it.
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