Who will you trust?
Campaign season preceding general elections is when voters decide who they will trust to run their government, everything from the county school board up to the president of the United States.
Candidates shout from the proverbial mountaintops about why you should vote for them. It’s hard to miss the yard signs, bumper stickers, newspaper advertisements, social media posts, mailbox flyers and video ads. A variety of public forums are held so that voters can meet candidates in person if they don’t happen to knock on your door.
Of the tools voters use to learn about candidates, fact-based, objective journalism is one of the most important. Reporters ask the candidates tough questions about their qualifications, background, platform and approach to current affairs.
This newspaper publishes campaign season news from the first filing date through the post-election analysis and beyond. Weeks before the primary and the general, our journalists produce special election sections so readers can study the candidates, questions and amendments they’ll be presented with on Election Day. The general election section will publish in the Oct. 16 edition of the News&Guide.
For the benefit of the voting public, sometimes news reporters uncover embarrassing episodes or criminal charges against candidates. Humans are imperfect; we’ve all done things we’re not proud of. It’s up to voters to judge whether a past transgression and how a candidate handled it sheds light on their character. Although past performance does not always indicate future results, it’s one of the factors to consider.
It’s a journalist’s duty to seek the truth and report it. Denigrating journalists for political reporting is the old “smoke and mirrors” technique: Don’t look over here, look over there! Accountability comes in many shapes and sizes for those seeking the power of elected office. It’s the duty of voters to decide what weight to give each piece of information.
The electorate has a high degree of respect for people who step out of their private lives to campaign and serve the public. They are held up to public scrutiny.
When votes are cast for a candidate, we’re placing our confidence in them. We expect that they’ll show up, be cordial to others, represent our best interests and collaborate with others to champion important issues.
Apathy is the enemy of democracy. Now is the time to encourage a friend, colleague or family member to inform their vote. Ask everyone you know to make a voting plan. Whether casting a ballot in person on Election Day, or early by mail, it’s our duty to know the issues and the candidates in choosing people over party, and community over self-interest.