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Last Updated: Dec 12, 2008 - 4:54:39 PM |
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Over the past month several people have asked if the East Iowa Herald will make make endorsements for political candidates. The answer to that is a qualified no.
By and large, there is some legitimacy in newspapers endorsing candidates - after all, newspapers are supposed to be dedicated to covering candidates. In the case of the Herald, we cover the county supervisors without fail - we have seen how they work together, we have seen what they have and have not accomplished. Except for Nick Narigon of the Pioneer Republican, there are only a handful of people in the county that have such constant exposure to them. We should be well positioned to provide an opinion as to which candidate is best suited.
On the other hand, the people working at a newspaper do not have an opinion that is more valuable than anyone else’s opinion - so why should we have the power of the press behind ours? Newspaper endorsements are tricky things - endorsing one candidate over another could create a situation in which readers would come to believe we are biased.
At large newspapers such as the Des Moines Register and the Cedar Rapids Gazette, endorsements are made by an editorial board that is separate from reporters - such endorsements, therefore, are not the opinion of the reporters or the editors or photographers but that of a board that is completely removed from the news bureau. The East Iowa Herald does not have an editorial board - and therefore we are generally unable to endorse local candidates as I cannot allow even a hint of bias. As the editor of this newspaper, my job is to ensure the news is reported clearly and fairly - on the news pages, it is not our job to editorialize but to report what happened - not what we think should happen.
Over the past several months, I’ve made my opinions on the Iowa County Board of Supervisors known on this Op-Ed page. I believe all five of the supervisors work well together and have well served this county. I admire each and every one of them. That said, the residents of Iowa County are fortunate to have five outstanding candidates running for the board. The truth be told, I don’t think a bad choice could be made in the voting booth. I do believe, however, that some choices are better than others - but that is for me to act upon when I enter the voting booth - as it is for you. Your needs in a county supervisor may be different than mine, after all. My only editorializing on the supervisors this week is to say that each candidate - Ric Gerard, Ray Garringer, Alice DeRyke, Sandra Cronbaugh and Dale Walter is motivated to serve the county and is multi-faceted in their abilities. My opinion is that voters in this county should consider more than a single issue when voting - because the array of challenges we could be facing in the future will easily eclipse any one issue. We are in for some changes and we need a board of supervisors capable of dealing with what lies ahead. It won’t be easy for any of them.
There is an old saying that freedom of the press is limited to those who own the press. That is not the case with the East Iowa Herald. If someone contacts us regarding a news story, we make every effort to provide that story - regardless of our opinions on the subject. Again, our job is to report. And if you want your opinion known, this page is available to you - in your own words.
I will admit to a very definite bias, however, I am absolutely for the communities in East Iowa. I believe that our future is bright - and I will make every effort to do what little I can to promote that. I have seen and experienced the alternative to life in these small towns and there is no comparison - this life is better. I have been accused - sometimes quite fairly - of occasionally going over the top in my words and praise for local people and institutions. Perhaps so, but it is all sincere. Should I find that a person with responsibility or an institution has let us down, I will report that without reservation. But until such an event happens, I will shower praise. Almost every person I have met here has impressed me beyond my ability to describe - and I fully intend to keep trying. If that seems over the top now and then, so be it. You’ve earned it.
At the beginning of this column I qualified my answer on endorsements. The reason for that qualification is because this newspaper will, in fact, make three endorsements during this election year. To serve the purpose of an editorial board, I sought the opinions and thoughts of a group of people I respect - people from varying places on the political spectrum, including both Republicans and Democrats, and I personally committed to printing the results regardless of my opinion. What follows is the result. As owner of this newspaper, I agree with and support these endorsements.
LINDA GRIGGS FOR IOWA COUNTY AUDITOR
ROBERT ROTTER FOR IOWA COUNTY SHERIFF
Griggs is an incumbent. There could well be a reason why she is unopposed in this election - that being, of course, that she is very good at her job and there is nothing to suggest that anything should change in regards to her office. The residents of Iowa County are fortunate to benefit from her experience and her competence. Each week during the Board of Supervisors meeting she is available to answer questions and provide information. But she does much more than that - she also provides a solid backbone of rational thought. Griggs isn’t about politics and she has no agenda other than doing the job she was elected to do to the best of her ability. She has succeeded.
Robert Rotter has been with the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office for nearly a decade and is set to replace retiring sheriff Nick Roggentien. Compared to some jobs, there is little glamor in being a law enforcement officer. While they are often in the press, their accomplishments are reported as fact with little to herald the work they really do. They don’t care about your political orientation or anything else, if you call them for help, they will respond - professionally and with concern. Every single day, law enforcement officers across Iowa County perform acts of heroism large and small and they have had a positive impact on the lives of all of us. But we rarely hear about such things - there is no P.R. department for the sheriff’s office and they aren’t in the job for praise.
Being a sheriff is a 24-hour job. In addition to the normal duties of a law enforcement officer, which are extensive beyond words, the sheriff’s desk is where the buck stops. There is a price to be paid for that - and for the fact that they are on duty just as much at 3 a.m. as they are at 3 p.m. There is no real time off because Rotter will be devoted to protecting and serving us, the citizens of Iowa County. His oath does not include restrictions in terms of banking hours.
Both Linda Griggs, a Democrat, and Robert Rotter, a Republican, are running unopposed for their offices. The decision was made to provide endorsements because your votes for Griggs and Rotter can serve as votes of confidence. It is the position of the East Iowa Herald that both of them have earned such votes. Now it is your turn to let them know that by voting Linda Griggs for Iowa County Auditor and Robert Rotter for Iowa County Sheriff.
LEONARD BOSWELL FOR CONGRESS
Congressman Leonard Boswell may have an urban home address but his heart and spirit are right here in the small communities that define Iowa. More than that, he is here in the towns throughout the District and is accessible to everyone - regardless of whether you live in Des Moines or Conroy. Through two tours of duty in Vietnam, he served this nation, and the people of Iowa, with honor, courage and distinction. He has continued to do just that as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
People may ask, “what has he done for me”? That is a fair question - and it is asked primarily because Boswell does not seek headlines for himself but rather seeks funding and opportunities for the people of the 3rd District. He also has exceptionally performed the balancing act of keeping the interests of the country in sight. After all, he risked his life for this nation and it should be no surprise that this American hero would do anything other than defend her. As the recipient of two Bronze Stars and twice the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, hero is certainly an apt description.
In answer to the above question, he has worked for you rather than promote himself. He has brought hundreds of millions of dollars to his district. He has an open door that gives access to the U.S. House to every single resident of his district. He has worked to keep the promises to veterans that we have made as a nation. He has successfully worked to ensure that Iowa, a very small fish in a big national pond, is not forgotten or neglected, but rather remains at the forefront in issues of national concern. He has served us with the honor and distinction that we expect and deserve. Congressman Boswell may not garner the headlines - but that is not his job. His job is to represent the people of his district and to serve the nation. He has done that admirably.
Boswell is a Democrat but is far from partisan. He serves us, the people in his district, rather than the Democratic Party. He has crossed party lines on issues important to us in his district. He does not resort to disparaging stunts but instead gets results. With the nation entering a period of turbulence and worry, stunts should no longer be acceptable - results are needed. Today more than ever, the 3rd District, Iowa and the nation all need his experience and integrity. Throughout his entire life, Leonard Boswell has served our nation as a farmer, a soldier and now as a representative of the people. His experience and the respect he has earned have positioned him to provide outstanding service to the 3rd District. We would do well to take advantage of that by returning him to Congress as our representative.
For all of the above reasons and more, the East Iowa Herald endorses Leonard Boswell for Congress.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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