I stay neutral in local politics

You can?t win for losing during election time because you?re always going to make one side mad no matter how far you go out of your way to stay neutral.

There?s a certain paranoia I?ve seen in my 16 years of covering election campaigns here at the paper. It seems that no matter how hard I try to remain neutral in local elections, avoid showing any favoritism to any candidate, and even try to ward off attempts from outsiders to pull dirty election-eve tricks, I still get blamed for supporting one side or another.

As you know, the Southern Standard does not endorse candidates for elected office. Frankly, I don?t know why any newspapers endorse. After all, the candidates in various races are all spending money with us. It would seem wrong to take a candidate?s money while all the time giving support and endorsement to his or her rival.

Plus, if a paper supports the losing side, they?ve got to deal with the resentment for as long as the person is in office. And, sometimes people don?t like a newspaper telling them who to vote for. In other words, these endorsements can sometimes backfire.

I guess my big reason for not supporting the endorsement of candidates by a newspaper or other media outlet is where the decision is made. Generally, endorsements come from editorial boards. These boards represent a small portion of an actual newspaper staff, especially in larger towns. Plus, usually it is the top executive in these boards who tell their underlings how things are going to go. This means, when the smoke clears, the owners and top dogs at the newspapers are making the decisions and then stamping their newspaper?s name on it for credibility. This is neither fair to the other employees or to the election process itself and is the main reason I?m glad our newspaper has a neutrality policy when it comes to election endorsements.

However, there?s no rule against individual columnists from publicly endorsing and supporting candidates. I?ve done it before for president as a more tongue in cheek series of columns. But, I just won?t do it in local races because it would be like using my position to unfairly influence the public in a case where it could actually make a difference. Plus, like I said earlier, an endorsement by a newspaper or certain writer could actually backfire since people may resent being told how to vote.

With that said, there?s still always animosity leading up and directly after an election as candidates become hyper-paranoid as to who newspaper staff members are supporting. Sure, I?m going to vote in each of the races, and I?m going to vote early. And no, I haven?t made up my mind on all my votes yet.

However, I will only tell my closest friends and family who I voted for. My voting choices will not be for public consumption nor will I tell the candidates themselves who I voted for, like it would really matter anyway.

As for the paranoia by candidates, while it is irritating to me since it happens year after year, it?s also understandable. These folks are investing thousands of dollars, perhaps throwing it down a hole in some cases. They are very sensitive to the public?s opinions and therefore they are extremely sensitive as to a publication which reaches well over 10,000 prospective voters every issue.

So expect no signs in the yard or no soap box lectures on the goodness of one candidate or another. I?m staying neutral, at least until the next presidential election.

Duane Sherrill is a reporter for the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].