Who are you going to vote for?
Engaged citizens sometimes love to answer that question, while others view it as an invasion of the secret ballot process. Others will answer with "I don't know yet," and some of them mean it. Everyone takes a slightly different approach to their political lives.
What’s The Point?
The NWA Media editorial board offers endorsements as one piece of information for voters to consider, but encourage voters to do their own homework.
Today, we begin this year's NWA Media local editorial board endorsements. The four members of our editorial board sat down with more than 70 candidates on ballots in Benton and Washington counties ranging from city council to governor. We're not issuing an endorsement in all races, but we will offer our 2 cents' worth in a lot of them.
Why do it? Some newspapers proudly proclaim their policy against endorsements, suggesting it's not their role to tell people how to vote. We agree with them. That's not our role either. People should vote what's best for the future of their communities, state and nation, and they should make up their own minds.
This news organization publishes a local editorial page every day of the year, offering editorial opinions on a wide range of topics alongside columns by individuals and letters to the editors from our readers.The process is separate from the newspaper's reporting staff and its advertising staff. In other words, they have nothing to do with it.
With due respect to other newspapers, we believe the decisions voters make are every bit as critical to the future as the other issues we (and they) opine about all year long. Why stay quiet during election season? And how can we suggest voting is among the most important acts of the citizenry only to go silent about those who seek to represent the people?
So we undertake an extensive interview process, meeting with local candidates particularly. Then our editorial board members discuss and debate until a consensus is reached.
We offer our endorsements not as a way to tell anyone how to vote, but as one piece of information for voters to consider, giving it whatever weight they believe it deserves. Whether embraced or rejected, readers can know we've earnestly tried to make informed decisions that will best serve the people of each district or ward involved.
Our most urgent advice is for voters to do their own homework and use it to vote with confidence. But above all, vote.
Bruns, Reed For Springdale City Council
In Springdale's two contested races for City Council, we recommend aldermen Jim L. Reed in Ward 1 and Brad Bruns in Ward 3.
Reed has devoted eight years to service on the council and frequently observes planning commission sessions to stay directly informed about development issues. He's a proponent for downtown's continued development and believes "things are fixing to shine" in Springdale. Freshly retired from 36 years with Springdale Public Schools, Reed now has even more time to devote to serving the citizens. His opponent, Bob Caudle, offered no compelling reason to select him over Reed's experience.
Bruns is a guy who articulates his passion about Springdale's future, particularly in the realm of parks development. He's been attentive to details in his first term, but is driven to help improve Springdale and supports the mayor's vision for downtown. He can prove a bit hot-headed at times, but when he keeps that in check, he's proven effective in helping to lead the city. He faces Rick Culver.
Commentary on 10/16/2014