I Was Once Accused...

As a local newspaper publisher, I’ve been accused by entire political parties and by individual candidates. I’ve been told I promote one person more than another, or that I’m targeting someone unfairly. It’s a good thing I’ve developed a thick skin over the years—and an even stronger sense of forgiveness—because these accusations come with the territory of running a community paper.

I’m also an American. That means I have the same rights as every other American citizen to express my opinion. If I want to put a sign in my yard, stick one on my truck, or talk to my neighbors about who I support, that’s my right. I can wear the T-shirt, knock on doors, and even pay for advertising—the key word being pay. I’ve boosted a few Facebook posts over the years, but never in the newspaper I operate. I’ve helped candidates design logos, banners, and signs—even George W. Bush, back when he ran for Texas Governor. My profession doesn’t strip me of my citizenship, and my citizenship doesn’t take away my integrity.

And in case you’re wondering—it’s your right, too.

Newspapers have a long history of endorsing candidates. You see national papers doing it every election season. Does it actually change minds? Who knows. When Governor Rick Perry ran for re-election, he refused to meet with the Austin American-Statesman’s editorial board. The paper endorsed his opponent, and Perry still won. So much for the power of the press.

In my 25 years as a publisher, I’ve only endorsed one candidate. She lost—by about 70 votes. That was the first and last time I ever allowed one of my community newspapers to endorse anyone. Twenty-five years of elections—school boards, city councils, county races—and just one endorsement. Yet the accusations keep rolling in like the seasons.

So when you hear a candidate—or someone close to one—badmouthing me or the newspaper, take it with a grain of salt. It happens every single election cycle. We at the Robertson County News are fair to every candidate and treat them all the same. We even have written policies to make sure of it.

Advertising rates are the same for everyone. We don’t share what one candidate is spending with another. We don’t “upsell” or play favorites. Every ad is reviewed and proofed by the candidate before it runs, typos and all. We don’t type your ad for you, and we don’t spin your words. What you see in print is what you submitted—plain and simple.

At the end of the day, yes, I have opinions. I’m human, and I’m American, and I’m proud of both. But my opinions are mine alone, and you won’t find them in the newspaper. So, if you want to know who I’m voting for, you’ll have to ask me personally—and even then, I might just smile and tell you to vote your own mind.

What I will tell you is this: make sure you’re registered, and make sure you vote. National races might grab the headlines, but it’s the local ones that truly shape our communities. Those are the elections that decide how your tax dollars are spent, who fixes your roads, and who represents your kids’ schools.

And that, my friends, is what really matters.

Pub. Note: I wrote this editorial 10 years ago to the day, and when it popped up on social media and I re-read it, I thought to myself—this is as valid today as it has ever been. With the current ongoing election, as well as all the elections to come, I feel like this is all worth saying one more time.