Our endorsements for the 2016 election

Over the next few Sundays, we will be publishing The Gazette editorial board's endorsements, guest columns from candidates and community letters concerning contested local, state and federal races.

Election season endorsements are an American newspaper tradition that goes back more than a century. We publish endorsements as a service to our readers, to encourage all citizens to educate themselves about candidates and issues and to exercise their critically important right to vote. In no way do our endorsements influence The Gazette's news coverage of candidates and election issues - which are decided upon and written by our newsroom employees, not opinion staff.

To prepare for our endorsements, we research each candidate and invite them in for an extended interview about their experience, philosophy and views. In writing them, we focus on the qualities and issues we feel are most important in that particular race.

When making our endorsement decisions, we consider experience, familiarity with major issues and understanding of the work of governance - including a willingness to work on bipartisan solutions to important problems. We welcome your feedback.

' Comments: Jennifer.hemmingsen@thegazette.com; (319) 398-8469.