More transparency on candidate endorsements

By Judi Whetstine

What information does an organization use to endorse candidates in city elections?

Recent Gazette election coverage publicized organizational endorsements of candidates. The coverage provided little, if any, insight into how the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's Linn Area BizPAC, the Hawkeye Labor Council and The Gazette Editorial Board made their decisions.

Linn Area BizPAC issued a news release at the end of October. It said the PAC used a questionnaire to score the candidates and gave a short explanation of its endorsements. The questionnaire and answers were not in The Gazette news report. The Chamber's Web site after the election did not have the questionnaire, nor the candidates' answers.

The Gazette reported on Nov. 24 the Hawkeye Labor Council endorsements for the city runoff elections. The report said the council wants “more good-paying jobs to come and stay in the city” and “wants to see the City Council back project labor agreements.” It did not include any questionnaire nor interview information used by the council to decide the endorsements. The council's Web site did not include the information.

Gazette editorials explain the editorial board's endorsements. Jeff Tecklenburg, opinion page editor, said board members conduct “a personal interview that includes a basic list of similar questions for candidates in the same race, then opens it up beyond that.” The content of the interviews is not reported. Tecklenburg said “the board would consider using an interview video in the next election cycle. The final decision also involves the online editor.”

Videotaping the editorial interviews for access online would be educational and transparent.

Gazette Editor Lyle Muller stated there is a question of fitting stories into the paper's available space. He said that “it seems the news is the endorsement itself and usually all that most readers are interested in.”

Muller added, “More telling is the financial support candidates get.” He said donations of $200 or more are reported for city elections.

How about having a link to all donations posted online?

Jason Kristufek, Gazette Online editor, agreed that “political contributions to local candidates is more valuable information.” He also said that providing “potential voters with information such as how groups and organizations form their thoughts and conclusions on endorsements will be of value, maybe even more value than the endorsements themselves.”

Yes, we voters can ask our questions at candidate forums. Yes, knowing who financially supports a candidate is interesting.

But when an organization seeks publicity about its endorsement, isn't it fair to also be informed about the facts used to make the decision? Part of the reason for publicizing an endorsement is to sway voters.

Endorsements have become a part of the local election process. Endorsement transparency educates potential voters.

Kristufek noted that interview and questionnaire answers give residents a record to use in evaluating the performance of their elected officials.

Gazette Online does not have the newspaper's space limitations. It can expand access to important facts for voters and residents. I vote for more transparency.

Unresolved issue?

If you have an unresolved concern about the content or presentation of Gazette or KCRG-TV9 news stories, contact Judi Whetstine, our community advocate, at gaz.communityadvocate@gmail.com, or by mail: Community Advocate, The Gazette, 500 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.

Whetstine is not an employee of Gazette Communications. The longtime attorney retired from the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2007. She also serves on the Cedar Rapids Board of Ethics and consults for the University of Iowa.