PEA RIDGE — It’s been said by some that this newspaper is showing bias about mayoral candidates. I strive very hard to not do so, but acknowledge that all newspapers are written and published by people who are subjective, no matter how hard they try to be objective.
The newspaper is publicly read and distributed, but is not a “public entity.” It is a private business. It is not paid for with taxpayers’ dollars.
Elected officials - city, county, state, national and school - are public officials.
Employees of public entities are public servants. All are paid for and with taxpayers’ dollars. Misuse of taxpayer dollars is not a petty issue: It is a serious issue.
Public servants who take that trust seriously, who realize they are stewards of the money entrusted to them by hard-working citizens, are worthy of our respect and honor. Those who don’t need to find other employment.
Some newspapers chose to endorse candidates. The candidates are invited to visit with a board of editors, whoassess the candidate, question them and then select the person the majority of the editorial board believes will do a good job. The Rogers Morning News has endorsed several candidates during this election season.
If this newspaper’s management team chooses to endorse a candidate, we would not be in violation of any ethics laws. Yet, we do not chose to endorse a candidate.
I am biased? Definitely. I prefer honest, noble people.
Regardless of their gender, their ethnicity, their age, when given a choice I prefer people who are honest, unselfish and kind.
Interestingly, people complain about the newspaper causing trouble, but all the newspaper does is publish information about people and their deeds or words.
The paper doesn’t cause people to act or speak as they do.
One mayoral candidate complained that I did not “clean up” his words and made him look like a country hick. It is my responsibility to quote exactly, not to change a person’s words to make him look different than he is.
Years ago, a candidate for Pea Ridge City Council told me to: “be sure to put me in a good light.” To which I responded: “It is not my responsibility to put you in a good light or a bad light, but to put you in the light and let the voters decide.”
To the readers and voters, I did not go out looking for ethics violations, but the things I found were so blatantly public they were hard to miss. We grieved over it and having to contact each person to discuss it, hoping there was an explanation.
Using public property for a person’s campaign is not “petty crap,” as some have said. (Please forgive the bad language.)
As for the sign displayed during the homecoming parade, it was flashed in myface while the man holding it called out: “Take a picture of the sign!”
Yes, let the mayoral candidates do their jobs. Let them learn about the city, research the city’s needs, then campaign. I applaud anyone who wants to serve the community. Too few people take the time or show interest. No one filed for the two council seats up for re-election. Few people apply for the Library Board, the Parks Commission, the Planning Commission.
People are quick to criticize, but few take the time to truly, unselfishly make a difference.
Tuesday is Election Day.
Be sure to cast your vote for your choice after considering who will do the best job for the citizens of this community.
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Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. A native of Louisiana, she moved to this area in 1980. She has nine children and one grandchild.
She can be reached at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 4 on 10/27/2010