THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996 TAG: 9604270017
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Some readers have wondered why the newspaper endorses candidates for political office. Others say they don't believe it should do so, but we disagree.
The business of the editorial page is to offer what we hope are informed opinions and reasoned arguments on public-policy questions that affect Hampton Roads. What laws should be passed? What public works should be constructed? What taxes should be levied to pay for them?
It would be odd to express views on all the actions those who govern take but to remain silent on who should do the governing in the first place. The choice of public servants is the bedrock decision for any system of self-government. And the most important duty of the citizen is to vote.
The editorial page wouldn't presume to substitute its opinion for those of the voter. In the privacy of the voting booth, each citizen must make up his own mind about the merits of the candidates. But the editorial page can offer recommendations based on some knowledge of the contenders and of the issues at stake.
For elections taking place May 7, members of the editorial board have looked at more than 100 candidates for 31 contested races in five cities. They've attended forums, conducted interviews and asked candidates to fill out questionnaires.
The editorial page has no partisan ax to grind. Instead, it has tried to judge candidates as it would job applicants, because that's what they are. They're asking the voters to put them to work doing the public's business. So we have looked at their resumes to see if they have educational credentials and work experiences that qualify them to deal with complex issues, millions of dollars and the demands of consensus building.
We've looked for evidence of character and a record of public-spiritedness. We've tried to discover if candidates know what they're getting into and have what it takes to succeed as mayor, councilman or school board member. We've looked for integrity, seriousness of purpose, rationality, flexibility, the courage of convictions but the open-mindness to listen to opposing views.
Voters may agree or disagree with our choices and the reasons for them, but the exercise may stimulate their own thinking, provide a few facts and focus attention on the process. In some of the crowded races, it's possible our endorsements will help voters sort through a maze of candidates. We haven't found it easy picking two of 24 contenders for the Virginia Beach School Board or five of 16 for Portsmouth. Probably voters feel that making such choices is challenging too.
Our goal is not to get everyone to go along with our choices so that we can feel we've won when the votes are counted Tuesday, May 7. Our goal is to encourage voters to take this election seriously, to approach making their choices diligently and to go to the polls and vote. If they do that, we are all winners because the democratic process is working.
The editorial page will begin offering its endorsements tomorrow morning with choices in Norfolk's two Superward races for City Council. Endorsements will appear daily through Sunday, May 5. A recap of all endorsements will appear Tuesday, May 7: Election Day. ILLUSTRATION: Logo of Decision '96
KEYWORDS: ENDORSEMENT ELECTION by CNB