Commentary; Posted: 11/1/06
A recap of ECM Publishers editorial endorsements
ECM Publishers, Inc., which publishes 20 weekly newspapers that go out to 181,500 homes, believes endorsing candidates for high political office is important.
Our editors and reporters cover the news of these candidates and office-holders week to week, and are in a position to judge their ongoing decisions, not just what they say at election time.
As part of our endorsement process, panels of editors of these newspapers interviewed the major candidates for office. Hearing and seeing the candidates is an important part of the endorsement process.
The ECM Editorial Board reviewed and affirmed all endorsements.
Our editors focused on issues in the individual districts, particularly, the economy, transportation, health care and education.
The major issues in the Congressional races are the Iraq War, the war on terrorism, the exit strategy or lack of one for the Iraq War and the direction the present administration is leading this country.
Our editors were cautioned to endorse candidates who were best qualified to solve the problems of these times, as opposed to picking candidates they believe will win.
These are our endorsements:
ïU.S. Senator: Amy Klobuchar
ïU.S. Congress Second District: Coleen Rowley.
ïU.S. Congress Third District: Congressman James Ramstad.
ïU.S. Congress: Sixth District: Patty Wetterling
ïU.S. Congress: Eighth District: Congressman James Oberstar
ïMinnesota Governor: Tim Pawlenty.
The Editorial Board also favors the Constitutional Amendment that would dedicate 100 percent of the sales tax on used and new cars and trucks to the fund for highways and transit.
Minnesota takes pride in leading the nation in voter turnout, but still in the last presidential election 816,000 registered voters did not vote. Indications are this election will attract a huge turnout, which is healthy for a democracy.
Now, after all of the speeches, letters, advertising and candidate forums, itís your turn to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7. ó An opinion from the ECM Editorial Board. The Forest Lake Times is part of ECM Publishers, Inc.
Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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