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Election strategy 101

Is it a good election strategy to run for office and not talk to the local daily newspaper? Not even to provide basic biographical information? At least one City Council candidate has decided to do that, citing our coverage as unfair and, presumably by extension, unnecessary.

I know that some candidates don't like to submit to questions, don't like how their answers are presented, don't like our editorial page policies, don't like us personally, don't like how we covered something years ago, don't like, don't like, don't like. (That doesn't portend well for his time in office if he's elected.) It's happened in the past and will happen in the future.

I've never seen the value in that approach. I know we're not the end-all. There are other newspapers in Greensboro and TV stations and Web sites. But I wonder how his absence from the newspaper and Web site helps him get elected. What's the up side? It doesn't hurt the paper, as best I can tell, and it won't shield the candidate from scrutiny, unless he wages no campaign at all.

More important, it doesn't help inform voters about his positions, suggest transparent access to information or help citizens decide how to vote.

I'm not a politician and I know some past and present ones read this blog. Am I missing a new good strategy?

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Tags: Elections

Posted by John Robinson on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 12:51 pm

What do you think?

10 comment(s)

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ryanshell

July 10, 2009 - 3:52 pm EDT

No, you are not missing a "new good strategy."

Ryan Shell
www.voteshell.com
District 2 City Council Candidate

rightwingnemesis

July 10, 2009 - 5:23 pm EDT

This reminds me of Kris Cooke on the board of education complaining that on some issue she had gotten emails, calls, and letters! Imagine that! The public actually trying to talk to their elected leaders. Not until we remove the narcissists from local office, can we hope to move ahead.

John Robinson

July 11, 2009 - 9:01 am EDT

Yes, it doesn't seem as if this position is one that is thinking of voters first.

Tony Wilkins

July 11, 2009 - 4:09 pm EDT

Your link above is not working and you fail to mention a name...so I'm wondering who you are talking about.

John Robinson

July 11, 2009 - 4:55 pm EDT

Sorry about that link. It should work now. Because the candidate didn't want to have anything to do with us, I didn't name him. However, it is clear from this list who it is.

john hayes

July 14, 2009 - 11:27 am EDT

it may be obvious to political junkies or bloggers but not the rest of us. Why not clue us in?

John Robinson

July 14, 2009 - 11:33 am EDT

Sorry, John. I've updated the post here. The candidate, Ben Holder, has talked with us for bio info.

John Robinson

July 14, 2009 - 11:34 am EDT

Sorry. That link is http://www.news-record.com/blog/2009/07/13/entry/election_strategy_101_p...

Mark Binker

July 12, 2009 - 9:30 pm EDT

Just top point out a few things:

* Public records will contain the majority of information we need to background a candidate.
* The candidate in question is pretty verbose on the Internet, so we'd be able to glean some thoughts about his position from that.
* Cutting himself off from an avenue to advertise, explain and expound on what is in public will only leave more room for us to write about what's on his opponent(s)' mind.

John Robinson

July 13, 2009 - 8:42 am EDT

Indeed. And given some of the things he has written on his blog, I would think he would want the opportunity to explain them to the newspaper audience.