As you unavoidably know, it’s election season.
And that means, for those of us on the Arizona Daily Star’s Editorial Board, it’s endorsement season.
We’ve had questions from readers asking how we make our endorsements — and what an endorsement means.
Like most professions or organizations, journalists often operate in a world where we know what we’re talking about — and we can forget that what is second-nature for us on the inside makes no sense from the outside.
I liken it to me going to the auto mechanic — I’m not going to fall for the “You need headlight fluid” line, but I don’t understand how it all goes together so my car will run.
So, I’m going to answer some of our most-asked questions and complaints:
What is an endorsement?
The Star’s Editorial Board endorses candidates and ballot propositions that we conclude, after much research and discussion, are the best option.
We make endorsements because voters are busy, and we view it as a community service. We have more access to candidates than the average voter, and it is our job to pay close attention to what’s happening in our communities year-round.
Sometimes voters want our endorsements so they can follow our advice —sometimes they want to know who not to vote for. Either way, we are glad to help.
I don’t mean to shout, but I think this bears capital letters: OUR ENDORSEMENTS ARE NOT PART OF THE STAR’S NEWS ELECTION COVERAGE. The Editorial Board and news department are independent of each other.
Sometimes the candidates we endorse are stellar candidates. Sometimes, we would like to choose “none of the above.”
Every election is a choice, and someone will win, so we think it is our civic duty to weigh in and offer some guidance.
I’ve been in the Editorial Department for about a decade, and I can recall maybe one or two races where the Star’s Editorial Board couldn’t in good faith recommend any of the candidates for office.
Who makes the endorsements?
The Star’s Editorial Board makes the endorsements.
The news reporters don’t weigh in on the Editorial Board’s endorsements (or other opinion content), and we on the opinion side don’t weigh in on news coverage.
Advertisers do not get a voice in the Star’s endorsements, nor in our news coverage.
The Editorial Board includes: President and Publisher John D’Orlando, Star editor Jill Jorden Spitz, editorial writer Luis Carrasco and me, as Editorial (Opinion) Page editor.
Our names appear on the Editorial Page daily.
Cartoonist David Fitzsimmons is not part of the board.
How do we decide who or what to endorse?
The first step is deciding which races to endorse. We are an Opinion staff of two, which means that while the Editorial Board decides what to say, Carrasco and I are the people who write the endorsements.
We choose the races where we can be of the most use to readers, which usually means the big races — governor, U.S. Senate and House — and the Legislature.
We extend an invitation to candidates in those races, asking them to meet with the Star’s Editorial Board for an interview. Almost every candidate accepts.
We prefer to meet with candidates for the same race together, but sometimes the scheduling doesn’t work.
The interviews include the Editorial Board and are open to news reporters and photographers, too. They are on-the-record conversations, and we often record them for reference or clarification later. Candidates can record them, too.
We research the races and candidates, looking through past coverage for previous campaign promises, performance, statements made, civic engagement and knowledge of relevant issues.
We meet as an Editorial Board and discuss. Sometimes the decision is easily made, sometimes it takes more conversation and research. An endorsement evaluates candidates against each other — elections aren’t about the Platonic ideal candidate.
We know you’ll agree, and disagree, with our endorsements. We welcome your criticism, because it means the conversation continues —and that’s what elections need. Email Editorial Page editor Sarah Garrecht Gassen at sgassen@tucson.com
