Let me begin by saying that I know better than most how challenging — and thankless– election endorsements can be at a newspaper with a small staff. But I do think it’s unfortunate that Newton resident and former Alderman Charlie Shapiro wasn’t even named as a candidate for District 3 Governor’s Council in the TAB”s endorsement this week. (The endorsement is not yet online).
I suppose I’m surprised too, considering that the TAB devoted a paragraph to dining room table lady on the same page. Newton’s Herb Robinson gets a shout-out too although I bet Charlie gets many more votes than Herbie next Thursday.
The Herald, by the way, endorsed in two of the contested Governor’s Council races, but not District 3. I haven’t seen anything from the Globe yet.
I don’t understand why the Tab makes endorsements in races outside of Newton, just like I don’t understand why so many of the recent editorials have been on state and national issues (e.g., campaign financing). For that I can read the Boston Globe or the New York Times. They seem to have forgotten that they are a local Newspaper – maybe it has something to do with the reorganization at the parent company.
Following up on a week where I received the endorsements of Watertown State Rep John Lawn, Former Marlborough Mayor McGorty, (along with many others), and where I was deemed by most to be the clear winner in both the Newton and Belmont League of Women Voters debates, it is certainly astounding to not even be mentioned in the piece.
The TAB didn’t contact me to discuss the race. It’s as if they were not even aware of my candidacy which seems odd as my letter to the editor appears in the same edition.
I’m not sure anyone from the TAB even watched either debate.
We are all aware the TAB has limited resources, but this is unconscionable.
Several weeks ago, I had reached out to the TAB Editor to ask if they’d be having an endorsement meeting. Nothing was scheduled. There was an email requesting a 1-1 sit down to get acquainted. It was postponed and not rescheduled.
The TAB has done a disservice to readers. Not by the endorsement itself, but by not comparing and contrasting candidates qualifications and positions to justify their position.
To make an informed choice in the race, visit either http://www.newtv.org/decision2012 or http://www.belmontmedia.org/watch/belmont-candidates-night-82712 (the GC debate starts about 1 hr and 20 minutes into the video).
If you like what you see, I would appreciate your support on Sept 6th.
To make things even worse, they endorse the day before the primary so that those who were passed by can’t have a chance to respond. The endorsements should have been made at least a full week before the primary. This just isn’t fair.
Lots of interesting things to discuss here, but since we’re in the middle of a breaking news story, let’s start with the easy one.
The primary is on Sept. 6. Our endorsements were out eight days prior.
[If you’re curious about that news story, pop on over to http://www.wickedlocal.com and read about the Police Chief being put on administrative leave.]
@Y: This is not a contest “outside of Newton.” District 3 includes Newton. It is totally appropriate for the local paper to endorse in this contest. In fact, I’d suggest that not to do so would be to shirk an important responsibility.
@Bob: As Emily notes, the primary is one week from tomorrow, Sept. 6.
@Y,
You wrote:
“I don’t understand why the TAB makes endorsements in races outside of Newton . . .”
We don’t do that. This is a local race for the Democratic primary in the District 3 Governor’s Council race. This race will be on Newton’s democratic voters’ ballots Sept. 6. It’s true that the district also includes many other municipalities, but it’s definitely a local race.
To your broader point — of course, we haven’t forgotten that we’re a local paper. All Newton, all the time. That’s our mission and we take it seriously. What could be better?
This candidate’s attacks on his incumbent competition, trying to out what he thinks is a faith-based conviction, is embarrassing to me as someone that has casual interest in political positions. How shameful to try to “out” someone in a way that might involve faith but according to the incumbent has nothing to do with the issue he is aiming at (completely believable). This GC position is a charade to begin with — to attack someone based on faith in a extremely minor race that has almost zero power and a minimum wage pay is pathetic . I was planning on not voting here but seeing this nonsense has me choosing the victim – Mrs. Devaney.
@Greg and Emily. Sorry. My mistake on the timing. I still can’t get it out of my head that this primary is on a Thursday rather than the usual Tuesday election date. I never contest a paper’s right to endorse, but I do think it’s an unwarranted slap at Charlie Shapiro not to even note that he is also a candidate and to include something about his background, qualifications and campaign positions. He is, after all, a Newton native and has been running a hard, spirited and positive campaign. Charlie has a very good chance to win this contest.
Here’s the TAB’s endorsement.
Emily, it would be interesting to hear your response to about Charlie’s comment above.
I find it bizarre for the Tab to indicate who they are endorsing without even naming all the candidates in the race, never mind giving reasons for why they didn’t choose them. And it’s not like there are dozens of candidates – there was only one, Charlie Shapiro, who got left out. And why no mention of the incumbent being charged with assault and battery for hurling a curling iron at her stylist? That is also a relevant reason for voting for either of the other 2 candidates. PS I’m voting for Charlie in spite of the Tab snub
Knowing full well that production errors can occur when producing a newspaper, it occurred to me that perhaps Charlie’s name was cut from the print edition unintentionally or due to a lack of space. Given that his name also doesn’t appear in the online version, I suppose we can assume that wasn’t the case.
I don’t think the Tab’s endorsement in the primary will be a major factor. The people that vote in primaries are knowledgable people who already have selected a candidate. I think it will play a much bigger role in November’s general election when people vote and aren’t as educated about the candidates.
Emily Costello – can you please tell us why Charlie was omitted?
I hope I will not regret saying this, however I can’t help but recall “the not giving Former Alderman Charlie Shapiro a break” started with the nasty press given to him under Mr. Reibman’s stewardship as the Publisher of the Newton TAB in 2011, as I recall. Win or lose, why not give the guy a chance to crawl out from under the rubble you not so kindly buried him.
@Janet: I wrote that headline fully cognizant of Charlie Shapiro’s 2011 election experience with the TAB, as well as the most recent non-mention.
In 2011, as you note, the TAB criticized Shapiro for, among other things, his relationship with his colleagues. I was also critical of a matter involving NewTV which I felt reflected poorly on then-Alderman Shapiro’s judgement.
Some folks felt we were unfair during that election to Shapiro and other candidates (including you). Some even complained to upper management and celebrated (even took credit for) my departure last December, as well as Gail Spector’s resignation a few months later.
No doubt those who didn’t share our strongly articulated views (I’d call it passion, you might call it bias) about Newton were looking forward to new leadership at the TAB improving the way the paper covered local poltics.
Hi Greg,
For the record I want to say I never complained to upper management about the endorsements. Quite frankly, I went into all the interviews knowing I wasn’t going to get the endorsement..so it wasn’t a surprise to me. ESPECIALLY this last one. Any complaining I did was online so you could read it.
Also for the record, I think David K is doing a great job and John also did a nice job.
@Charlie Shapiro, sorry for the delay in responding your post. I was out sick yesterday. Check out our response here:
http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/newton/2012/08/31/yes-we-realize-charlie-shapiro-is-running-for-gov-council/#axzz258WdEPUn
Regardless of who the TAB chose, the endorsements were not well articulated.
Emily, did you write that Joe K wasn’t shallow, as some say, because he brought printed position papers to a series of editorial board meetings? Huh?
@Terry, I actually thought that was a very telling detail. JK3 had about 20 pages of articulated positions on a variety of issues. The other candidates, not so much.