The time has come to select a new person to serve as a community representative on the editorial board for the coming year – including the all-important 2012 legislative session and next year’s elections.
If you are interested in serving as a community representative, please submit a letter of interest by 5 p.m. Friday.
The editorial board provides the official voice of the newspaper through daily editorials appearing in this column.
All editorial board members have an equal say in shaping the newspaper’s official editorial position – including candidate endorsements.
Publisher George Le Masurier, senior editor Jerre Redecker and editorial page editor Mike Oakland are the three permanent members of the board.
Beginning in 1992, we added a community representative voice to the editorial board. The program proved so successful we appointed a second community representative, and recently extended terms from six months to a year.
At the end of their service, citizen representatives on the editorial board routinely say they know much more about the people and issues of South Sound and the internal workings of the newspaper.
Community representative Ruta Fanning, who retired from state government as director of legislative audits and served as state budget director for former Gov. Mike Lowry, has completed her one-year term. Halfway through her term is the editorial board’s other community representative, Pam Toal, a certified professional coach and retired United Way executive director.
Community representatives are invited to sit in on editorial board meetings, ask questions of guests, review and comment on draft editorials before they are published and bring suggestions for editorials to the board. They also participate in the selection of each month’s top letter to the editor.
For most of the year, the editorial board meets at 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Usually, guests, elected officials or community leaders are there to share information about issues of importance in South Sound. Guests might be City Council members updating the board about community projects or controversies. Gov. Chris Gregoire might talk about her budget proposal, or Intercity Transit officials might discuss plans for expanded bus routes.
After the guests leave, board members discuss editorial topics and positions the newspaper will take on those issues. It is a simple, democratic process.
This fall, Fanning and Toal were active participants as the editorial board interviewed 21 candidates for local office along with the proponents and opponents of the three initiatives on the November general election ballot.
Of her experience on the board, former community representative Heather Hansen said, “I served during the campaign season so we got to interview and endorse candidates. It was fascinating to meet with the candidates and watch their body language as they responded to questions. I felt like we learned so much more about the candidates than the public has an opportunity to do. It gave me more faith in The Olympian’s endorsements because of how rigorous the process is and the discussions that go on behind the scenes.”
The coming term on the board will include next summer’s primary election and next November’s general election when voters elect offices from the White House to the courthouse, including a U.S. Senate seat and positions in the state House and Senate. The community representative term kicks off with the upcoming legislative session.
Anyone interested in serving as a community representative on the board during the coming year should send a self-nomination letter to The Olympian. Include information about your ethnic heritage, educational background, work experience and community involvement. Explain why you want to serve on the board and what you would bring to the board’s deliberations.
A journalism background is not necessary. Men and women of all ages, experience and ethnic backgrounds who are active in their community are encouraged to apply.
Send self-nominations to Editorial Board, The Olympian, 111 Bethel St. NE, Olympia, WA 98507. The fax number is 360-357-0202, and the email address is news@theolympian.com.
Remember the deadline: 5 p.m. Friday.
We look forward to hearing from you.
