Jun 3, 2024 1 min read

The Observer-Reporter made a grave mistake when it allowed newly-minted Washington County Commissioner Electra Janis to occupy the paper’s opinion page on May 20 with 42 column inches of nothing more than a self-serving political ad.

There was very little opinion, but a liberal sprinkling of “I” and “my” throughout – I counted 28 – as she listed laudable achievements throughout her first four months in office.

A newspaper’s opinion or editorial pages should be reserved for just that – the newspaper’s editorial voice on issues of the day, and a forum for those issues through letters-to-the-editors and knowledgeable columnists with a point of view. It’s not supposed to be a bully pulpit for politicians.

And, by allowing Janis free access to your opinion page, you have opened a Pandora’s box. You can no longer deny any elected official – from dogcatcher to president – the same privilege.

David Budinger

Washington