Times-Journal prepares for city election season

Published 10:52 pm Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Qualifying for municipal elections in Valley Grande, Orrville and Selma begins Tuesday, July 3 and will continue through Tuesday, July 17. This also marks the beginning of the Times-Journal’s coverage of the upcoming elections.

“Up until this point, candidates have had the ability to begin raising money, putting out signs and campaign, but until they become a qualified candidate, then we don’t consider them truly running,” Times-Journal editor Tim Reeves said. “Once they have put their name on the dotted line — as it were — then we consider them officially seeking office.”

The Times-Journal will be accepting announcement stories for candidates beginning Tuesday, July 7 but those stories will only be published on the front page of the Times-Journal once a candidate has qualified and will be published on a first come, first serve basis.

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As for those announcement articles that have already been submitted to the Times-Journal, they will be published once the candidate has officially qualified.

Also, submitted photographs of the candidates will be accepted for the announcement story, but for future articles about the individual races or issue stories, only photos taken by the Times-Journal will be published. Qualified candidates are asked to contact the Times-Journal to schedule a time to have their portrait taken.

The Times-Journal will publish an election preview section on Sunday, Aug. 19, the same day the newspaper will publish endorsements in each of the competitive races.

The final day for letters to the editor to be submitted to the newspaper in favor of a particular candidate will be Tuesday, Aug. 7 and the letters will be published no later than Tuesday, Aug. 14.

The letters must comply with the Times-Journal’s letter policy and each letter must be signed, and contact information on the letter’s author must be provided. Any letter not providing all the information requested, nor not abiding by the Times-Journal’s policy, will not be published.

“Our goal throughout this process is to provide the most balanced and accurate coverage of these important races,” Reeves said. “We also want the campaigns to know from the beginning what our policies are in an effort to reduce any confusion.”

As far as advertising requirements, candidates are asked to contact the Times-Journal’s marketing department to find out advertising rates, packages and publishing requirements.

“It is often argued that these elections — municipal elections — impact the lives of residents much more than statewide or national races,” Reeves said. “I wouldn’t disagree. It is important to us that we give the candidates the opportunity to share their message, their vision and do so in a manner that is fair to them and their opponents.”

For more information on the election policies or advertising information, call (334) 875-2110.