Opinion - Ink in my veins

Ink in my veins

That’s My Opinion

By Bob Robinson

Oct. 29, 2010

$44,421 a year for part time work. That is the official salary for a sitting Darke County Commissioner. I was told it was $40K plus – in fact, I remember Terry Haworth commenting on it after I announced that I was running all those centuries ago – but I never checked it out.

In today’s world, with today’s issues and concerns, I can’t think of any position at the county level that would be part time. Especially not being one of three commissioners. If I discovered one thing during my year of campaigning, it was that these public servants are on call day and night, 24-7.

They hold two publicly announced meetings a week, but those are typically rubber stamp. All of the heavy lifting is done at other times throughout the week. These are also typically public meetings… we just don’t know about them unless we check on a daily basis.

This is in addition to the mandatory committee meetings, photo ops and “Meet & Greets.”

That doesn’t mean that a candidate must give up his or her business if elected. It only means that they have to have the energy and organization to delegate and manage two businesses.

If you haven’t read my story on the League of Women Voters Forum, please do. Then incorporate that information with any other information you may have, make your decision and vote. You will be making several important decisions on Tuesday. You will be choosing the people who represent us in Darke County, Columbus and Washington.

As a journalist, I refrained from party affiliation. My fiscal values are comparable to those of traditional conservative Republicans. My social leanings have been up for grabs a few times… at least that’s what I’ve been told.

When I was editor of the Daily Advocate, some readers told me that they couldn’t decide which party I belonged to… my response? Neither.

That’s no longer the case.

I am now a “registered” Republican. By Ohio law, I guess I always have been. I don’t think I’ve ever asked for a Democratic ballot in a primary, although I’ve occasionally voted for Dems in general elections. Last year I made it official when I announced my run for commissioner as a Republican.

Now that my brief appearance in the political arena is over, I’ve reverted to my journalistic roots. Considering the choices we’ve had over the years, I’ve often voted for – and complained about – the lesser of two evils. This year the choices are easier… deciding on someone I mostly agree with or on someone marching lockstep down the destructive path emanating from Washington.

It’s a different story with local politics.

As a journalist I never have – nor will I ever – use my “barrels of ink,” or in this case “cyberspace electrons,” to support or denigrate a local candidate for public office. While I typically have favored candidates, I keep that between my polling booth (or machine) and me.

I found it unfortunate that The Daily Advocate chose to make endorsements during the May Republican primary. That crossed the line of journalistic ethics. However, I’ve often found myself out of step with today’s values.

There’s a difference between reporting and opinion. A local “voice” for a small community must judiciously decide how it chooses to perform that responsibility in serving its community. The role I’ve always chosen in local races has been reporting. While I’ve learned to live with the ethics of others, I’m sticking with mine.

It’s for this reason – and no other – that as a member of the Republican Party I’ve made no public endorsement of the party’s local candidate for commissioner, Mike Stegall.

My responsibility as a journalist supersedes my party membership. In fact, as I stated in a recent “In My Opinion” column for The Advocate, I’ll support party candidates – except local – only as long as “Republicans support my ideals and values.”

If they blow it, they’ll be hearing from me.

I’ve already been chided for my blog news report on the forum as being “particularly unoffensive to anyone.” That’s because it was a report, not an opinion.

It’s nice to be accused of being nonpartisan for once. Made me feel good. I’ve lost track of the times I’ve been accused of slanting stories for my Republican “buddies.”

It feels good being back in the journalistic cycle once again. I have to tell you, I missed it.

For years I followed my dream of being a writer, reporter and editor. The editor part allowed me to pursue special interests in politics, fiscal responsibility and social concerns.

Then I went off the track for a year. I was no longer a watchdog; I was among those being watched.

Not my game.

Besides, I can’t get the ink out of my veins. Good luck to Stegall, Dave Niley and Keith Smith on Tuesday. I have faith in the Darke County voters.

That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

Bob Robinson is the retired editor of The Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio. If you wish to receive a daily notification of his comments, opinions and reports, send your email address to: opinionsbybob@gmail.com. Feel free to express your views.