Free Press editorial page editor Drew Johnson regularly replies to emails, letters to the editor and online comments in “The Right Response” column.
Roger Tuder seems like exactly the kind of low-tax, pro-business conservative that the Free Press editorial page should endorse. I’m very upset that you endorsed Priscilla Simmons over him for District 2 City Council.
Free Press endorsements are made almost exclusively based on how each candidate responds to a series of questions in our endorsement interviews. During the course of her interview, Priscilla Simmons outlined a number of ways to reduce wasteful spending and trim the city budget. As a result, if elected, I believe Simmons will serve as a much-needed watchdog of tax dollars on the council. That makes her worthy of the endorsement.
That’s not to say that Roger Tuder doesn’t deserve to be elected. His personal business history, firm stance against tax increases and desire to eliminate burdensome regulations make him an outstanding candidate.
The hardest part of writing endorsements — maybe the single toughest part about running an editorial page — is choosing between principled, quality candidates when they are running for the same position. Deciding whether to endorse Roger Tuder or Priscilla Simmons in District 2 was a very difficult choice. As was selecting Chip Henderson over Jim Folkner in Disctrict 1. Henderson and Folkner may be the two best candidates out of everyone running for city council. It’s too bad that they’re running for the same seat.