Mon
Jul 19 2010
07:17 am
The Knoxville News Sentinel's incomplete voter guide
By: R. Neal

As Tamara noted in comments yesterday, the Knoxville News Sentinel's voter guide published in Sunday's paper included profiles of the three Republican candidates for governor but failed to include a profile of Democratic candidate Mike McWherter.

They also didn't mention Senate 7th district candidate Randy Walker, House 8th district Democrat Marvin Pratt, House 11th district Democrat Eddie Yokley, House 18th Democrat Sam Alexander, House 33rd Democrat Jim Hackworth, U.S. House 1st district Democrat Mike Clark, and U.S. House 4th Democrat and incumbent Lincoln Davis.

As Tamara notes, we're sure their reasoning is that McWherter is unopposed in the Democratic primary. And they were consistent on that in all the races.

The problem is that folks wanting to vote in the Democratic primary might actually want to know a) that there is a candidate to vote for, and b) a little something about the candidate.

This could, in effect, suppress voter turnout among Democrats, who will see no reason to bother going to the polls. The winners in the contested GOP primaries will then point to the results as indicating some sort of "strength" or "momentum" for the general.

And as Tamara notes, with "open" primaries some folks might like to know their options in case they are thinking of crossing over.

It's also part of a pattern. Democrats have trouble recruiting good candidates because the message from local media is "don't bother." Then the local media characterizes the party as "weak" because they have trouble recruiting good candidates.

Topics:
reform4's picture

Just keep sending emails...

Submitted by reform4 on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 10:44am.

... to Hoyt and let him know that, even though the primary is unopposed, there is still a choice to be made on the ballot (vote or not vote), and the media has a responsibility to fairly represent all candidates on the ballot.

The day we take unopposed races off the ballot and declare the winner before election day, then they might have an argument.

Rachel's picture

If you mean Hoyt Canady, I do

Submitted by Rachel on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 2:55pm.

If you mean Hoyt Canady, I do believe he's retired. Scott Barker has been the editorial page editor for several months now.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

No, just SOME unopposed Dems were excluded!

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 11:32am.

I said yesterday:

It is notable that (the governor's race) is the ONLY race in which the Guide fails to provide any info whatsoever on the Democratic candidate.

And Randy said today:

…we're sure their reasoning is that McWherter is unopposed in the Democratic primary. And they were consistent on that in all the races.

Well, my apologies for misstating that it was ONLY in the governor's race that KNS failed to profile the (unopposed) Dem primary candidate. Frankly, I gave the Guide just a cursory review, noted that notable omission, and tossed it aside in disgust.

However, in looking at it more closely this morning, it looks like KNS wasn't consistent in omitting profiles for ALL unopposed Dem primary candidates, either. I see that in the 10th District House primary, an unopposed Dem, Larry Mullins, is profiled (page 8 in Guide).

So why not McWherter, Walker, et al?

Exactly what rule WAS being applied in including/excluding primary candidates' profiles?

R. Neal's picture

However, in looking at it

Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 11:42am.

However, in looking at it more closely this morning, it looks like KNS wasn't consistent in omitting profiles for ALL unopposed Dem primary candidates, either. I see that in the 10th District House primary, an unopposed Dem, Larry Mullins, is profiled (page 8 in Guide).

I thought the same thing, but Mullins is opposed, and if you look closely it says his opponent didn't respond.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Gotcha

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 11:53am.

Ah, I see.

I'll bet I missed that on Sunday, too. I probably noticed just Mullins' pic then (and failed to realize Walker et al had been excluded), which caused me to comment that McWherter was the ONLY unopposed Dem primary candidate shafted.

I'm still not happy, but point to KNS. Carry on.

Scott Barker's picture

Voter Guide

Submitted by Scott Barker on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 12:38pm.

The Voter Guide focused only on contested races, regardless of party, in the primary.

Uncontested races are a lock, and the point of the Voter Guide is to inform voters of their choices. And before anybody asks about write-in candidates -- write-ins aren't even counted unless a write-in candidate is registered 50 days ahead of time (none are registered in Knox County).

Anyway, that's the thinking behind excluding uncontested races. You might not agree, which is certainly your prerogative.

Also, sending e-mails to Hoyt won't work. He retired in the spring and I took his place. My e-mail is barkers@knoxnews.com. If you want your message published as a letter to the editor, keep it to 300 words and send it to letters@knoxnews.com, along with a phone number.

Thanks
Scott Barker
KNS

Tamara Shepherd's picture

But Scott, given that TN is a "pick a primary" state...

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 1:12pm.

...isn't it necessary to inform voters as to all possible "picks?"

Since TN is not one of those states in which voters must pre-register with a specific party, voters here are free to switch party affiliation with each and every primary, if they choose.

Anyway, thanks for confirming the rationale. I didn't realize that you oversaw compilation of the Voter Guide or I would have commented to you directly, rather than seem to be talking about you, behind-your-back-right-under-your-nose!

As always, I appreciate your participation.

Scott Barker's picture

Actually, Tamara, I didn't

Submitted by Scott Barker on Mon, 2010/07/19 - 2:01pm.

Actually, Tamara, I didn't oversee the Voter Guide and didn't mean to leave that impression. I do, however, know that's our rationale for doing what we did.

Your position is a valid one, and I'll pass it along to the editors who do handle the Voter Guide.

Scott Barker
KNS

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

TN Progressive

TN Politics

Knox TN Today

Local TV News

News Sentinel

    State News

    Wire Reports

    Lost Medicaid Funding

    To date, the failure to expand Medicaid/TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding. (Source)

    Search and Archives