fair election restraint
While we at farragutpress value contributions from readers who express their opinions writing Letters to the Editor and/or through calling Presstalk, we must ensure fairness to all Town of Farragut and Knox County/Knox area candidates running for elected office.
Therefore, we cannot publish negative comments about any such candidates in issues falling within two weeks of any primary or general election in which the person criticized is a candidate. It’s because the candidate being criticized may not have enough time to respond.
Knox County Primary Election day is Tuesday, May 1; no negative Letters or Presstalks about those candidates would be published in our April 19 or April 26 issues.
Town of Farragut Election, Knox County General Election and State/Federal Primary Election day is Thursday, Aug. 2; no negative Letters or Presstalks about those candidates would be published in our July 19 or July 26 issues.
State/Federal General Election day Tuesday, Nov. 6; no negative Letters or Presstalks about those candidates would be published Oct. 25 or Nov. 1.
A candidate would have the opportunity for a direct rebuttal of any negative comments found in farragutpress during the campaign cycle, up to the final issue of farragutpress before his/her given election. That would include any negative comments attributed to him/her personally, their relatives, friends or campaign.
However, no other candidate comments inside this same pre-election window would be allowed: any reference to other candidates, campaign “speech” or any advocacy of his/her candidacy would be edited out.
Thank you for understanding our positions.
