Dear Candidates for Elected Office:

Some years ago, I met with the heads of the constituted parties about what we can offer candidates in the way of campaign promotion. It bears repeating.

I want a nice, clean campaign season and will do everything in my power to ensure it. As I said at that meeting, I can’t control how everyone plays in the sandbox, but I control how people play in mine.

The Courier offers the opportunity to capitalize on what could amount to thousands of dollars of free publicity in guest editorials, press releases, fundraiser promotions (some limits) and more, to provide voters with an opportunity to get to know you. That is it. Period.

Trust me, we’re not doing it for you or your party, we are doing it for our readers, the VOTING PUBLIC; we’re giving voters the chance to get to know you.

I would also like to remind candidates that we at the Courier are rank-and-file members of that class of people known as “voters.” Therefore, every time you come into contact with us, you had better be aware that you may need to win our votes, as well.

So tell voters who you are, what you are running for and why. Let people know what you stand for, your experience, why you want the godforsaken job.

There is no word limit, though I will caution there is generally a short span of attention for online news. You may submit as many pieces as you like, and I will get them posted as soon as humanly possible.

*I have not yet decided when I’m cutting off political content yet this year – likely one week before the primary and general elections.*

We don’t need you to tell us that the local, state or federal governments are screwed up or that your opponent is inept, corrupt or lazy. I have relatives as far away as Minnesota and Oregon who are only too happy to regularly point out what a laughingstock we are here in good ol’ New York.

Tell us what you are going to do differently, what you are going to do about the problems that drove you to run.

If you’re going to be out and about in Madison County, let us know the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “why,” and we’ll try to help get people out to hear your message. We even try to get there ourselves because we, too, want to know we’re giving our vote to the best possible candidate.

I will delete (without opening, if possible) any email that even remotely appears to mention an opponent in a negative light.

And as always, my phone (315.813.0124) is on 24/7. If I can answer it, I will; if I can’t, DO leave a message.

Martha E. Conway is publisher of the Madison County Courier. She can be reached at 315.813.0124 or by emailing martha@m3pmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/marthaeconway or become a friend on Facebook at facebook.com/meconway. Follow the Madison County Courier on Facebook at facebook.com/MadCoCourier/.

By martha

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