Political journalism puzzling

I’m confused.

On the news side, you have a headline that invites the reader to dive into a juicy story about a “dating conflict.” But the article contains not one grain of substance that such a conflict exists. Your story about Todd Mielke and Debra Hayes goes nowhere. Please tell me you have better things to do in the newsroom than ginning up stories about non-issues.

On the editorial side, you endorse Ben Stuckart because we need his “bold ideas.” But you acknowledge that you opposed his last bold idea, the children’s initiative, for having no coherent plan to deliver on its promise to lower high school dropout rates. So this is the “big idea” candidate we should vote for, one who will lead our city’s disparate groups to well-intended but costly and ill-conceived programs that probably won’t work?

Then you endorse David Condon because Mary Verner has been a softie on the issue of employee compensation. But you acknowledge that Stuckart is supported by employee unions. So again, you’re asking us to support one candidate who will push back and another candidate who will be a pushover?

Not a good weekend for journalism at your shop.

Steve McNutt

Spokane