By Bart J. Allen
Once again, we get to read what our local newspaper thinks about the upcoming elections, and I guess we’re supposed to care. I’ve never really understood the whole concept. I thought their job was to impartially report the news. Why are they trying to influence the elections under the guise that they know what’s best for the voters?
Make no mistake. What the Salina Journal advocates is what’s best for Harris Enterprises, the owner of the Salina Journal, the Buyer’s guide, Marketaide, and a whole lot more – not the citizen’s of Saline County. Does anyone really believe they would be in favor of a candidate that wouldn’t serve Harris’ interests? Obviously not.
First off, do I care that I didn’t get their endorsement? No. In fact, I predicted it here several months ago. Quite frankly, I consider their lack of endorsement as a badge of honor. Though I’m obviously a candidate, I’m also a voter. And from my standpoint as a voter, if they want to truly get involved in politics, the Journal might first want to start with the fundamentals.
We’ve had a lifetime law enforcement officer in the Sheriff’s Office now for nearly sixteen years. As of last week, Kochanowski’s office has had an “unsolved suicide” on their books now for over eight years. Is that how a professional conducts themselves? Is CYA a part of responsible leadership?
Why doesn’t that concern the learned editors at the Journal? If I was a voter, I would wonder why “our” newspaper doesn’t demand an answer if they’re going to validate the guy. A simple question – What is an “unsolved suicide”? If he is such a great cop, why can’t he solve a suicide? Don’t we, the voters, deserve to know?
The Journal commends Sheriff Kochanowski’s open door policy. I’m sure they wouldn’t have any problem finding out the answer to this very simple question. They might also ask why his office recently turned KWCH television away when they offered to help with the open case.
If the Journal wants to play politics, then they need to sack up and address issues of fundamental importance to the voters, like our cops adhering to the constitution. The fact is, the Journal won’t demand an answer from Kochanowski because it doesn’t represent the best interests of Harris Enterprises, their corporate master. What we, the voters, deserve comes second to that. Newspapers should do us all a favor and keep their blatantly biased opinions to themselves and stay out of elections.
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