We will continue to accept letters as we enter the final publication week before Election Day.
The state ballot and several local ballots offer a wealth of topics to write about: a development moratorium and a five-way race for selectman in Damariscotta, attempts to eliminate the planning department (again) and repeal historic preservation rules in Wiscasset, and, of course, the statewide referendums, among which Medicaid expansion is the source of much debate.
We encourage and expect readers to write letters on these and other issues in the week ahead.
However, in keeping with the long-standing practice of The Lincoln County News, we will tighten our standards for letters considerably this week.
We will scrutinize each letter closely, decline to print some, and request revisions to others.
We will continue to welcome candidate endorsements, but will not publish any letter with even a hint of negativity toward a candidate.
On the referendums, we will continue to welcome letters for or against each one, but will not publish letters that attack the other side.
Perhaps a good test is to read your letter and ask yourself, “If this letter was about me or about an issue I support, would I want an opportunity to respond to it before Election Day?”
That is the goal of this practice: to ensure fairness.
We look forward to your letters.
