For months we have refrained from any endorsements, or for the most part, any pronouncements at all on the presidential race, state and local races, or referendum questions.
Trust us – it takes a lot of self-control.
This relative silence follows a long-standing Lincoln County News tradition of neutrality. We don’t endorse candidates. We don’t tell you how you should vote. We do our best to present the facts about the candidates and issues in a clear and objective way, then allow you to decide. We do not place our thumb on the scale.
But the 2016 election – as many have said before – is no ordinary election.
We feel a responsibility to use whatever sway we have after all these years of nonpartisanship to encourage you to make the right decision this year – a decision to keep our democracy strong.
So without further ado, here is our advice for the 2016 election: vote!
We understand there are legitimate reasons to vote for Clinton or Trump. Despite what our Facebook friends say, to vote for Trump does not make one a bigot and to vote for Clinton does not make one a traitor.
We have to weigh the faults of the candidates against the visions they have put forward for the country, and how their past effectiveness or trustworthiness speaks to their ability to achieve those visions.
Perhaps more importantly here in Lincoln County are the nine legislative races we will decide Tuesday.
Read the profiles of each candidate in this edition and watch the recordings of our candidates forums at lctv.org. If you have a chance, talk to the candidates yourself.
We wish all the candidates good luck.
Remember to watch lcnme.com after the polls close on Election Day. As we do every year, we will compile and post results as they arrive – even if it takes all night!
