LETTER: Policy changes are surprising

In a stunning betrayal of its readers and the community at large, the Rio Rancho Observer ran several letters to the editor on February 1 and February 8 endorsing incumbents or specific other candidates for the Rio Rancho City Council.

In 2019, the Observer published a new policy regarding candidate endorsement letters. The policy stated, “We now consider them political advertising and charge to publish them.”

The Observer reaffirmed its policy in 2021 writing, “Anyone, including candidates, may submit a letter to the editor discussing an issue of public interest. For these pieces to be printed on the opinion page, they may not support or oppose specific candidates, as that would function as political advertising.”

The policy continues, “There will be no exceptions to this rule on opinions about candidates because it is important that we treat everyone fairly [emphasis added].”

An extensive search of the newspaper’s website identified no change to this policy, leaving the impression that the Observer has decided to place an outsized thumb on the scale favoring its preferred candidates.

The Observer purports to be “politically independent and welcome community submissions from all points of view.” Although city council elections are officially nonpartisan, the Observer, like many voters, is well aware of candidates’ political inclinations, if not their party affiliations. Is it a coincidence, then, that all the endorsements were for candidates widely understood to be Republicans or Republican-leaning?

Subsequent letters endorsing other candidates are too little too late. Readers endorsing these candidates barely had time to pick up a pen before early voting began. The damage is done.

Local newspapers should be pillars of democracy — informing communities of the issues and stakes of local elections and at their best, helping reduce political polarization. In that regard, the Observer has failed us.

June Anglin

Rio Rancho

Editor’s Note: Please see the recent editorialfor the explanation in these changes.