October is upon us, and with the arrival of cooler temperatures and the leaves assuming their bright array of fall colors, it's also time to remember that the 2011 municipal election is just over a month away, set for Tuesday, Nov. 8.
On the ballots for Mifflin, Juniata and surrounding counties are a number of Democratic and Republican candidates vying for a wide array of countywide and local municipal offices, including: county auditor, county commissioner, county coroner, district attorney, prothonotary, magisterial district judge, and school board directors.
The Sentinel urges all Juniata Valley residents who are eligible to vote to exercise their civic responsibility by casting ballots in the upcoming election. I also encourage area residents to take advantage of the opportunity to submit election-based Letters to the Editor and Open Line comments to The Sentinel. With that said, I also would like to offer some guidelines to our readership regarding these letters and Open Line comments.
Article Photos
Frank Jost
First, the deadlines regarding the Nov. 8, 2011, municipal election are as follows:
Oct. 25 - deadline to submit election-based letters to the editor,
Oct. 25 - deadline to
phone in election-based Open
Line comments,
Oct. 29 - last date of publication for election-based letters to the editor,
Oct. 29 - last date of publication for election-based Open Line comments,
Nov. 1 - deadline to submit election-based rebuttal letters to the editor,
Nov. 1 - deadline to phone in election-based rebuttal Open Line comments.
Nov. 5 - last date of publication for election-based rebuttal letters to the editor, and
Nov. 5 - last date of publication for election-based rebuttal Open Line comments.
Second, I'd like to offer some clarification on what The Sentinel views as appropriate content for election-based letters and comments.
Letters and comments from the general public supporting a particular candidate or expressing an opinion on a significant election-related issue will be considered for publication. Letters pertaining to the election submitted by the candidates themselves typically are not eligible for publication.
Any letter or comment containing personal attacks or unfounded accusations against a candidate will not be published; The Sentinel reserves the right to determine what constitutes a personal attack or unfounded accusation.
Regarding rebuttal letters and comments: These should be limited to readers presenting a different or opposing point of view on an election-related issue previously addressed by an election letter or comment published in The Sentinel. Rebuttals are not intended to be a means by which an individual can simply criticize one candidate and then express their support for another - rebuttals are to focus on the issues, not the candidates.
Again, The Sentinel reserves the right to determine what constitutes an appropriate rebuttal letter or comment.
Letters- preferably typed - must include the author's name and address as well as a telephone number for clarification and confirmation purposes. Telephone numbers are not printed, unless requested by the letter's author.
The suggested length for letters is 250 words. This limit may be waived, space permitting. The letter writer must live within The Sentinel's coverage area, read the newspaper online or have a local connection that is identified as part of the letter.
Submit letters one of the following ways:
Mail - Letter to the editor, The Sentinel, P.O. Box 588, Lewistown, PA 17044;
Virtual Newsroom at www.lewistownsentinel.com;
Deliver - corner of Sixth Street and Summit Drive, Pleasant Acres, Lewistown.
Questions regarding these guidelines should be directed to me via email at fjost@lewistownsentinel.com, or by phone at 248-6741, ext. 119.
Frank Jost is managing editor tor of The Sentinel.
