They say there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes.
For The News Tribune Editorial Board , you can add one more important thing to the list: election endorsement season.
Every year in the lead-up to the August primary and again before the November general election, while many are on vacation or settling into the school year, the TNT Ed Board engages in the worthwhile (but exhausting) process of weighing political hopefuls up and down the local ballot.
Over several months, the TNT Ed Board interviews candidates in races big and small.
When the dust settles, we identify the leaders that, in our opinion, are best suited for the public offices they seek.
This year, between now and July 19, when Pierce County primary election ballots are mailed , the TNT Ed Board will publish its first batch of 2024 election endorsements.
Then we’ll do it all again in October, in advance of the general. In all, we’ll weigh in on more than 30 local and statewide races.
Endorsements can be found online .
If you’re curious about the TNT Ed Board’s endorsement process — and how we make decisions — keep reading.
First, who is on The News Tribune Editorial Board these days?
Good question. The board recently expanded as part of its ongoing commitment to reflect the diverse community it serves.
Currently, the TNT Board includes Matt Driscoll, opinion editor (that’s me); Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and editor; Jim Walton, a community representative since 2020 ; Amanda Figueroa, a community representative since 2022 ; and Justin Evans, J. Manny Santiago and Bart Hayes, all of whom joined the board as community representatives in April.
You can find more information on TNT Ed Board members here.
For a refresher in Journalism 101, the board operates independently of the TNT newsroom.
Reporters and newsroom editors — those tasked with covering Tacoma and Pierce County objectively, free of bias or personal opinion — are not involved in the endorsement-making process.
Why does the board issue election endorsements?
It’s a reasonable thing to ask, particularly at a time when the lines between opinion and news are so blurred. For better or worse, we live in a world of 24/7 content, full of blathering TV pundits and mob-like shouts of “fake news!”
So here’s the deal:
Of all the work The News Tribune does on behalf of its community, what the TNT Ed Board undertakes during election season is as important as ever.
As I told the board’s new community representatives recently, whether readers agree with our endorsements isn’t the point.
The endorsement process has nothing to do with trying to place our thumb on the scale of local democracy or promote candidates for personal gain.
The goal, every year, is to provide voters with the information and context they need to make their own decisions.
TNT Ed Board endorsements are one of many valuable resources people in Pierce County can rely on as they chart a thoughtful course for the future.
How does the board make its endorsements?
It starts with an hour-long group interview, where candidates in every race we’re weighing are invited to meet remotely with the board. During the interview, candidates are asked about their campaigns, their platforms and new ideas, their motivations for seeking office and — importantly — the leadership qualities they possess.
The TNT Board also collects basic background information from candidates through a short survey distributed in advance of the interview, which is new this year. The questionnaire allows the board to maximize the time it has with candidates by asking questions that require candidates to go beyond boilerplate talking points and standard campaign rhetoric.
In addition to candidate interviews, TNT Ed Board draws on previous reporting in The News Tribune and other trusted local media outlets when making its endorsements. The board also relies on its collective experience and the wisdom of its members to make a consensus decision.
The TNT Ed Board also publishes videos of candidate interviews online.
We encourage readers to watch the recordings on The News Tribune website and judge political hopefuls for themselves.
How does the board choose which races to issue an endorsement in?
Another great question!
First, every local race is important — truly. The TNT Ed Board realizes that. We wish we could tackle them all.
The reality, however, is that there are only so many hours in a day and so many candidate interviews we can undertake in a given election cycle, so we do our best to pick key races for voters throughout the 1,800 square miles that make up Pierce County.
Historically, the TNT Ed Board issues endorsements in statewide races and state Legislature races across The News Tribune’s coverage area, stretching from South King County to the far reaches of East Pierce. The board also considers area Congressional races.
In years when they’re on the ballot, we issue endorsements in city council races in Tacoma, Lakewood and Puyallup, as well as Tacoma School Board races.
Unfortunately, we can’t cover everything, as difficult as such decisions are to make. This year, for instance, there are important judicial races and special election measures we won’t issue an endorsement in.
We suggest readers refer to the Pierce County Voters’ Guide and similar resources to make the most informed decisions possible.
The TNT Board does not issue endorsements in uncontested races.
How does the board decide which races to cover during the primary and which to hold off on until the general election?
Ideally, the TNT Board would issue endorsements prior to the August primary in every race that includes more than two candidates — then cover races headed straight to the general election in October.
For the most part, that’s been our longstanding approach, including this year. But sometimes scheduling and other factors get in the way.
For instance:
This year, in the 31st Legislative District, the TNT Ed Board is issuing its endorsement in the race for state House of Representatives, Position 1 before the primary even though there are only two candidates filed. Since the race for House of Representatives, Position 2 will appear on primary ballots, we decided to knock out both races now.
The TNT Ed Board had also chosen to issue endorsements in various statewide and Congressional races — including governor, attorney general, and the race for U.S. Senate — in October, in advance of the general election.
Mostly, this decision was due to the board’s time constraints and the large number of candidates filed in these critical races.
Endorsements made by the TNT Ed Board during the primary election stand through the general election — unless the candidate we endorsed fails to qualify … or gives us a reason to change our minds.
Like Santa, we’re always watching.
How does the board prevent conflicts of interest?
During election endorsement season, there are times when a community representative has a prior relationship or a history of supporting a candidate vying for office.
When that happens, community representatives disclose that information prior to the board’s scheduled candidate interview and recuse themselves from the endorsement decision.
Pierce County is a small place, despite its size and growing population. People know each other. People work together. Paths are bound to cross.
The TNT Ed Board embraces that unique quality and draws on its strengths.
We also work diligently to maintain transparency and integrity in our work.
The community’s trust is not something the board takes for granted.
We’re constantly striving to maintain it.
What if I think the board’s endorsement is garbage and I want to give you guys a piece of my mind?
The News Tribune Opinion section encourages reader feedback, including during endorsement season.
You can find information on how to submit a letter to the editor on The News Tribune’s website or you can email me directly at matt.driscoll@thenewstribune.com.
While publication space is limited, letters received in response to TNT Ed Board candidate endorsements will be prioritized throughout the 2024 primary and general election season.
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