News Press Editorial

Last weekend, this writer (the News-Press owner and editor-in-chief) appeared at an event sponsored by the Falls Church Citizens for a Better City (CBC) at the Community Center aimed at introducing prospective City Council and School Board candidates to the public prior to the CBC's nominating convention this Saturday. I was deeply concerned by the news that one of three incumbent City Council members whose seats are up for election this May had suddenly decided not to run. There were rumors of persons who might seek to fill that vacancy who do not have a record of sympathy for the kind of economic development the City has worked so hard to get underway.

Because of the seriousness of the matter for the future of the City of Falls Church, I announced to the leaders of the meeting that I was considering putting myself forward to fill the vacancy and would like to present my views at the meeting. I did. The leaders and the audience were all extremely courteous and supportive of my participation. I met another citizen, David Chavern, who had also stepped up to fill the vacancy. I learned over the course of the discussion that afternoon that he, by and large, shared my concerns and views on the necessary course to ensure the City's brightest future.

After that meeting, I met privately with Mr. Chavern, to get a clearer idea of his views and how he might perform on the Council. I was pleased with and satisfied by what he told me. I therefore determined that it would not be necessary for me to try further to fill the campaign vacancy, and announced that I will not pursue it further this election.

But in the process of a few days of entertaining a potential candidacy, I learned, or I should say, re-learned, some very valuable lessons. In particular, reaction of friends and others to the prospect of my serving on the City Council while being the editor of the community's newspaper drove home to me the almost sacrosanct role that an independent press plays in the conduct of free and open government. The notion of "crossing over" from the proper role of the media to as virulently independent of government in order to report on its activities free of influence or coercion is the rightful cause of alarm for most thinking people. Whether it's government control of the media, or media control of the government, even the hint of such things is antithetical to everything a free press in a free society stands for.

Therefore, I was reminded how much citizens of Falls Church depend upon and cherish their access to a free press. For that, I am humbled and reminded of the special mission to which I and the News-Press have been called, not only for Falls Church but as a model in a broader context, as well. Meanwhile, worry not, I'll continue to use this editorial space as a powerful tool for laying out my views.