Our View: Judging candidates on their own merits

(This editorial, written by Tribune Editor Dale Gowing, was published Jan. 23.)

In a letter to the editor printed on this page today, a reader suggests that the reason we wrote positively Jan. 11 about Grey Mills’ candidacy for the N.C. House of Representatives is that Mills’ father-in-law is a major advertiser with the Tribune.

The writer is correct in stating the advertiser, Randy Marion, does significant business with our company.

But what is also true is that nobody’s dollars have anything to do with the news decisions of this newspaper. Mr. Marion, we are confident, would concur.

To the contrary, this newspaper has written many critical news stories about Mooresville people who spend advertising dollars with us. We welcome almost any advertiser’s business, but their presence on our pages is irrelevant as to how we go about covering the news.

In the case of Grey Mills vs. Karen Ray for the 95th district seat, we stated in a Jan. 11 editorial here that Mr. Mills’ candidacy is a welcome one in the wake of Mrs. Ray’s sleazy direct-mail campaign her opponent, Robert Brawley, in the 2006 Republican primary.

We believe Mr. Mills, and all candidates, deserve to be judged on their own merits. He is well qualified as a local attorney, local businessman and local Republican leader, and suggesting his candidacy is in some way dependent upon whom he married would be an insult to Mr. Mills.