Since the Herald’s 2004 candidate endorsements starting hitting doorsteps, newspaper boxes and paper tubes, it seems we’ve caused quite an unintended ruckus. Listening to the comments and suggestions of the community advisory board didn’t go over very well with some of our readers.

Almost immediately, questions popped up as to whom was serving on the group, how they were selected and why they were even listened to in the first place.

Quite honestly, their names aren’t important.

What is important is the fact that when the Herald asked citizens to offer direction and comments on the paper earlier this year, they happily complied. There was no “political carrot” to lure them in, no promise of a say in endorsements offered. Since forming in April, the group has been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss ways that the Herald can improve its look, feel and content. What did they like? What did they hate? Did they feel represented in the paper? Questions were asked and input taken to heart.

Members came from diverse backgrounds and weren’t turned away because they were Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives. They offered a cross section of the community that cared what their community paper was all about.

Then we all sat down and talked politics and they were asked for input on endorsements. And accusations from the public followed.

Folks who want to point their fingers should not do so at the board, they should do so at the editor of the Herald, who decided to seek outside input from the residents of North Kitsap in an attempt to improve the paper.

For the first time in awhile, the Herald stepped out of a cozy space full of “liberal like-minded Democrats” (as the media is so often cast as) and gave a few conservative Republicans in our community a chance to speak up as well. The vocal response from a public used to endorsements that by and large end up reading like an invite list at a Democratic fund-raiser hasn’t been great.

If the Herald’s opinions are unpopular, the editor takes full responsibility for this as well.

Suffice it to say (and this probably won’t satisfy many) that these men and women are your neighbors. They’ve done their homework on the candidates, attended meetings, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners and directly talked to candidates on the issues. Their questions were also directly incorporated into candidate interviews and articles.

The 2004 election was just one of many issues this group has worked together on. It was also, of course, the most visible. But the idea that this is a malicious group trying to get even with certain politicians is pure nonsense.

If you care about the direction the Herald takes in 2005 — not just in the political sphere but as your community paper — we’ll be seeking additional members in January. You’re more than welcome to see for yourselves what this group is all about. The current group includes: an employee for Washington State Ferries, Kingston dock; a member of the Kitsap County Association of Realtors and former elected official; a director of business development for a moderately-sized Seattle-based commercial law firm; an independent business owner; a retired Coast Guardsman and mother of two; and an international trade/maritime industry service person, who commutes to King County.

For those of our readers who are still dissatisfied and for those looking to place blame on a person, here’s one name we don’t mind divulging …

JOE IRWIN,

Editor