Heights Observer 2015 local elections candidate policy

With the November election approaching, the Heights Observer is publishing its policy for contributions by candidates for local office.

As a community newspaper staffed by volunteers and committed to equal access for everyone, the Observer is unique among publications in providing opportunity for any member of the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities to raise and discuss issues of local interest.

At election time, however, this commitment creates a challenge in managing the finite space that is available for community members who are running for public office.

The policy, approved by the FutureHeights Board of Directors, is designed to address that challenge. It states the following:

• The August-November issues of the printed publication will not carry any editorial contributions from known candidates for office.

• During this pre-election period, Observer contributors who are not running for office will produce any coverage of election issues.

• During this pre-election period, all candidate contributions of news or opinion will continue to be accepted for publication online at www.heightsobserver.org.

• Candidates seeking to place information in the August–November printed editions of the Observer may do so through advertising space purchased from the Observer.

The Heights Observer and its parent organization, FutureHeights, do not endorse candidates.