Full disclosure part two

When it comes to the need for full disclosure in news reports, there are two pieces in today's News-Times regarding Bethel First Selectman Bob Burke that I have to highlight.

From today's article on Burke desire to campaign beyond the primary:

Also on Wednesday, Burke picked up the endorsement of the Pro-Bethel Party, guaranteeing him a spot on the November ballot even if he loses the Republican nomination for first selectman in a Sept. 15 primary against the party's endorsed candidate, Lawrence Craybas.

"He's the best first selectman that Bethel has had in many decades," said Robert Crnic, head of the Pro-Bethel Party. "I prefer to be concerned about the town rather than his personal life. It's no one's business but his own."

Let me state this again. Bob Crnic is not only the chairman of the Pro-Bethel party, he's the campaign manager for Burke's previous campaigns and an inner member of the First Selectman's team.

Now, this is how full disclosure should be handled.




Which leads me to this letter to the editor in support for Burke:

Finally a real leader who refuses to "comply" or "abide" by the whims of political special interest. No wonder those from the Bethel Republican and Democratic town committees want Bob Burke gone; he's proven himself a man of the people, not a blind rubber stamp for any political party.

In the most recent article, the Bethel Republican Town Committee members Paul Improta and Paul Szatkowski exposed their personal displeasure with Bob Burke, stating "he did not abide by the party's timeline or support its activities"; "he's confrontational" and no longer "compliant."

To these claims Burke replied "you can't run a town on special interest," and went on to state he'll continue to represent all the people of Bethel, get things done and not worry about a small group of dissatisfied party members.

[...]

As a veteran, a Republican, a father of two and a fourth generation Bethelite I support Bob Burke and encourage those who care about this town, its schools, seniors, veterans and taxpayers to show up Sept. 15 to support Bob Burke and his accomplished running mate Bill Slifkin.

Daniel R. Gaita

BETHEL

As I stated before (in great detail), Dan Gaita is the campaign treasurer for Burke's campaign.

Here's how I handled the situation...



So lets recap:

You have two pieces in today's paper in which the only people who are quoted in support for Burke are people who are connected to Burke's campaign...people whose connection to Burke was not properly disclosed to the public by the News-Times.

This isn't about choosing one side or the other in the situation in Bethel, it's about informing the public about people who are quoted in the media who are politically connected to either the Craybas or Burke camp.

...again, just sayin'