Setting the record straight: I didn't mail those columns

For someone whose mug is often plastered atop your morning paper, I'm pretty darned uncomfortable in the spotlight. Especially if that spotlight is in a competing paper where I once worked.

It's a joy to be a journalist, and I relish the role. Along the way, I get to give voice to people who might not otherwise be heard, focus on important issues that affect our lives, and, sometimes, point out things that need to be changed.

It's a privilege I value, an honor I treasure and a role I feel essential to a free democracy.

Free expression of opinion is the essence of our unique nation, permitting us to voice our views without fear of bloodshed.

That doesn't, however, mean without fear of reaction.

Those of us who throw our two cents out there have to also be willing to take the heat when those opinions rile others.

Which brings me back to that uncomfortable spotlight thing.

Last fall, I wrote several columns critical of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi spending our tax dollars on candy, doughnuts, coffee, meals and the like. I questioned why a public official was spending thousands in tax money on things like a $162 meal at Shaw's Crabhouse, $219 at Portillo's, $143 for a meal at Pirro's. We also paid hundreds of dollars for gift certificates to Pirro's and Dunhill's in McHenry, among about $17,000 in food bills since January 2005.

Fortunately, we only had to pay $3.41 for the visit to Dairy Queen.

Mystery mail

One of those candy columns was mailed to hundreds of McHenry County residents in recent weeks, prompting many to wonder who the mysterious mailer was. Some of you even wondered if I had anything to do with it.

None too happy with being drawn into a political campaign -- I'm an observer with absolutely no desire to be part of any of these campaigns, thankyouverymuch -- I made a bunch of calls last Friday and learned that McHenry County GOP Chairman Bill LeFew had purchased reprints from this newspaper and mailed them to people. As I told you Sunday, Bill told us he paid for the reprints and mailing out of his own pocket and felt the column stood on its own.

My old newspaper, the Northwest Herald, decided to run a follow-up story Tuesday. It indicated at least two political candidates are angry with LeFew and this newspaper. Rich Kelly, who is running to unseat County Auditor Pam Palmer, accuses the Daily Herald of being in cahoots with his opponent, who is mentioned in the column.

In fact, Rich refused to come to our editorial board endorsement interview for the McHenry County auditor race Monday, leaving us to talk only to Pam. We were disappointed at his decision, for we welcome the opportunity to hear what all candidates have to say before we make our endorsements.

No ties

That said, let me clarify: Neither I nor my newspaper are in cahoots with any political candidate. We have neither the inclination nor time. I'm pretty sure my bosses would be happy to sell reprints of any of our stories or columns to anyone who wishes to pay for them.

I'm equally sure most of us in the trenches don't pay much attention to that end of the business. My editor was surprised to hear of the mailings when he received a call about them Friday.

And, no, we don't get a cut of the action.

Often, when someone doesn't like what someone else writes, they bash the messenger. Those of us doing the writing consider that bashing part of the job.

Do I wish Bill LeFew had made it clear he was mailing out the column so people didn't wonder if it was me?

Yes. And I've let him know that.

Does my discomfort with that mailing or the resulting article in a newspaper where I worked for 18 years bother me? Sure it does. Not that I minded the competition telling its readers about my work, but I'd hate for anyone to think I would take sides in a political campaign.

Heck, I work so hard to be objective that I sometimes have trouble articulating my views because I'm too busy also factoring in the other side.

The child of a Republican and a Democrat is firmly an Independent -- who knows what ballot I'll pull on primary Tuesday? I don't.

The real issue

Am I against how Lou Bianchi spent tax money? Absolutely. It's not OK with me for any public official to use our taxes in such fashion. That may be acceptable practice in private industry, but this is public money. We pay the state's attorney plenty and he can afford to buy his own coffee, doughnuts and meals. In fact, every other elected McHenry County department head does pay his or her own way.

Why should we taxpayers have to pay $714 for a luncheon celebrating Lou Bianchi taking office? Or buy a mirror for that office? Or purchase coffee and doughnuts for an investigator who's making $45 an hour? If the state's attorney wants to treat, he should pay out of his pocket, not mine or yours.

Does that mean I'm for Dan Regna over Lou Bianchi? No, it doesn't. I'm still weighing what each has to say and what each does in the coming weeks. I look forward to talking with both of them at today's Daily Herald editorial endorsement interview.

I certainly hope everyone shows up. Just as a columnist who lobs hard-hitting criticism at a public figure has to ultimately accept jabs for that work, a candidate running for public office has to expect similar challenge.

I cannot control what others say or do with my work. But, I can tell you I stand behind my work.

And I do control what I do. And I never -- ever -- get involved in political campaigns.