Background: Kempe was interviewed by the sole staff member of the weekly newspaper, who subsequently wrote both an editorial and a news story based on the interview. The interview was part of the paper’s effort to interview all candidates running for local office. In running for re-election, Kempe had been speaking out on several controversial issues of importance to the district. The writer focused her interview on Kempe’s knowledge of those issues and on his legislative record.

On August 25, 1976, the writer’s analysis of her interview with Kempe appeared on the paper’s editorial page under the title “Kempe’s Statements Riddled with Lack of Information, Misinformation.” She began the analysis with a disclaimer stating that she had written the piece “not as editor of this paper, but as a citizen of District 53A.” She also wrote a news story on the interview, which appeared in the news section of the paper. Rep. Kempe complained that the writer’s analysis was deliberately designed to malign his character and misrepresent the interview. He had no objections to the news story.

Although the two met to discuss the problem on September 21 and the writer offered to allow Kempe to respond to her analysis by submitting a letter to the editor, Kempe declined to do so.

Determination of the Council: Opinions by an editor or member of the public are not a subject on which the Council will pass judgment. Newspapers must be free to print strong and honest opinion. It is for the reading public to determine whether it is good or bad opinion.

The complaint against the newspaper is not upheld.

August 1976