Thank You, Press and Argus!

The Livingston Press and Argus, while generally balanced in its news coverage, usually has an editorial policy that tilts toward Republicans.

So it was a shock on Sunday (Sept. 28, 2008) to see it editorialize so eloquently about the billboard on Genoa Township property touting the candidacy of Republican incumbent Mike Rogers against Democratic challenger Bob Alexander in the 8th Congressional District.

The newspaper says Genoa Township should have cleared up the matter of political signs when it accepted the donation of the land for the fire station, but since it did not, it should be pushing for a legal opinion on the presence of the sign to clear up the matter.

Because links to newspaper articles go dead so quickly, I will quote at length from the editorial:

"A township shouldn't be breaking the law, particularly election law. It owes it to its citizens and its self-image to know where it stands legally.

"But what if it's not illegal? What if it's a gray area that no one will settle? At that point, Nielsen can do what he pleases. But the class act would be to remove the sign, replacing it with a nonpartisan message and moving the Rogers sign to another location on land he fully controls.

"This may seem trivial to some, but it's not. Republicans rule the roost in Livingston County. But that doesn't mean that city or township governments — or fire department authorities — are taking sides based on partisanship. Those who denigrate the Democrats' protest would likely be singing a different tune if, say, a large banner supporting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., were hanging from the Green Oak Township Hall, facing U.S. 23.

"The point is: You pay your taxes and you expect your government to perform its duties independent of politician affiliation. That's something you should expect even if all elected members of a township board are Republicans."

That's exactly right. Republicans may control the board, but that doesn't mean they can ignore the law or the rights of their Democratic and independent constituents.