Karlovec Media Group welcomes and encourages letters to the editor as well as residents’ opinions and endorsements related to primary, special and general elections.
- We reserve the right to edit all submissions for accuracy, taste and grammar. We reserve the right to condense letters for space purposes.
- Letters should be no more than 300 words in length.
- Letters will be published as space permits. If more letters are received than can be published in any issue, we will publish a representative sample.
- Letters pertaining to the election MUST include an endorsement. Letters attacking a candidate without endorsing another candidate, letters repetitive in content or in poor taste will not be published. Accusations made against a candidate that are not easily verifiable will require accompanying documentation.
- The Letters to the Editor section is not a battleground for repeated arguing between opposing candidates or proponents/opponents of particular issues. Rebuttals are welcome; successive volleys are not.
- Letters supporting or opposing a candidate will be accepted. However, we will not run letters with deliberate or vague negative remarks or references about an opponent or another candidate.
- No letters from candidates or their spouses will be accepted. This leaves the space open for residents to comment on the candidates as well as non-election issues of community interest. However, candidates are allowed to respond in letters, to editorials, news articles and columns in which they are the primary focus.
- In all other cases, opinions of the candidates may be published in a PAID advertisement. Candidates wishing to publish paid advertisements should call 440-729-7667 ext. 515 or email ads@geaugamapleleaf.com.
- Letters are due no later than 5 p.m. Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. The final deadline for election letters for the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 19 for publication in the Oct. 25 issue. Candidate endorsement letters will not be printed in the issue prior to the election.
- Letters from candidates in response to letters specifically critical of them will be accepted for publication in the immediate issue — Nov. 1 — prior to the election date.
- Writers may submit one election letter regarding an issue and one about a political race, for a total of two letters during the acceptance period. All letters must include the writer’s name, address and daytime and evening telephone numbers. If the letter is published, only the name and town will be used in the paper.
- We do not publish form letters or letters written to other publications.
- With regards to statewide or congressional races, only letters from Geauga County residents will be published.
These above policy applies only to election-related letters. The rules for general, non-election letters are separate and still apply during this period.
Unless otherwise noted, guest columns on the editorial page reflect the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Karlovec Media Group, its newspapers or employees.