October 8, 2010
Dear Det. Johnson,
I think that my surprise was only exceeded by my dismay when I received your letter. I was surprised because I had thought we were doing a good job in covering the sheriff's race, but more importantly, I was dismayed because bias has not in any way entered into our coverage. “Inexperience or sloppiness,” as you suggest, may have been involved, but I can assure you that there was no intent to slant the story toward one candidate or another. Having said that, I'd like to go through some of your specific concerns.
First, we have not run any stories about meet-and-greets in the Sounder, only on-line. The on-line story about your China Pearl event which ran in the Journal was supposed to be “pushed “ onto the Sounder web site. It obviously didn't happen. Not to put the onus on you, but I wish you had called us when you noticed it wasn't there so that we could have rectified this unfortunate oversight sooner. It is on the Sounder's web sight now. No excuse for this careless omission except being busy which I realize is more of an explanation than a excuse. Very sorry about this.
The incorrect reference to Albuquerque was careless and embarrassing. It was corrected on the web site within an hour or so and never did appear in the paper. We also posted a correction. I'm sure you will agree that this type of error does more harm to us than to you. Our apologies.
Meredith, who is generally a very conscientious reporter, given to checking her facts carefully and questioning anything that seems ambiguous, misheard you to say 30 years, probably as a result of a muffled tape recording. Using a tape recorder, as she did, is a good idea when covering a forum but problematical if the recording is poor. Should she have questioned how it could be 30 years? Perhaps, but she thought it made sense if you meant over the course of you career and not just in the San Juans.
As for 400,000 instead of 40,000, our apologies again for this kind of sloppy typo. I don't mean to minimize the importance of this one, but I think that the readers who question the 400,000 will not only be in the minority but also more likely to think of it as a typo than reckless number throwing on your part.
With regard to the question of what type of equipment the department needs, I agree that your response could have been more fully covered. Meredith felt that your explanation of the radio system was too technical and subsequently cut it down to what you saw. The on-line version does have have your comment about radios that can operate on both frequencies being expensive but that you'd ensure the purchase of them nevertheless. It would have more informative if more of your reply had been included. Again, our apologies. Not bias, just poor judgement.
As for Deputy Nou saying that EMS and the Fire Departments can't communicate with the Sheriff's office, it is not our place to correct a comment made by a candidate during a forum, even if it is inaccurate.
While our account of some of your answers may not have been as extensive you would have liked, I cannot see how anyone reading it could ever see you or your answers as “incompetent, or at best weak.”
I am very saddened by all of this, not only because we made some sloppy errors and showed less than perfect judgment on an issue or two, but because your confidence in us has been shaken by it. What I do need to emphasize yet again is that we are not in the least guilty of biased reported.
Thank you for contacting us about this. I would rather hear this from you directly than from others.
It is my hope that we can re-establish a relationship of trust and respect going forward.
Best,
Elyse
Elyse Van den Bosch
Publisher
The Islands' Sounder
The Journal of the San Juan Islands
The Islands' Weekly
360- 376 4500
My wife Lynne-Ann, daughter Lenora and I have lived in the San Juan’s since Sheriff Cumming hired me as Lead Detective eight years ago. I feel I am the best candidate for the job not only because of my experience but also because of my commitment to our community. You might recognize me from previous years handouts for the Safety Fairs on San Juan Island, yeah, I'm the guy helping the kids with the fire hose. I am co-coordinator with Fire Wise an organization that helps residents and neighborhoods assess their fire risks and then helps those same neighborhoods clear out debris and ladder fuel to make homes and the environment safer. I am the guy you may have passed on Beaverton Valley Road picking up trash along a two mile stretch with my family. You will see from my bio that I am a board member with Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services and Chair of the SJC Veteran's Advisory Board and that I am involved in my home owners association. My commitment to community lead me to run for the office of Sheriff and I ask for your support.