Peterson: Here’s who decides elections
Not yard signs. Not political parties. Not door knockers. Not mailers. Not outside money. Not letters to the editor. Not Chicken Man.
Don’t get it twisted: You hold the power in every election. You decide who gets into office and what new taxes get approved.
Our job at the Vail Daily is to help inform you on making those decisions without any agenda.
All too often, I’m asked, ‘Whose side are you on?’ What do you really think? And the answer is always the same: We’re not on anyone’s team. We don’t do advocacy journalism.
What we do is serve up organic, locally sourced reporting and provide a forum for thoughtful debate. This election cycle, we’ve done extensive reporting on every issue on your ballot — from the statewide ballot questions to issues at the county and municipal level. We’ve followed the money, looking at who is donating to certain campaigns. We’ve also covered candidate forums for town council races in Vail and Eagle. Fifteen different candidates also took the time to fill out our Q&As to provide voters with a snapshot of where they stand on issues.
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We’ve also published approximately 80 letters to the editor since September, along with numerous columns, offering a wide range of opinions on candidates and issues. When it comes to letters to the editor, the process is straightforward: I run them in the order I receive them. To ensure accuracy and fairness, if a letter lacks factual sourcing for claims made or if it exceeds our length guidelines, it goes back to the writer with requests for clarification or edits.
Readers need to understand that while we strive to publish as many letters as possible, logistical constraints mean that not all submissions will make it into print before Election Day. The volume of submissions, coupled with the time required for fact-checking and revisions, inevitably creates a backlog. We also don’t have unlimited space in print. So, if you submitted a letter that doesn’t appear before Election Day, please know that it’s simply a matter of timing and logistical constraints — not a judgment on the merits of your argument.
Whether you eat your vegetables, that’s up to you. The responsibility to sift through all the chatter on social media and what you hear from friends and neighbors is yours alone. It requires critical thinking and a willingness to examine diverse perspectives. That all starts with seeking out reliable information.
The Vail Daily is just one piece of the puzzle. As a voter, it’s your job to seek out multiple perspectives on the same issue. What are the arguments on both sides? What are the potential consequences of each course of action?
For an off-year election, this cycle has featured some bruising local campaigns. Nonpartisan Town Council races have become political and considerable outside money has poured into a local campaign in Vail.
Whatever happens on Tuesday, after all the ballots are counted, we need to move forward as a community, accept the results, and try our best to work together. Also, your vote doesn’t mean you can stop caring about issues that impact you in your community until next fall. Your engagement shouldn’t begin and end at the ballot box. The issues that appear on your ballot don’t materialize out of thin air — they are the result of discussions, debates, and decisions made at town council meetings, Eagle County Board of Commissioners meetings and at the state Capitol. These issues have been debated and discussed for months, sometimes years, before reaching the ballot. Being an engaged citizen means staying informed about these discussions before they become ballot initiatives.
In the end, the decisions we make at the ballot box will shape the future of our community for years to come. The Vail Daily is committed to providing the information you need to make informed choices. But it’s up to you to take ownership of the process, to engage critically with the issues, and to exercise your right to vote.
Choose wisely.
Nate Peterson is the editor of the Vail Daily. Email him at npeterson@vaildaily.com.
