Minneapolis (Feb. 22, 2008) - The Minnesota News Council voted Thursday to deny three complaints against the Duluth Budgeteer News, affirming the paper’s decision to run a Nov. 4, 2007 opinion column critical of Duluth School Board candidate Gary Glass.

"Newspapers have a basic right to express political opinion, provided they label it as such," Duluth Budgeteer News editor Jana Peterson told the News Council. "The column did not introduce any new information, something that newspapers try to avoid immediately before an election - that’s part of the reason we don’t allow any political letters to the editor that week."

On the question of whether it was unfair for the paper to publish a column that included statements that Glass made prior to becoming a declared candidate for school board, the News Council unanimously responded it was not unfair.

"All newspapers, weekly or daily, editorialize right before elections," said media member Reed Anfinson, owner and publisher of the Swift County Monitor-News, a weekly paper in Benson. "Our columns provide a summary of what’s happened during the campaign season - we have the opportunity to say ‘here’s why we support this candidate.’"

"It felt unfair when it happened to me," said public member Tom Forsythe recalling an experience similar to Glass’, "but, I do think it’s appropriate for a paper to editorialize prior to an election."