- August 13, 2026
Dear Editor:
I mostly agree with the Observer’s decision to no longer endorse political candidates. But I also agree in part with the letter writer who was disappointed that those endorsements have stopped.
The writer rightfully pointed out that there remains a void in fully vetting candidates with too much reliance on FlaglerLive, as a one-man band, to do the bulk of important in-depth research and reporting. Also, as the writer suggested, an Observer endorsement could integrate various candidates' positions and offer an overview that voters cannot easily find elsewhere.
Too often, come election time, our several local news sources do little more than slip a soapbox under the candidates' feet with advanced questions (which they should never have) and call that an interview, and do so with few or no follow-up questions and no fact-checking. We should not rely on softball questions and the simple regurgitation of self-promoting campaign talking points to guide our voting judgement.
Voters should be armed with as close to everything (the good, the bad and the ugly) as possible to make an educated decision at the ballot box and not simply vote for candidates with the most mailbox flyers and biggest yard signs.
Obviously, to include investigative journalism as a component within the Observer requires staffing and hence cost, the will to do so, as well as a bit of a shift in the paper’s paradigm. So, as the letter writer implied, we remain for now reliant on some “letters to the editor,” occasional guest editorials (fact-checked or not), and the Observer will remain our non-partisan, friendly hometown newspaper. And as the writer indicated, that’s just fine. It serves us very well in that regard.
But, our local electorate, being at times left a bit in the dark on important background particulars, can be left on their own to become armchair detectives. But with vast AI and database resources, that’s not that difficult. With a bit of effort, delve into a candidate's resume, look at campaign donations and expenditures, personal financial disclosures, court records, etc. Pay little or no attention to those mailbox political flyers, and certainly e-mail candidates any tough questions. And consider the lack of a reply a total deal breaker.
Ed Gardner
Palm Coast
