By George Economides - Publisher's Perspective

May 30, 2012 – Accusations of misuse of e-mail lists? Is this really what the 47th District Congressional campaign has come down to?

One would hope voters are basing their decision on who among the seven candidates would best serve the needs of the district on items such as creating jobs and opportunities for residents to improve their lives. Issues about education, the environment, infrastructure, healthcare, home foreclosures, safety and security, or our aging population. And let's not forget about our ever-growing debt crisis!

E-mail lists? This is the story many in the local media are pouncing on to share with their dwindling readership? Instead of presenting informative stories about the candidates' views on improving the economy, they jump on something negative because two or three people aligned with one candidate and party accuse another candidate of a different political party of wrongdoing. And the media bites like it is feeding time at the zoo. The accused is projected guilty because it's in print!

And it's less than a week before the election. Gee, wonder if there's any connection?

One local newspaper failed to mention that one of the accusers has donated thousands of dollars to his party's causes. Did the reporter not find that relevant?

Isn't it interesting that as soon as a local newspaper prints the negative story, a press release is issued by the office of the opposing candidate saying shame, shame on that accused candidate. Good timing, don't you think?

We're not talking about a candidate cheating on his spouse, selling cocaine, running off to Canada to avoid the draft, watching pornography on government computers or the revelation of a criminal past.

Candidates and their campaign staffs need to grow up and act professionally, and realize that voters are smart and can quickly recognize petty political antics. Voters don't care about e-mail lists. But they do care about why their state and their city are suffering financially and if a candidate's voting record has contributed to that problem.

Surprisingly, members of the media wonder why newspapers, especially dailies, have been in decline for years. It's not due to the Internet as most so-called media experts think; it boils down to poor reporting, not knowing your audience and assuming people aren't smart enough to read between the lines.

Don't forget to vote June 5. If you live in the 4th Long Beach City Council District, it's incumbent Patrick O'Donnell versus challenger Daryl Supernaw. There are also two important statewide propositions waiting for a decision by the people. For the 47th Congressional District, which covers most of Long Beach, all of Signal Hill and numerous cities in Orange County, there are seven candidates vying for the top two spots to earn the right to face off in November.

The Business Journal will conduct tough, indepth interviews with those two candidates. And we promise, we won't be asking about their e-mail lists.