Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth, Andrea Zopp and Napolean Harris
CHICAGO – The Chicago Tribune, the state's largest newspaper, will not be holding an editorial interview for the top statewide race in the Illinois Republican primary. They say they've been unable to work out a time for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk to appear before the board, leaving his GOP challenger James Marter without recourse to get his views to their readership.
The board held an interview for the Democrat Party primary February 8, 2016.
"We couldn't schedule a time with the other candidate, so we probably aren't going to do [an editorial board review] in this race." Elizabeth Greiwe, the editorial board coordinator, told the Marter campaign in an email Friday.
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, GOP challenger James Marter
Marter, a businessman from Oswego, was frustrated when he commented to Illinois Review about the cancellation Friday.
"I'm disappointed that the media can't do their job to provide information to readers," Marter said. "Seems to me the Chicago Tribune is in the tank for Mark Kirk."
The Tribune editorial board's own "statement of principles" says that it places great emphasis on the integrity of government and of the private institutions and individuals who serve and lead society.
The board "acts as a watchdog on government, protecting citizen interests in quarters where citizens themselves might not otherwise be represented," the statement says. "The newspaper does this in the belief that the people cannot consent to be governed unless they have knowledge of, and faith in, the leaders and operations of government. Always, the people are sovereign."
And that's exactly what Marter says he believes the voters should have – access to information about the candidates they will now not have since the Tribune has cancelled the interview.
Marter said that he's provided full access to the media statewide, appearing in person for lengthy interviews with the suburban Daily Herald, and has traveled to speak with editorial boards in Rock Island and Peoria, among others. He spoke on the phone with the Sun-Times editorial board.
"I'm willing to meet with every news source that asks," he said. "I understand why Mark Kirk doesn't want to answer for his record, but the voters should be disappointed, too. "
Kirk's ability to speak spontaneously has been questioned since he's been through so many health challenges. However, the Illinois Republican Party and the Kirk campaign specifically deny the senator is unable to keep up with a normal, demanding schedule.
Marter, a conservative, says that he's appeared at events all over the state, large and small, and has yet to cross paths with Senator Kirk during the 2016 primary campaign season.
Kirk's campaign refuses to schedule a public debate between Kirk and Marter, and chooses not to answer questions about such a debate.
"Watch out who the media refuses to cover for their readers," said Raquel Mitchell, Marter's campaign manager. "There may be something to hide from the voters."
The Illinois GOP primary for U.S. Senate will be held March 15th, 2016.
