Publisher's Note - November, 2006

Publisher's Note - November, 2006

Written by John Garrett Tuesday, 07 November 2006

Vote calls for informed decision-making

Newspapers making endorsements and having influence on elections is nothing new. A 2002 study by MIT from 1940-2002 showed newspaper endorsements can influence a vote by 1 to 5 percentage points – which, in close elections, can be significant.

At Community Impact, we believe endorsements from a newspaper can sometimes get out of line with a newspaper’s core purpose – to inform.

Our intention with the 2006 Election Guide is to provide you with insight and information to help make wise choices. As the largest distributed newspaper covering Round Rock and Pflugerville, and soon to be the only independent newspaper with the recent announcement that Cox Texas Newspapers (parent company of the Austin American - Statesman and the Pflugerville Pflag) will be purchasing the Round Rock Leader, we feel it is our duty to help identify candidates and issues for the voting public.

Because our space and resources are limited, our Web site also offers further information.

Although we do not support any candidates, we firmly endorse the passage of all four propositions of Round Rock ISD’s bond package. Passage ensures the district has the resources to keep up with local growth. Failure hurts the district’s ability to remain a leader in educating the city’s children.

This November election is important for our communities, our state and our nation. We continue to fight for freedom throughout the world. One of those freedoms we must not take for granted is the right to vote. We urge you to enjoy this privilege and get out and vote Nov. 7.

We have also inserted into the paper a comprehensive Healthcare Directory.

Take a look and see why our area is becoming the hotspot for state-of-the-art healthcare facilities.

The directory includes local family medicine, internal medicine, pediatricians, and OB/Gynecologists in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, North Austin and Georgetown.

To begin the holidays, we have again presented a Retail Guide. Remember to support the local retailers as you begin your holiday shopping. At the time we publish, just 52 days until Christmas!

John P. Garrett, Publisher