Election night encourages newspapers to look backward.
Who won? Who lost? How big was the margin?
by the Orlando Advocate Editorial Staff
Those questions matter.
But the morning after an election requires a different kind of journalism. Now we look forward.
Angie Gallo has won the Orange County School Board chairmanship.
Tiffany Moore Russell and Chris Messina have advanced to a November runoff for county mayor.
Florida Republicans nominated Byron Donalds for governor. Democrats nominated David Jolly.
Angie Nixon scored a major upset for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.
The campaign promises have now become records.
We should treat them that way.
Candidates routinely tell voters what they intend to accomplish:
Lower taxes. Better schools. More housing. Reduced insurance costs. Safer neighborhoods. More jobs.
Then Election Day comes.
Too often, news organizations move on.
The Orlando Advocate will not.
For every major winner and runoff candidate, we will establish a public accountability file containing:
What they promised.
When they promised it.
What power the office actually gives them.
What they accomplish.
What they abandon.
What changes along the way.
That is particularly important locally.
Residents may forget a campaign pledge made in August. A newsroom does not have to.
Elections are not the end of political journalism. They are the point where political journalism becomes governing journalism.
The tallies began Tuesday night. The votes have all been counted.
Now start keeping score.
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
