Why we endorse

[Commentary] In an editorial, the Chicago Sun-Times explained why it will no longer make candidate endorsements. Readers are capable of making up their own minds, it said, particularly with such a multitude of information available. The Sun-Times editorial page says it will focus instead on important issues, from improving public schools to reducing crime. We respect the decision by the Sun-Times, but we intend to keep doing endorsements.

As the biggest newspaper in Chicago and the Midwest, we want to inform our readers and encourage them to push an agenda for a more vital community. The most direct way they do that is in choosing who will lead their government. In our editorials, we explain what we think should be done about government pension costs, educational shortcomings, political dysfunction and more. We offer our opinions on issues from the mundane to the cosmic. Not least important, we endorse candidates, from the top of the ballot to the bottom. To arrive at our choices, we send out questionnaires, scrutinize voting records and public statements, and interview hundreds of candidates. We make our evaluation of which ones will best serve the interests of the public. And then we tell our readers. Newspapers have a unique role as public citizen. It would be an abdication to say what we think should be done on an array of issues every day — and then take a vow of silence about who is most likely to advance those goals. Readers get an independent judgment of the choices in each race, even (or perhaps especially) when none of the options is very good. Our readers make up their own minds when they cast their ballots. They get from us an honest assessment of the options, and we will keep providing it.