Two new editorialists do a postmortem

Talk about baptism by fire. Star Tribune Editorial Board newcomers John Rash and Jill Burcum joined the opinion pages this year just in time for an intense round of political endorsements leading up to the hardest-fought elections in years. The newspaper made about two dozen picks, including the presidential race, the Senate contest, four U.S. House races and 12 legislative districts. Here are their thoughts after surviving their first endorsement season. Jill: There's a historic church-state separation of editorial and news. So while I'd worked in the newsroom for a decade, I didn't know how this was handled on the other side of the opinion firewall. What struck me was the weight of the responsibility I felt in making a decision.

John: My journalistic journey to the Editorial Board was even more circuitous, as my media experience is rooted in radio, writing a column, advertising and teaching. So my learning curve was even steeper. What was most notable is that while some will not agree with the endorsements, the integrity of the process should reassure readers how seriously our colleagues -- and the candidates -- take this part of the political process.

Jill: Exactly. A tremendous amount of work goes into this -- from scheduling to prepping for candidate interviews to the additional reporting needed to make a decision. I spent a lot of time outside of work thinking about who impressed me and who didn't. What qualities were you looking for?

John: The old Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times" applies now more than perhaps anytime since the 1930s and 1940s. So I was looking for candidates who recognized the depth and breadth of challenges and had the intellectual curiosity and integrity to investigate solutions beyond their party platforms and talking points. Fortunately, many Minnesota candidates seemed up to the challenge. What qualities were most important to you?

Jill: We were thinking along the same lines. Government needs problem solvers, not ideologues. I also gave high marks to candidates who seemed like they talked and listened to voters. One disappointment: Few candidates had original ideas on how to handle a complex problem that affects everyone -- rising health-care costs.

John: Good point. Also noticeable in its absence was tough talk about deficit spending. While conditions didn't warrant any candidates looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, surprisingly few looked at it through green eyeshades. Regardless if one favors more taxation, lower spending or both, the debt is set to become not just a monetary issue but a moral one as more voters question leaving the bill with their children or grandchildren.

Jill: There were many good candidates this year, and decisions were hard. What helped me the most was attending or watching debates and getting on the phone to talk to people about the candidates. How did you reach a decision on the tough races?

John: I agree on the benefits of outside counsel. But I also found inside counsel very helpful, through our colleagues' considerable institutional knowledge of policy and politicians as well as the principles held by the Editorial Board throughout the years. What was your perception of readers' opinions of our opinions?

Jill: You knew there would be some anger and a lot of second-guessing. There was. The endorsement process is intended to spur debate and get people thinking. We accomplished that.

John: It was ironic that at a time some question how valuable and viable newspapers are, it was reassuring to see the relevance the endorsement process still has to so many.

Jill: Many people asked me what the meetings are like when we sit down as a board and decide on our picks. My impression is that they can get a bit tense, but are nothing like the verbal smackdown I'd worried about.

John: You're right. And part of doing your homework is hoping our informed endorsements become part of the voters' homework as well. The privilege of sitting on the board is coupled with the responsibility that not only may our opinions guide voters, but they are also often echoed in candidates' campaign ads.

Jill: It's startling to see our endorsements used that way, but in some cases, kind of fun, too. One more thing: we couldn't have done it without Betty Wilson and Gene Lahammer, two Minnesota journalists with decades of experience who have long assisted the board during endorsements. We're grateful for their expertise, good questions and perspective.