Reporter's story on Patricia Lesko's mayoral campaign missed the mark
My name is Libby Hunter. I am writing about an article published in the AnnArbor.com newspaper on Sunday. Ryan Stanton's article on Patricia Lesko is not what I would have expected. That might sound odd, but I expected something completely different because, though Stanton neglected to mention it in his reporting, there was a 4th person going door-to-door with Pat, Stanton and firefighter Craig Ferris. That fourth person was me.
What I saw and heard was so very different than what Stanton reported, I think it's important I write. Not only did Stanton pretend I wasn't there, the coverage paints a negative picture of the candidate that simply doesn't jibe with the reality of the door-to-door walk that day.
I joined in around 10:30 a.m. We visited homes from a list of voters in Ward Five. Of the doors Pat, firefighter Ferris and I knocked on, the response from voters was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, thoughtful, informed and above all, positive. Several residents agreed to host yard signs that morning, both when we were with Stanton, and after he left. The final stop with Stanton, I would say, was actually one of the most compelling. The residents were very well-informed about the issues, and listening to them it was clear that they had come to the conclusion that Pat's message was welcome and long overdue.
The final omission from Stanton's piece is actually the most disappointing to me. Stanton asked firefighter Ferris if Pat had promised the firefighters anything, perhaps a no layoff promise, in order to get their support. Mr. Ferris' answer is why Pat Lesko should be elected mayor: Ferris told Stanton that the only thing Pat Lesko promised the firefighters was to be tough as nails when next the city bargained a contract with his union.
Ryan Stanton pretended I wasn't there to make a better story, I imagine. He left out so much of what happened that morning, it appears, to make a particular point.
Libby A. Hunter Ann Arbor
Reporter Ryan Stanton's response:
I agree with Libby Hunter's perception of Thursday's outing. She states that the response to Patricia Lesko's message from several voters was enthusiastic and that several residents agreed to host yard signs. I reported that in the story.
She cites a statement from Craig Ferris that was not in the story. In fact, there are many statements from many different people that are not in the story. It's simply not possible to publish every single piece of information gathered in one story.
The same philosophy explains why Hunter was not mentioned in the story. She showed up toward the very end of Thursday's outing, after I followed Lesko and Craig Ferris to many, many doors. After she did show up, I can recall being at only one doorstep with Hunter where there was any kind of encounter with voters, and that interaction is reported in the story. Lesko and Ferris did all the talking. I have no record of Hunter saying anything. I could have mentioned Hunter was standing there, but it doesn't change the story.
Comments
shepard145
Tue, Jun 8, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.
I'm not fan of Hieftje but Really? Lesko is the best we can do for a candidate to oppose him? Just the fact that she's pandering to the labor unions that she will need to cut in the next few years to balance the budget is a good indicator that she's unsuitable. As the obama socialist economy continues to fail, our standard of living falters and city jobs need to be cut, this is the last type of politician we need in the Mayor's office....and if you don't believe me, get to know the politics in LA.
bedrog
Tue, Jun 8, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.
ill try again, since no response from lesko after doing so on 2 other threads... some of her strongest online support comes from strident, disruptive individuals affiliated with green party and its anti-israel/anti semitic, local synagogue harassing, coop and city council hectoring agenda ( see the "washtenaw JEWISH NEWS" false witnesses series jan, feb and march issues. where does lesko stand in her relationship to such people???...a fair question and one analogous to those raised about obama vis a vis extremist reverend jeremiah wright. obama answered such questions satisfactorily...and won. Lesko has not ( nor did her protegee, city council candidate hatim elhady..who lost). the fact that she's jewish is irrelevant, as some of the worst actors here are too, or so they claim ( per the articles referenced above)
a2sanity
Tue, Jun 8, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
This claim that Mr. Stanton somehow ignored Ms. Libby highlights the whole problem with the blogger/candidate, Ms. Lesko. It is all about them. Mr. Stanton didn't mention her. Mr. Stanton omitted this or that. Her comment above directs readers back to Ms. Lesko's blog world. Again, it is an attempt to focus readers back to this glib and cynical and uninformed blog/world. It is an insult to the Ann Arbor voter. Why can't Ms. Lesko simply discuss the issues that readers have raised in annarbor.com? Why is it so hard for her to to discuss the most basic questions about herself now? What is Ms. Lesko's prior public service? Has she worked in a constructive way on city committees, for example. How has she conducted herself on the school committees she has served? Was she divisive as people have written? Why can't she just describe her version of these events? If she is not divisive in these situations, just say so. If Ms. Lesko can't, perhaps her supporters can give an alternative explanation. Perhaps the other council candidates running with her can explain why they think she would be a good person to lead the City. Her blog certainly does not show this. Do they embrace the tone and style of her blog for their campaign? I appreciated the information about Ms. Lesko, Mr. Stanton. In fact, the residents of Ann Arbor deserve to know more about Ms. Lesko. And not from her blog. I live in the real world. And I vote.
Lokalisierung
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
"is not what I would have expected. That might sound odd, but I expected something completely different because, though Stanton neglected to mention it in his reporting, there was a 4th person going door-to-door with Pat, Stanton and firefighter Craig Ferris. That fourth person was me." Reporters are not there to make you happy, make you look good, or make some PR for you. Do you think reporters are to put everything in a story that happens? Casue that's not a story, it's a transcript, and there's a big difference. That's actually what people want in a story, a condensed version of the happenings. That way, why don't have to read through 5 hours of City Council minutes, instead getting smattering of what actually occured.
Veracity
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 9:49 a.m.
Libby Hunter's criticism of Ryan Stanton relates primarily to her name not being included in his article, even though she does not mention the importance of her involvement in Patricia Lesko's campaign effort. http://www.annarbor.com/news/patricia-leskos-bid-for-ann-arbor-mayor-gaining-support-despite-campaign-messages-proven-untrue/ More than that Libby Hunter did not specifically list any errors in Ryan Stanton's report. Did Ms. Lesko claim that Roger Fraser had a 35% salary increase since he was hired in 2002 even though the facts are that Mr. Fraser received just 9.3% as documented in Ryan Stanton's article? Where did Ms. Lesko find her statistic? Did Ms. Lesko retract her initial statement that City Council laid off firefighters and police officers which was not true? And did Ms. Lesko make an errant claim that solar panels at Farmer's Market were not connected, suggesting that money was being wasted? Furthermore, did Ms. Lesko claim that the city's municipal overhead costs rose by 35% or 34 million per year from 2005 to 2009 which was also not true? If Libby Hunter wishes to help Ms. Lesko's campaign to become mayor I wish that she would highlight Ms. Lesko's qualifications and her experience with government management and finances,if any. I wish that she will provide more specifics about how Ms. Lesko plans to reduce expenditures and taxation at the same time while balancing the budget. Finally, I respect Ms. Lesko placing her children first as she stated was the reason why she could not remain to accept questions after she delivered her speech. However, Ms. Lesko may be unaware of the considerable time commitment necessary to be a responsible Mayor of Ann Arbor. Perhaps Ms. Lesko should postpone her candidacy until her children are older.
Top Cat
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 6:36 p.m.
I hope Ryan Stanton has a long tenure of reporting at AA.com. He's good!
Bill Wilson
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 3:03 p.m.
Libby, Who do we ask to explain the discrepancies as to Ms. Lesko's publishing business? Why are the numbers Lesko lists on her publishing website different from the numbers she claims when giving speeches? Can you field that for us?
Speechless
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 2 p.m.
The professional & personal stress involved in covering local politicians — and possibly finding oneself in their crosshairs — might not compare, say, to the risk of reporting live from inside an active war zone. Still, this whole affair, and the city elections in general, bring to mind the memorable, oft-quoted line delivered by Harry Dean Stanton's character in the film Repo Man: "You see, ordinary people spend their lives avoiding tense situations. A repo man spends his life getting into tense situations."
BrianR
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
I, too, appreciate Ryan Stanton's professionalism in outing this liar. Keep up the good work, Ryan, and thank you.
rossianroulette
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 12:16 p.m.
I'm just an ordinary reader, and I want to say I really appreciated the reporter's very candid reporting of the (mis)statements of candidate Lesko and the fact that she did not take questions at that meeting. I learned a lot about Lesko. Thank you Mr. Stanton.
libby
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
Ryan, Your professionalism is what seems crucial at this point. (Much has transpired since I wrote the above letter: more articles and lots of blogging - quite a few comments were logged in by you and Tony Dearing.) Questioning the accuracy of a candidate's statements is legitimate and it's your job to do so. However, you erred in two important ways. The first was to check the accuracy of Lesko's statements with people employed by the opposition, and not independent sources. Secondly, you attributed motive - there is no basis for you to insinuate that she willfully lied. Lesko writes an investigative blog which is sometimes satirical. For those with a sense of irony, it can be a fun read, and very informational. Here's her post after Stanton's first article: http://www.a2politico.com/?p=3698
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that a Lesko confidant has a flexible relationship with the truth. Good Night and Good Luck