A Sheriff's Defense
Sheriff Van Zandt defies local newspaper 'persecutions' to announce his run for reelection on his own terms.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Sheriff Van Zandt was in Lynden Tuesday, visiting friends and announcing his candidacy for renomination in the upcoming primaries. He addressed the 'persecutions' leveled against him by Bellingham daily newspapers, asserting that he has been politically opposed by the press and two county commissioners. 'I shall stand upon my record,' he stated. 'I have been an economical servant. I haven't crawled or toaded to any man or men or paper.' The Tribune included his statement to ensure he received a fair hearing, noting that they neither endorse nor condemn him but believe in providing an opportunity for response.
“If my work deserves it I want to be reelected. If it doesn't I deserve to be defeated.”
The tension between local elected officials and the critical regional press is a perennial conflict. Van Zandt's defense of his record against 'big city' media narrative echoes modern debates about media bias and the difficulty of local governance in a digital-first information environment.
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