We’ve received several letters recently concerning the upcoming school board election. Many of the letters have addressed not only the election, but also the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ennis School District and the lawsuit against the school board and superintendent Doug Walsh.

The letters have highlighted the need for us at The Madisonian to better define our letter and advertising policy concerning political candidates, campaigns and elections.

Letters and advertisements supporting candidates will be allowed right up to the week of the election, just like always.

However, letters or advertisements that bring up new information or make allegations about a candidate will not be allowed the week prior to the election. Every candidate running for any public office or any public official involved in an election or with a board of elected officials has the right to respond to any allegation prior to voters casting a ballot.

For the May 3 school election, this week is the last week we’ll run letters alleging anything about the two Ennis School Board candidates. Both candidates will have an opportunity to respond to any allegation or letter in next week’s newspaper. Those letters should deal only with their qualifications and previous allegations. Letters containing more allegations will be edited for content or not be printed.

The final decision whether or not to run a Letter to the Editor is mine and I’m happy to work with letter writers if I have an issue with the content of a letter. Letters may be edited for content and length.

Please remember our Letters to the Editor policy – they must be about 350 words and be accompanied by the author’s name, address and phone number. Letters that are submitted without an address and phone number will not be run. As space allows, we may be able to run longer letters.

Readers Speak columns need to be arranged with me prior to submission and will only be run as space allows.