Woodward’s weakness

Nadine Woodward’s refusal to grant normal interviews to the Inlander (“Candidate believes Inlander biased,” June 7), claiming bias on the part of the publication, makes me doubt that she has the strength and integrity to be an effective mayor. The Inlander is a well-established, responsible, and valuable element of Spokane’s media. Like all other news outlets worthy of our attention, including the S-R and local television stations, it is composed of individuals with biases, embedded in a management/ownership structure with an agenda.

Any effective politician must maintain functioning relationships with the media, both relatively friendly and relatively hostile. Woodward, as a former reporter, knows this, and should recognize her own bias and agenda as well. By shutting out the Inlander she is declaring herself too weak to interact with a mainstream publication, or too biased to tolerate critical questioning. And she suggests that her agenda includes building a protective barrier between herself and the many constituents who rely on the Inlander. We need a strong mayor, not a weak one.

William F. Siems

Spokane