Viewpoint: Recall Saga Continues With No End In Sight
The ongoing saga over the city reinstating benefits to gay and unmarried partners is one of the most fascinating El Paso news events ever. The twists and turns through this quagmire continue, leading up to the impending recall election for the mayor and two council members.
Everyone has an opinion on this matter. Those opinions are passionate whether they be based on gay rights, religious beliefs, majority rule or fiscal responsibility. We at KVIA have tried our best to represent all sides. But, whatever we?ve done, it?s not enough to shake the El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values group?s belief that we?ve been unfair to them in support of Mayor John Cook and city representatives Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega.
I?ve personally stayed out of this fray. Recently, when the community group turned in their petitions, I felt that our report centered too much on the street spectacle, which included a crude drawing of the mayor?s head bloodied by his guitar. This was worthy of our attention, but I wanted more “meat and potatoes” about the success of the petition drive itself.
I had heard occasional rumblings in the newsroom regarding Pastor Tom Brown?s frustration with Channel 7. I decided to reach out to Brown and try to make things better between us. I called him and had a civil 10-minute conversation with him. He said that, in his belief, KVIA?s bias had swayed us to routinely represent the mayor?s positions. Brown said we were not investigating his claims of the mayor?s alleged wrongdoings. He also felt that KVIA purposely stacked the deck with pro-gay rights callers when the pastor recently appeared on ABC-7?s Sunday night Xtra program. For the record, that accusation is false.
I asked Brown if he would appear on the show again that weekend. He said he would but only if the mayor agreed to debate him live. I asked the newsroom to attempt to get the mayor to come on the air. I expected Cook to reject an open debate with a citizen trying to get him removed from office. Instead, the mayor agreed to appear on the air opposite Pastor Brown!
The next day, Brown texted our news director, Brenda de Anda-Swann, to say he wasn?t coming on air after all. I called him again imploring him to represent his views. He said he was fearful of the district attorney?s investigation of him. But he reiterated that Channel 7 had been unfair to him and that he felt we?d stack calls against him again. I even offered to come in late Sunday night to personally screen the calls for balance. He rejected that. When I told him that we were going forward with the mayor, his response was something to the effect that Channel 7 was again showing favoritism.
What?s the moral of the story? I don?t know. I just know that KVIA is attempting to be fair with Brown and his family values group. I also know that this amazing drama is far from over.
