08/16/2007: "CC Discusses “Spin” & Press Releases"

A recent San Juan County press release entitled “Prosecutor Comments on Decision to Drop Referendum Lawsuit”, in which " Gaylord Warns SJC May Be Sued Over Referendum" was produced by Gaylord’s office, and then released by the County as a County press release. The possibility of the public assuming that it was a County Council release, has generated some concern from the County Council..

Some, if not all, of the Council were unaware of the press release, and Councilman Alan Lichter said he only learned about it when he was contacted by the media for a response. Lichter said when the letter was read to him over the phone he was surprised by it’s content, and noted that Gaylord was extensively quoted in the release.

Lichter expressed his concern that if a press release relates to Council business, someone, perhaps the Chair, should sign off on it. He said that he believed the press release was an attempt to “spin” a report on the facts around the Council Drops Law Suit Against Referendum action; and a press release for spin-control under the heading of a “San Juan County press release” is not acceptable.

Lichter told the Council “This is a small community, facts get out, and attempts to spin are not good for our Council,” and added that “a press release should not be for spin control, but should be factual, and accurate. It should not be spin.”

Councilman Kevin Ranker said “I think it is important there be no spin;" and that when he read the release “I had some concerns." In reference to the San Juan County heading on the release, Ranker noted that the “Prosecutor has been very savvy in releasing information in the past, and I think it (the press release) should have come from Randy.”

Councilman Howard Rosenfeld said “I agree with Alan; I think we have a problem here.” Councilman Rich Peterson stated that a press release “needs to be factual, and it should come from the department that writes it. It should not look like an attempt to spin.”

Councilman Gene Knapp stressed that as a general policy it is “important for the Council to get the real facts out very quickly.”

Councilman Bob Myhr noted in reference to the many quotes in the Gaylord release that “When you have quotes, you are getting away from facts.”

At this point County Administrator Pete Rose in responded to questions on the origin of the press release said that “the Prosecuting Attorney’s office wrote it, and they asked for help. It is our job to help any department that asks for it. It should have come from his office, but he (Gaylord) left his office before it was complete, and so we sent it out for him.” Rose agreed that releases from elected officials should come from them, and not from the Council.

Both Gaylord and Ranker have in the past produced a large number of press releases, and Ranker took pains to make a distinction between an individual attempting to “frame a dialog from one persons view”. as opposed to spinning a story; and then in reference to the Gaylord press release, said “I think it is spin.” Ranker agreed with Lichter that when a press release is directly related to the Council, the Council should be contacted.

While no formal action was taken, there appeared to be a consensus that in the future a distinction would be made between press releases coming from the County Council (and all of the departments under their direct control), and press releases coming from elected officials.

Public Information Manager Stan Matthews told the Council that he would continue “to make every effort to double check facts," and added that “I am always willing to make corrections and post them on the County web site."