To the Editor:
Newly elected District 24 State Senator Debra Altschiller is married to the Executive Editor of the Portsmouth Herald, which covers the same district. As a result of the connection, some members of the community have taken to calling this once august newspaper as the “Altschiller Family Newsletter.”
Spouses of people who have power are their own person and have the right to function independently, but this requires a rigorous use of the “invisible wall” separating the personal from public accountability. Executive Editor Altschiller has claimed that two sub editors handle any news involving the newly elected Senator to avoid bias.
The Herald never printed a story mentioning Ms. Altsciller’s failure to file campaign financing reports with the State and the subsequent investigation by the Attorney General’s office. Did the sub editors really not find this newsworthy and pertinent to an open election? The Union Leader and two other news sources found it newsworthy and pertinent.
This type of concentration of power was not envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Granted New Hampshire ranks only 41st for population among the various States, but it is our State, and we should demand better. Ms Altschiller should resign, but what is that I hear, crickets?
Mark Brighton
Portsmouth
