Reporter Queenie Wong writes about covering the sheriff's race:
Rockbridge County Sheriff Bob Day fires his opponent, former Deputy Robert Clark, when he finds out Clark plans to run against him in the upcoming election.
Its a great story -- nobody on The Rockbridge Report could deny that . But as an outsider looking in, it was difficult for me to filter all the rumors and hearsay circulating about the two candidates. Sometimes being a reporter is a bit like being a messenger. Clark accuses Day of -- insert the numerous accusations brought against Day here -- and Day denies the accusations. I was just the liaison between the two and their constant bickering match.
Right up to election night, Clark accused and Day denied. Clark says that Day unfairly promoted a friend of his to lead investigator; Day denies it. Clark says Day wont hire a female deputy to patrol the roads because of gender; Day denies it. Accuse, accuse, accuse. Deny, deny, deny. It was a cycle that knew no end.
So how do you filter this he said-he said game? Both candidates were equally cooperative and both openly shared their views about one another. As a reporter, I realized you can get closer to the truth, but youll never get to truth with a capital T. Can you really trust the opinions of two people who want the same job?
In the end, I leave the judgment call in the hands of the public. Ill continue to report, report, report, and I hope youll continue to read, read, read.
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