With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board.
Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650137","attributes":{"alt":"Vern Swanum","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Vern Swanum","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650138","attributes":{"alt":"Kris Vereecken","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Kris Vereecken","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650136","attributes":{"alt":"Classie Dudley","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Classie Dudley","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.”
Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650138","attributes":{"alt":"Kris Vereecken","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Kris Vereecken","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650136","attributes":{"alt":"Classie Dudley","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Classie Dudley","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650137","attributes":{"alt":"Vern Swanum","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Vern Swanum","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]] Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.”
Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board.
Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650137","attributes":{"alt":"Vern Swanum","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Vern Swanum","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650138","attributes":{"alt":"Kris Vereecken","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Kris Vereecken","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650136","attributes":{"alt":"Classie Dudley","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Classie Dudley","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.”
Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650138","attributes":{"alt":"Kris Vereecken","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Kris Vereecken","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.With an eye on the elections this fall and on heated races that promise to alter our political landscape and the face of our leadership - especially on the county, state and national levels - the News Tribune is reloading its editorial board.A trio of active, engaged Duluth-area residents with widely diverse viewpoints and backgrounds join Publisher Neal Ronquist and Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick on the board today as citizen and employee representatives. They’ll be the ones screening the candidates, whether in interviews or public forums, and deciding the newspaper’s endorsements - as well as the opinions the paper offers on an almost daily basis as a way of encouraging a healthy public dialogue.Consultant and activist Classie Dudley and retired St. Louis County prosecutor and assistant attorney Vern Swanum begin their terms of service today as citizen representatives. News Tribune News Assistant Kris Vereecken joins as an employee representative. The three will serve through the end of the year.The News Tribune introduces new editorial board members as part of a commitment to transparency and disclosure. The newspaper feels readers have a right to know from where editorial opinions come. The newspaper’s “Our View” editorials are the stands of the newspaper as determined by its editorial board.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650136","attributes":{"alt":"Classie Dudley","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Classie Dudley","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Dudley was part of the last graduating class from Duluth Central High School. She then worked as an outreach officer and affirmative action officer for two years for the DFL party. In addition, she has organized candidate forums and produced documentaries. She worked for the NAACP, both locally and nationally. She is a sought-after public speaker. And with a degree in social justice from the University of Minnesota Duluth, she operates her own private independent consulting business.“This will be very interesting,” she said of joining the editorial board. “I have an ear on the community. I don’t want to say Duluth isn’t very diverse, but politically we’re, like, very left, you know, a DFL kind of place.“I’m not set on any (candidate in any race, local or national) right now,” she said. “I kind of enjoy playing that back-door behind-the-scenes and seeing where everything is going.”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2650137","attributes":{"alt":"Vern Swanum","class":"media-image","height":"467","title":"Vern Swanum","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"333"}}]]Swanum, a graduate of Duluth East and a political science major at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Marines. He was an assistant St. Louis County attorney from 1981 to 2010.“While I would say I identify with the Republican Party, I do not blindly adopt all party principles, especially when it comes to social issues. Perhaps I would best be described as a cafeteria conservative,” Swanum said. “The position of citizen representative on the editorial board interests me, as I have always been interested in politics and current events. I try to keep up on the day-to-day local and national news through print and digital media, though not so much television. “I would hope I could add a viewpoint and voice to the editorial board that is candid, thoughtful and objective, though through the lens of a somewhat conservative eye,” he said. “If I learned anything as a prosecuting attorney for over three decades, it was to listen, understand that there are two sides to every argument, and do not rush to judgment.”
Vereecken has been a news assistant for the News Tribune since November 2004. If you’ve ever written a letter to the editor you’ve probably talked to her on the phone. She assists the Opinion page by calling and verifying the authenticity of all letters and other submissions. Before joining the newspaper, she lived for four years in Grand Marais and was an office worker for eight years for WDSE-TV Channel 8.“I look forward to being part of the direction the paper decides to go, knowing I had a little influence in it. This election is going to be very important, especially on the national level, but on all levels, really,” Vereecken said. “(The editorial board) has an important job and can influence the way many people think. It’s not to be taken lightly.”As for Vereecken’s political leanings: “I vote depending on what candidate I believe in the most. So I wouldn’t say I’m (for) one party or the other,” she said. “My husband is very much a Republican, so we get into some crazy debates sometimes, but I would say I would go by the candidate. I’m not a party-down-the-line person.”Citizen representative and employee representative positions on the News Tribune editorial board rotate regularly, typically every few months. With the additions of Dudley, Swanum and Vereecken, the terms of citizen representatives Mike Lundstrom and Terese Tomanek come to a close. The News Tribune can’t thank them enough for their devoted, thoughtful and involved service during the past half-year.Races this fall include for St. Louis County Board, state House, state Senate, U.S. House 8th District and president. Board-on-candidate interviews will be held. Public candidate forums will be scheduled. Election season will be busy. And, with a reloaded editorial board, the News Tribune Opinion page will do its best to inform, to guide and to help lead the conversations about the many candidates and issues. Apply to be on the editorial boardAnyone interested in being a citizen representative on the News Tribune editorial board, or in getting more information about applying, please contact News Tribune Editorial Page Editor Chuck Frederick at cfrederick@duluthnews.com or at (218) 723-5316.
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