When reporting on the Oct. 15 mayoral debate, Robert Whale wrote, “Haugen also created a fair amount of unfavorable buzz by scowling, grinning unaccountably, fidgeting constantly and even removing a shoe.” I attended the debate; the conduct of both candidates was appropriate and decorous. It would not have occurred to me to insult either one. Also, the audience was well-behaved, not “unfavorably buzzing.”

Mr. Whale’s negative description would have been more appropriately placed on the editorial page. His colored observations (or opinions), in a front page news article, were inappropriate and unprofessional. We readers can all figure out where he would cast his vote. Really, we should not be able to discern his preference from a front page news article.

The Auburn Reporter, which invited Virginia Haugen to participate in an impartial debate setting, then reported with obvious bias, owes Ms. Haugen, the audience and the readers an apology.

– Val Erickson