After today, the Summit Daily News opinion page will look a bit different than it has in the past. 

I’ve made the decision to update our policy for letters to the editor in hopes it will focus our attention as a community on the unique issues and challenges we face. We will no longer accept submissions solely about national politics. The policy still allows for any reader to respond to stories we’ve published or write about any local issue in our community. 

Before I moved to Colorado, I wrote dozens of editorials about national politics that criticized both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — along with both parties. No matter which side of the aisle I’d call out, I never heard from a reader who said my opinion changed their mind. Instead, it seemed to sow division and distrust. But when I’d write about a local housing development or call on our elected officials to be more transparent, I didn’t see the divisiveness that national politics often breeds. I’d hear government workers debating our argument, I’d hear from readers on both ends of the political spectrum, and I’d see the towns and cities I was writing about discuss the debate happening in the newspaper.  

Our paper publishes dozens of news articles each week about the decisions our local leaders are considering or making. Through fact-based and respectful debate, we each have the power to help push our community toward solutions that have direct impacts on our daily lives. 

The president and most members of Congress aren’t reading our newspaper, but our local officials keep tabs on our news and opinion sections. There are many publications where you can join in the debate regarding our federal government and national politics, but we offer a platform here at Summit Daily News where community members can put their heads together and come up with novel solutions to the challenges we face in Colorado’s High Country. 

While you’ve seen our columnists occasionally dip their toes into national topics, we’ve updated our policy for their submissions, as well, and we intend to hold them to the same standard. 

In my years of journalism, I’ve never seen such a passionate and engaged community. Before I moved to Breckenridge, I’d maybe get a handful of letters and emails from readers each month, but now my inbox is always full of submissions and readers’ ideas. While there’s always a letter or two that chooses to air grievances without offering solutions, most members of this community offer constructive critiques that help our society think outside the box. My hope is that this sort of debate and teamwork will grow from here. 

You’ll also notice that our updated policy doesn’t allow for candidate endorsements anymore. While candidates love to see them, they often crowd our page and limit space that can be used for other content, like letters urging candidates to focus on issues affecting their lives and livelihood. I don’t like to be told who to vote for, and I have a feeling others feel the same way. I’d like to see our paper focused on giving readers a platform to hold officials — and us, too — accountable while offering ideas to solve problems plaguing our community. 

So let’s bring the conversation back to Summit. Let’s stay abreast on the issues filling meeting agendas across the county. Let’s offer ideas to our elected officials and focus our passion on finding solutions. 

From housing to taxes, there’s plenty to write about in the High Country. I can’t wait to see more healthy, respectful community debate.

Here’s the policy: Letters must address local issues to be considered. Letters endorsing ballot issues will be accepted only from Summit County residents. Letters endorsing candidates will not be accepted. Claims must be supported by facts with sources provided. The decision to print any submission is at the discretion of the Summit Daily News editor. The following types of letters will not be printed: form letters, thank you letters, anonymous letters, letters containing long lists of names or letters considered libelous, obscene or in bad taste. The Summit Daily reserves the right to edit all letters.