April Freeman for Congress

To the editor:

Once again, the Naples Daily News has willfully chosen to ignore the only declared Democratic candidate running to replace the disgraced Rep. Trey Radel. That person is Democrat April Freeman.

In your New Year's Day issue front page article, "10 to Watch in 2014," your listing of "Candidates to replace Trey Radel," deliberately mentions only Republicans, including a past officeholder and people who have not declared their intentions. Ms. Freeman has declared her intentions, her positions and is actively campaigning, yet you chose not to list her.

A reader can only conclude that this instance of incomplete coverage, and other similar past instances, testify to deliberate political bias in the Naples Daily News' coverage. Such bias is at odds with the newspaper's own declared commitment to objectivity and comprehensiveness, it ill-serves its readership and it is an example of shoddy journalism at best and deliberate prejudice at worst.

For the record, April Freeman is the declared Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida's 19th' Congressional District. She is a wife, mother and businesswoman who resides in Cape Coral. And one more thing -- she's going to win.


Sincerely,


David Levin
Campaign Manager

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/jan/03/letter-watch-her/

To the editor:

I find it incredible that in a lengthy, front page story on the contenders for Rep. Trey Radel’s seat,  “Leader Sidelined; Wheels Still Turn,” on Sunday, Dec. 8, you chose to ignore the only declared Democratic candidate, April Freeman.

If the story was only about potential Republican primary contenders for Trey Radel’s seat, then it should have said so at the outset. However, it purported to be a complete account of the potential contenders but concentrated only on a single party.

I don’t know at what level this oversight occurred or whether it was deliberate or inadvertent but this yawning gap in reporting did a disservice to the readers of the Naples Daily News, who were deprived of important information. They did not get the whole story, which reflects badly on the Naples Daily News’ journalism and judgment.

What is more, April Freeman is well known to the Naples Daily News, which covered the announcement of her candidacy and her activities since.

There is more than one political party in Southwest Florida.

Just for the record: April Freeman is the only declared Democratic candidate in Florida’s 19th congressional district. She has been endorsed by Democrats Advancing Progressive Action in Congress and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. She is calling on all Floridians disgusted by political extremism and Rep. Trey Radel’s failure to properly represent Southwest Florida, to become active and vote for change in November 2014.


Sincerely,

David Levin
Campaign Manager

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/dec/12/letter-forgetting-someone/