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344-8746 e-mail: editor@mechlocal.com or money to conduct extensive background searches on local candidates. Even with those limitations, in Santos’ case, some local news outlets did question some of his claims. Perhaps, media should have screamed louder when Santos’ story didn’t seem viable, and details didn’t seem to add up. But, what about New York GOP officials who also didn’t catch the red flags and continued to support what some knew was a flawed candidate?

Nor did a detached Democratic local organization who assumed the race would not be close, refusing to supply funds for opponent research, and ignoring warnings of Santos’ fraudulent claims. While some may point to the failure of local media to expose Santos, I welcome the apparent realization

Please see JOURNALISM, Page 7 that local media is vital to transparency in government, and local reporters play a vital role in monitoring proceedings that are too often ignored by public eyes.

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It’s not a new concept, witnessed by our founding fathers’ desire to include protections for a fourth estate, established as a watchdog to the first three.

According to Northwestern University, more than a fourth of newspapers have ceased operations since 2005, and 7% of counties in America have no local news outlet. Studies have confirmed and common sense reaffirms that communities with strong local media presence enjoy an increased citizen involve - ment in all aspects of local government. Conversely, communities who are underserved by local news often incorporate less inclusive government and limited citizen participation in their processes. Dedicated media coverage and an informed citizenry ensures the system in which we place our trust daily operates in full sunlight and voters have all the information to make well reasoned choices.

As the Santos saga continues, it’s hard to imagine how this candidate cleared the lowest of moral hurdles to gain his party’s endorsement, and I , for one, think many knew of these impending problems long before the press broke the story after his election.

Some of those party officials claim they simply believed that Santos was telling the truth when he claimed his mother had died in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, or his 3.9 GPA at schools he never attended.

Newly elected Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy likened Santos’ claims to the usual embellishments often found in the resumes of political candidates. I hope not.

If that’s the case, the mission of local journalism continues as demands on its services increase and resources continue to dwindle; and good local reporting is still the best oversight to ensure transparent and responsible government.

Is the work important?

I suggest that answer may best be found in an angry group of Long Island voters who when polled recently voiced a decided majority to remove Santos from office.