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Politics will hush radio gab?

May 26, 2006

Analysis:

This story tells readers that because of Federal Communication Commission regulations, radio talk show host Robert S. will have to step down from his job while running for a Kent County Commission seat. The article mentions that Robert Womack will be challenging current Commissioner Paul Mayhue and Jim Talen in the August 8 Primary. However, the story tells readers nothing about why Robert Womack is challenging Commissioner Mayhue, what his platform is or what Mayhue’s track record is as a commissioner.

Story:

GRAND RAPIDS — Radio personality Robert S. is going off the air next month to become political candidate Robert S. Womack.

Womack, who is running as a Democrat for a seat on the Kent County Board of Commissioners, said he will abide by a Federal Communications Commission rule that forbids stations from giving air time to candidates within 45 days of a primary election.

“I believe this will give me time to get door to door and let the people meet the face behind the voice,” said Womack, who has hosted a call-in show on WJNZ-AM as Robert S. for the past two years.

Womack said he will leave his “Pulse of the City” show June 22 — 47 days before the Aug. 8 primary. But that’s not soon enough for Paul Mayhue, the Democrat who has held the 16th District seat for 17 years.

“He’s announced his candidacy three times since May 10, 2005,” said Mayhue, who claimed his requests for equal time on the station have been ignored.

Jim Talen, a former county commissioner, also filed as a Democrat for the mostly Southeast Grand Rapids seat.

Mayhue, the target of frequent barbs by Robert S. during the past two years, also once left the spotlight to run for office.

In 1999, Mayhue was required by Grand Rapids charter to resign his County Board seat in order to run for mayor. He lost that race to John Logie, but was re-elected to the county job in 2000.

If Womack wins the primary, station owner Mike St. Cyr said he hopes to bring him back on the air until 60 days before the general election, when the FCC would require him to sideline Womack again. The winner of the primary election will face Republican Scott Seibt in November.

The FCC regulation would allow St. Cyr to keep Womack on the air, but he would be required to give other candidates equal time — an offer he can’t afford to make.

St. Cyr said he probably will reassign Womack to production and engineering tasks during his hiatus. He said he has not found a replacement for Womack’s 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. time slot.

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