Our freedom of speech gives each of us the right to express opinions — unrestrained and without censorship.

As the new editorial board of the Mercer Island Reporter, we take this responsibility seriously.

The board’s primary responsibility is to look at all sides of an issue and then put together the Reporter’s editorials, which we reach by consensus, independently from the Reporter’s objective news-gathering role. Our editorials, which represent the Reporter’s views as a community institution, will be determined through careful analysis and well thought-out debate among the editorial board.

The board is made up of seven people with an extensive range of expertise and broad viewpoints, including William Shaw, publisher; Carrie Rodriguez, editor; and Islanders Salim Nice, Leslie Meagley, Gary Robinson, Lisa Casterella and Denise Hopkins. In addition, Mercer Island High School student Jessica Waller is participating on the board as a non-voting member-in-residence.

The editorial board’s mission is to help all Islanders make informed decisions about issues that affect us by providing a thoughtful point of view and sometimes recommending a particular course of action.

We will strive to:

• Enrich and lead Island dialogue that is respectful and meaningful

• Stimulate discussion of public issues by offering a credible opinion

• Hold those we elect accountable for what they say and do

• Promote transparency in government

• Endorse candidates and issues in local elections that impact Islanders, without regard to political partisanship

The board is committed to deeply exploring a variety of issues and we also want to hear from you. What topics are important to you? Contact the editorial board at editorialboard@mi-reporter.com.