Newspaper admits payment error

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 7, 2000 by Jim McLean Capital-Journal

By JIM McLEAN

The Capital-Journal

The chairman of the Shawnee County Democratic Party criticized The Topeka Capital-Journal on Monday for not requiring a Republican legislative candidate to adhere to its policy for purchasing advertising.

Lloyd Hull said The Capital-Journal violated its policy of requiring advance payment for political ads by allowing Frank Meade to charge approximately $8,000 worth of campaign advertising to his business account at the newspaper.

Meade has waged an aggressive campaign against Democratic incumbent Dixie Toelkes in the 53rd Legislative District, which covers portions of East Topeka and rural areas surrounding the city to the north, east and south. He is a local developer and owns Zercher Photo.

"I'm not going to question The Capital-Journal's motives in this matter," Hull said in a statement released Monday. "I'm just asking for a simple apology for the unfair advantage they gave to Meade, and I would hope that they would forever change this policy to prevent even the slightest perception that The Capital-Journal takes sides in local legislative elections."

Advertising executives at The Capital-Journal said that Dave Jackson, a Republican candidate for the Kansas Senate and co-owner of Jackson's Greenhouse & Garden Center, also was allowed to order political advertising through his business account.

Jackson is challenging Democratic incumbent Marge Petty in the 18th Senate District, which includes portions of Topeka and northwest Shawnee County.

John Fish, publisher of The Capital-Journal, said in a statement issued Monday that Jackson and Meade shouldn't have been treated differently than other candidates.

"The Capital-Journal policy is all political advertising must be paid in advance, and in these cases, we made a mistake," Fish said. "The candidates have current business accounts with the newspaper, and the cost of their political advertising was mistakenly placed under those accounts.

"There were no political motives involved, and we apologize for any problems or confusion the situation may have caused."

Jim McLean can be reached at

(785) 233-7470 or jmclean@cjonline.com.

"I'm just asking for a simple apology for the unfair advantage."

--- LLOYD HULL,

Shawnee County Democratic Party chairman