Galesburg Register-Mail Bans Comments from Mayoral Candidate This is a simple report in the first volley of a breaking story.

I have posted reasonable comments that were welcomed by my neighbors in opposition to a whitewash for a failed policy of "economic development" that has lined the pockets of a small group of people while fleecing the town.

my rebuttal, one of the comments deleted by the editor

I am currently proposing the removal of the city manager, and a change in the form of local government. In exchange for my informed feedback in the comments section of my local paper, this is what I get:

David Roknich, I have banned you from using the comments section on The Register-Mail's Web site because you did what I asked you not to do: campaign for office in the comments section and include your URL.
If you file on Monday, you will have plenty of opportunities to make your case for office in The Register-Mail, but not in the comments section.
Your ban will be lifted when the campaign is over.

Tom Martin
Editor
The Register-Mail

My point was that the office of city manager has become highly politicized, and has aligned itself with the dark forces that have fleeced this town. But that is not the issue of my post here. The issue is free speech.

Please use the comment form on my website if you really want to help with a free speech issue at a critical time.

The URL regarding "vision and strategy" links to whitewash from the city manager - a neatly written piece that obscures the issue. Comments were selectively removed from the story, and then I was blocked from posting. Surprisingly low for an "professional" journalist who is the new editor of the paper of record in my town.

David Roknich
Candidate for Mayor
Galesburg, Illinois
http://galesburg411.com