Coverage of Clyde Shavers was unfair and ill-timed

Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 10, 2022

In The Herald’s Nov. 2 coverage it highlighted a father’s claims against his son; Clyde Shavers, running for the state Legislature in the 10th District.The hit piece against Clyde Shavers was published prematurely, as was the Nov. 2 editorial in which the editorial board rescinded its endorsement of Shavers and endorsed his opponent.

Whether Clyde Shavers acted inappropriately in describing his background and experience for his campaign, the matter should have been much more assiduously examined before publishing such damaging information about a tragic family dispute. When James Comey in a similar case publicly announced just prior to the 2020 presidential election that the Department of Justice would be investigating Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he helped throw the election to Donald Trump. In the four years of Trump’s term Comey’s action has cost our nation greatly. Comey’s ill-timed publicity did irreparable harm to our republic and it remains to be seen how much damage your editorial and the article by Herald reporter Jacqueline Allison will do to the life and career of Clyde Shavers and our state Legislature.

Finally, your coverage also reveals that your staff do not know that a lawyer can work as a lawyer without the bar exam credentials that many lawyers, but not all, choose to earn. I am aware of highly respected, effective, successful lawyers in their particular areas of practice who have not needed the extra credential, so have chosen to work without it. Your articles imply that passing the Bar is required to work as a lawyer. That is not the case.

It is highly disappointing that such a major regional newspaper, one I have supported, would act so impulsively just six days prior to election day. I hope that you can and will take action to avoid any further harm from these misguided decisions.

Cathy Ferbrache

Bothell