The readers always write

Next Wednesday, the curtain goes up on the Coeur d'Alene City Council election.

The Coeur Group, a collection of civic-minded, politically active volunteers, is hosting the event at the Coeur d'Alene library starting at 5:30 p.m. But you'd better get there earlier. We expect a full house and a lively evening of important discussion.

With elections across the county now less than six weeks away, The Press Opinion pages will give highest priority to letters on local issues, as well as letters endorsing local candidates. As a brief refresher:

* Endorsement letters have a strict word limit - 300 or fewer words.

* Only one endorsement letter per writer will be published during the campaign season. If you wish to endorse more than one candidate in a single letter, that's fine, but the 300-word limit still applies.

* If there isn't enough space in the print edition of The Press for all endorsement letters submitted, highest priority will be given to writers living in the city of the endorsed candidates. In other words, an endorsement letter from someone living in Post Falls for a Coeur d'Alene council seat will receive a lower priority than a letter from someone living in Coeur d'Alene endorsing a candidate for Coeur d'Alene City Council.

* Please don't wait until the week before the election to submit endorsement letters. The later you submit it, the greater the chance it won't be published.

* Endorsement letters may be encouraged by candidates, but letter-writing campaigns are discouraged.

* Endorsement letters should be written by the person whose name appears at the bottom of the letter.

Any questions, please email Mike Patrick: mpatrick@cdapress.com.