Press sends cease and desist letter to PAC

The Coeur d'Alene Press issued a cease and desist letter to a political action committee Thursday over a flyer mailed out to area residents in support of Proposition 1.

The mailer, which was sent to residents by the PAC Idahoans for Open Primaries, prominently features the Press' masthead, leading to confusion over its origins.

Hagadone Media President Clint Schroeder said The Press had no affiliation with the PAC and would never align itself with a political action committee to try and influence voters. 

"The Coeur d’Alene Press takes this matter very seriously," he said. "We would never send an independent mailer — or any other materials — directly advocating for or against any issue to voters. While third parties may choose to reference our published articles, quotes or opinions in their advocacy efforts, the Coeur d’Alene Press will not produce or distribute advocacy materials of any kind. Outside of our Editorial and Op-Ed pages, our responsibility is to provide readers, subscribers and voters with balanced, fair news and information, and we are deeply committed to that standard. Readers can be assured that our editorial stances will not appear in independent advocacy materials funded by our company. This holds without exception, save only if the very nature of the First Amendment were under direct threat."

Luke Mayville, with Idahoans for Open Primaries, said the mailer does have a disclaimer that states, "Paid for by Idahoans for Open Primaries." 

He said when an organization gets an endorsement on an issue it's supporting, it's customary to tout that endorsement, which is what the mailer was designed to do. The Press endorsed Proposition 1 in an editorial Oct. 13.

Mayville said they were not planning to mail out any other flyers with The Press' masthead.