Opinion page enters new era with Community Insight Board

The Free Lance’s volunteer-based Editorial Board has been a voice of community opinion in San Benito County for a decade. Its members have performed a valuable service through their willingness to speak out boldly on difficult issues.
This constructive forum has involved board members from a variety of backgrounds meeting on a regular basis. They have debated amongst themselves the county’s most serious issues and then – with a majority consensus – provided honest and sometimes unpopular recommendations to stakeholders and others. As a group, they have spoken out on contentious issues when others might not have been in the position, or had the willingness, to do the same.
As this community continues to evolve – as does the role of newspapers – so too will this panel of dedicated volunteers. The group will take a new name, the Community Insight Board, and it will opine and write regular columns independently from the newspaper and its staff.  
The mission as the board moves forward in the coming weeks under this new model – as suggested by the current members – is to develop into a more inclusive voice reflecting the many groups and people with interests in this county.  For the Free Lance, taking this direction gives the newspaper an opportunity to sharpen its focus as a news provider and a platform for a wide diversity of opinions.
For more information: If residents have interest in joining the Community Insight Board or have suggestions for members, call Editor Kollin Kosmicki at (831) 637-5566, ext. 330 or email him at ed****@fr***********.com.