Now that all the candidates have filed and election season is under way, we want to inform participants of the Hometown Forum of some ground rules:

1. Candidates get one guest column between now and the Thursday prior to the Aug. 10 primary election. However, they must turn the guest column in to Managing Editor Tim Engstrom by 5 p.m. July 27. The guest column must be between 500 and 800 words.

2. The rules for letters to the editor remain the same as they usually are, except that political letters must be turned in by 5 p.m. Aug. 5.

3. As usual, there is a 500-word limit on letters. One per writer per week. Each letter must have a single author. As always, the Tribune editors serve as referees and have the final call. See the letters policy on this page under “Send Your Comments.”

4. Any letters that attempt to throw a last-minute bomb into any race will be dealt with through journalism written by news reporters, with responses by both sides, rather than being printed verbatim.

5. The entire routine will start over for candidates who survive the primary election. Each candidate in the general election will get a guest column that must be turned in by 5 p.m. Oct. 19. Political letters will have a deadline of 5 p.m. Oct. 28.

Feel free to cut this editorial out and save it for future reference.

Here is the full letters policy:

Send Your Comments

Send letters via mail to Letters to the Editor, Albert Lea Tribune, P.O. Box 60, Albert Lea, MN 56007, or via e-mail to news@albertleatribune.com with the subject “Letter to the Editor.” Letters cannot exceed 500 words. They must have one author. Petitions are not printed. Letters must include address and telephone number for verification purposes — only your name and city of residence will be printed. Each author may write one letter per calendar week. Letters are published as soon as space allows. To request a guest column, contact Managing Editor Tim Engstrom at 379-3433. Feel free to call if you don’t see your letter.