My outlook calendar began to fill up weeks ago with meetings set by Opinion Page Editor Scott Milfred. He expected 44 candidates for the spring elections April 3 would want to meet with us.

A feeling of dread crept into my head. This is a busy time of year for the Wisconsin State Journal. Our financial year runs from October to October so this is the time we finalize our strategic plans and start our budgeting. In addition, this year we are installing a new system that will change the way the newsroom produces our pages. How would we find the time? 

The endorsement meetings sped by. They were full of surprises, and I left each one that I attended proud of the school board and city council candidates for their willingness to compete for a volunteer job in the civic arena. I heard a lot of optimism about how we run our lovely city.

The mayoral meetings were very robust. Mayor Dave brought two staffers and fought through a bad cold to explain to us his three-page handout, "Three Dozen Projects for the Second Term By Mayor Dave Cieslewicz." Ray Allen came alone with a copy of that day's paper. Both meetings showed we had excellent candidates passionate about Madison. Choosing between them for our endorsement was a tough decision. As you probably know, we chose Mayor Dave. You can read our reasoning in today's paper.

It's quiet in the office right now (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.). I am ostensibly writing my job self-eval. Editors, like candidates, need to reflect on their performance. It's not unlike the mayoral endorsement process. I keep making lists of all the events and accomplishments that we as a newsroom shared in the past year. As I write this, I'm pondering what role I played in those truly marvelous contributions. As editor, just like the mayor, it's difficult to tell where I end and the organization begins. You can let me know by replying to the forum.

I am feeling rather relieved that the entire city doesn't elect the editor every four years. Even asking you for your comments makes me a bit quakey. I spend a good part of my day replying to criticisms of our journalism. Some of you can be rather nasty. I know the bulk of Dane County reads the Wisconsin State Journal and I bet many of you would like to write my job eval. Go to the forum attached to this blog if you have something to say. 

I leave this week to attend the annual American Society of Newspaper Editors convention. You may not hear from me for a few days. I am splurging and not taking my laptop. Without it, I can't blog with our particular software.

I will be in daily contact with the newsroom via my smartphone. And I'll update you on the mood of the nation's journalism leaders when I get back April 2.

Happy Spring!