Patch Owed It To Users To Address Stan Flemming's Race

Newsflash: Race is a sensitive issue.

That's not really news, but race does seem to create a stir every time it comes up in the news.

In reading user comments on a , it was clear that race is a sensitive subject. Some users questioned why I even wrote the piece, because they argued that race should never, ever be part of a story.

Only in this instance, it was the story.

Last month, University Place Patch published an article fromabout its endorsement for University Place City Council, which noted that Tuesday's election would produce the city's first African American on the dais.

After the endorsement piece was published, former Councilwoman Lorna Smith commented on Patch that the group failed to mention Flemming, who is a minority himself. I checked with his office, which confirmed that he is of Native American and East Indian descent.

Even after I confirmed his ethnicity, I was presented with documents dating to the early 1900's that listed his father as African American. I decided to do my own reporting, check back with Stan and present both sides of the story.

After we published the piece, several users asked why I even wrote it.

One reader e-mailed: "Out of all the ways to spend your free time, why would one of them be to argue someone else's racial heritage just to prove a point?"

Here's why: Race shouldn't be part of a story unless it is the story.

Ultimately, does the race of a candidate matter when it comes to the way he or she performs a job? Of course not. That's not what this piece is about.

Is it worth recognizing the election of the first African American, or Jewish American, or Pacific Islander, or someone of any other ethnicity to the city's highest office, especially given UP's diversity? You bet. African Americans constitute more than 10 percent of UP's population, so the first one chosen by voters is worth noting.

Is it worth reporting when a former elected official questions whether that milestone is legitimate, especially when there are government documents that appear to back her argument? Absolutely. Patch owes it to the community to present the facts.

I realize race is a sensitive subject, but I am not afraid to write about it when called for. Given this particular story and in light of Tuesday's election, I felt it was.

Whether you agree or disagree, free to contact me at 253-217-6060 or brent.champaco@patch.com, and we can chat about it.