Two editors step away from Senate coverage

BANGOR, Maine, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Two editors with The Bangor (Maine) Daily News have recused themselves from the newspaper’s coverage of the state’s 2008 U.S. Senate election.

Executive editor Mark Woodward and assignment editor Tim Allen will not participate in the newspaper’s coverage of the campaign because of their close ties to candidates, the newspaper said Saturday. The decision followed conferences with fellow editors about apparent conflicts of interest.

Woodward, 60, worked for 10 months as communications director for Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, before he was named executive editor at the newspaper in 1997. His wife, Bridget Woodward, has worked in Collins’ Bangor office for more than 10 years, and recently announced she plans to retire effective Sept. 30.

Tim Allen, 55, is a first cousin of U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District and is running for the Senate. Tim Allen oversees the newspaper’s political, business, health, education and environmental coverage.