It's the first ballot measure in the nation, and that's how it's being treated in the national media as they note it. Library spokesman Gary Pullano said so far, most of the contact he's had has been with local media, but he did speak with CNN Friday. The Family Research Council held a media event on filters Friday at its Holland Township facility. We just wanted to give them one place where they could find voice for some other concerns. The filtering issue was brought up at the Republican presidential debate in Grand Rapids in January, and candidate Steve Forbes, a filter supporter, plans a campaign stop at Herrick Wednesday.
Local activists say the story is important and deserves close attention.
This story is so important for the nation, for our kids around the country and around the world that we have the direct possibility for changing lives. But a library trade organization downplayed the role the Holland debate will have on a national level. When the issue surfaces, it often becomes a big issue in a particular community, but nationally, it's not a big issue. The majority of communities are generally not experiencing problems. In one of the few examples of shared opinion in the entire debate, filtering opponent Michael Noordijk agreed that the media attention can be tiresome.