Michael Stone, Patch Staff

Sidelines student newspaper at Middle Tennessee State University (2007-2010); The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (two three-month internships in 2008 and 2009 and additional freelance work after my second internship); Chattanooga Times Free Press (six-month internship in 2010); graduated from MTSU in May 2010 with a bachelor&#39;s degree in journalism; excited about being the editor of West Cobb Patch and hearing from you, yes you<br><br><b>Your Beliefs</b><br>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.<br><br><b>Politics </b><br>How would you describe your political beliefs?

Assuming that someone&#39;s collective political beliefs could exist on a straight line, I would say I&#39;m in the dead center. In my journalism career, I&#39;ve been in many push-me-pull-you situations, where I act as a mediator and find myself nodding to rational from both sides. And, if there&#39;s a decent-sized group arguing one point over another, they seem to always do so under at least one piece of valid reasoning.

A person&#39;s collective political views, to me, can only be pinpointed in a multidimensional space, where, chances are, no one else is anywhere close to you. That&#39;s the downfall of party politics: Everyone is different, but society corrals everyone into either the elephant pen or the donkey pen.

Are you registered with a certain party?

No.<br><br><b>Religion</b>

To use an overly spoken cliché that people now only use after identifying it as an overly spoken cliché: To each his or her own. May your spirit be made merry through your relationship with yourself and all things around you.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>I think it will be interesting to see if Cobb County voters approve the extension of the county&#39;s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which is expected to put $10.68 million toward projects in Powder Springs. If it is voted down, some of those projects — the ones that have been deemed absolutely necessary — will still have to be carried out, according to city officials. So where will that funding come from? One possibility is a property tax increase. This is definitely something for everyone in the city and county to keep their eyes on.

It will also be interesting to see how the addition of a fifth high school in Douglas County will affect Lithia Springs High School. There is already rezoning expected for the four other high schools. Will any Lithia Springs teachers transfer to the new school? Only time will tell.