Charles Schelle, Patch Staff

Charles Schelle is the Local Editor of Sarasota Patch, coming from the Baltimore Sun Media Group's Community News division where he was the social media editor and produced four websites housing 12 weekly and monthly newspapers and two magazines.

Charles was born in Hagerstown, Maryland and grew up in nearby Clear Spring. He is an avid Washington Capitals fan, but that might have to change being so close to Tampa. You'll also probably see him play goal at a local ice rink.

Before that, he covered it all in Carroll County, Maryland, and Sykesville, Maryland for The Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle and Westminster Eagle and won six awards for his reporting from the Maryland Delaware D.C. Press Association for local and state government reporting as well as features.

He also won an award from Suburban Newpapers of America for a detailed feature in the Howard County Times about the world of competitive air guitar.

Before that, he also worked for The Gazette in Mount Airy, Maryland, The Journal in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and interned at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pennsylvania.

He is a 2006 Ball State University graduate where he earned his bachelor's degree in magazine journalism and minored in telecommunications.

<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 us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us 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><b>Politics </b><br>How would you describe your political beliefs?

I consider myself moderate but verge more on the liberal side of humanitarian issues. When it comes to the financial end of things, it has to be economically sound for me to be in favor. Both major parties are failing to find that plan.

<b>Religion</b><br>How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I&#39;m casual when it comes to religion. You figure there has to be something that controls and created all of this, but after that, I don&#39;t know what to believe.

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

After recent fallouts at the county level, Sarasotans are looking at how they can trust that there are appropriate checks and balances to prevent corruption and quality people running their local government.

The community is also interested in seeing how the Nathan Benderson Park will shape up and if rowing will be the boom of the region. 

On the city level, focus on taxpayer money being spent is always a hot issue as well as approrpriate development and planning for each community.

And we can&#39;t be serious all the time. Sarasota has a thriving arts and entertainment scene, so the community wants to know what they can do for fun to distract them from their worries.

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

Between the recent events and my recent arrival here, it&#39;s too early to tell.

With the Benderson Park, there&#39;s a lot that goes into successfully planning and marketing a residential, retail and rowing entertainment center. I just hope there&#39;s enough parking and traffic mitigation if it becomes a success.

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