Spin cycle: On the blog

Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) has written nine columns this year in the Glen Cove Record-Pilot. Robert Germino, his Republican challenger, says he wants to have his say, too, but Anton Community Newspapers, which owns the weekly, says it won't take opinion pieces from candidates. It does, though, let elected officials write on government issues until three weeks before Election Day. In a piece for Glen Cove Patch, a website, Germino demanded Lavine give up his column. Lavine said he won't do so. While Anton accused Germino of ignoring news interview requests for its news pages, Germino said he'd talk to Anton reporters only if he can submit opinion pieces.

- Nomaan Merchant