MCCOOK, Neb. (AP) — A city council candidate in McCook, Neb., is apologizing for an automated phone call campaign — in advance.

Mike O’Dell says the call being used later this week addresses important local issues and was the only method that made economic sense.

He says it’s the only automated call he’ll send out this campaign season. He’s sorry if it interrupts someone’s dinner or favorite television program.

The Legislature enacted restrictions on so-called robo-calls this year, but the bill won’t go into effect until 2009.

The law will limit automated calls to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Messages will have to begin with the name of the person paying for the call. A phone number other than that of the machine making the call will have to be provided.

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Information from: McCook Daily Gazette, http://www.mccookgazette.com