David Brauer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> The last 30 minutes, in which people will be milling around is new.
> It sounded much more formal before, in which we would all still be in
> our seats, and all nine candidates would be asked questions. Funny how
> this thing is taking shape isn't it? Had I not posted, I doubt we
> would have known that fact.
I think Pam might have made an incorrect assumption. It was always
planned to be the way I described, in countless e-mails and newspaper
announcements.
PT: While it may have always been planned to be that way, it was not stated in
a way that made your intent CLEAR. My posting helped to clarify your unclear
message, apparently given in countless emails and newspaper announcements.
> IMHO (again), I suggest having a series of serious community
> roundtables, which will focus on just one or two topics per
> roundtable, that are vital issues for the 8th Ward. It is sometimes
> hard to get a true read on candidates when they give you rehearsed
> blurbs in forums. As they are conducted now, there is no time to
> really get into a topic, because the moderator has to keep things
> moving. So, everyone then tends to give us variations of the same
> blurb.
True, perhaps. We're hoping we can break through the blurbs with good
audience questions and follow-ups, and good moderation. In any event,
the "blurb" problem is worse at a forum with many more candidates,
which is what Pam originally suggested.
PT: I did not originally suggest anything of the sort. I asked the question as
to why the exclusion of candidates from your upcoming forum.
> By having the roundtables, candidates will need to possess at least an
> hour's worth of knowledge about a topic to keep our interest in their
> candidacy, and will be given a chance to convince us further that it
> is more than just surface knowledge. We could have enough
> roundtables to keep them on their toes. I believe it is a much better
> way to winnow the field and get a view into their political character,
> backbones, etc. than by the current methods.
Go for it! We don't have enough time to commit to that, but we don't
have a monopoly on forum organizing, either.
I do wonder how many people would show up at multiple hour-long forums
featuring nine candidates, though.
PT: I believe quite a few people would show up. They could pick and choose to
attend the roundtable which happens to peak their particular interest. And
knowing that they will get to hear more than a blurb just might be enough
incentive. The roundtables would not be the audience talking, it would be the
candidates talking, moderated of course. Particular questions constituents
would want to be discussed would have been submitted quite a few weeks ahead,
so the roundtable could be formulated to be relevant and timely.
Who knows, maybe being faced with having to speak longer than two minutes on an
issue, the candidates will winnow themselves.
And, maybe I will help mount some roundtables, but don't reflect back on this
email and decide Pamela is definately going to do that, because it would be a
major assumption on the part of List Members. I have things on my plate too.
Some of you may think that I should keep my thoughts to myself then, and that
would be your right. However, I believe that sometimes things need to be said,
and folks are just to afraid of what someone else may think that they remain
silent. I thank God that I am not a part of that huge silent majority out
there. In today's world, the sound of that majority is deafening to the
masses. Now, I am simply putting the idea out there because there may be folks
who coulr take this idea and run with it. And power to them.
Three posts today and I am out. Ah, but tomorrow is another day.
Pamela Taylor (Ward 10)
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