From Cavan Wilk of Greater Greater Washington.
In order to raise voters' awareness on transportation, land use, livable/walkable communities, climate change, habitat protection/restoration, and other key environmental and quality-of-life issues, you are invited to participate in a Candidates' Forum on these issues. The Sierra Club of Montgomery County and the Action Committee for Transit (ACT) are co-sponsoring this Forum on Tuesday March 31 at 7:30 pm at John F. Kennedy High School. Kennedy HS is a 15 minute walk from the Glenmont Metro and is served by the C7, C8, and C9 Metrobus routes.
The parameters of this Candidates' Forum are as follows:
* The forum will start promptly at 7:30 pm and will end promptly at 9:30 pm.
* All Democratic and Republican candidates have been invited.
* Approximately two-thirds of the questions will be chosen by the Sierra Club and ACT; approximately one-third of the questions will come from the audience.
* Each candidate will be allowed two minutes to respond to each question.
* The moderator will ask follow-up questions to one or more candidates when appropriate.
* We will allow each candidate to make a final one-minute statement during the closing minutes of the Forum.
* The moderator will enforce all time limits.
* We will invite the voters of District 4 and the general public and the press to attend this event.
Thank you for your willingness to support the democratic process in Montgomery County's District 4. The Action Committee for Transit and the Sierra Club of Montgomery County hope that you will attend and embrace the March 31 Candidates' Forum as an important element of the political process.
Earlier this month, David [Alpert] posted a list of candidates. During the post, David also described an underlying issue that will be discussed at this forum:The county is struggling with the same debates over the future of our communities as in many other parts of the nation. Does it want to strengthen and increase its walkable neighborhoods and transit options? Or should it restrict all growth inside the Beltway to keep existing suburban communities just as they are? On Greater Greater Washington, we have our opinions. East County voters have to make their decision, and that seat on the Council could tip an important balance for the entire county.
A thorough Greater Greater Washington post about the issues surrounding land use planning in Montgomery County can be found here.
I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Cavan Wilk
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sierra Club and ACT Sponsor District 4 Debate
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3 comments:
I am glad to learn of this forum, and I presume there will be others. Kudos to those who organized it.
I am writing with some commentary, in general, about candidate forums. I think such forums are important, so people can hear what candidates have to say.
I struggle with thinking how much we can really hear from candidates, in just doing the math:
Forum is two hours (120 minutes)
There are 10 candidates, but Mr. Gluck of the Green Party is running unopposed so he will only run in the Special General Election.
Assuming all nine candidates from the (D) and (R) parties attend, the forum starts and ends promptly, and the moderator enforces the "two-minute-per-candidate answer" rule, that means that there will be 18 minutes per question, plus some amount of time for follow-up questions as the moderator may ask... so let's assume 20 - 25 minutes per question (including transition time and follow-ups.)
After subtracting time for introductions, setting the stage with ground rules, and the ending summaries by each candidate, that means that about five questions may be asked.
Again, these are only my own observations and opinion from "doing the math." My question is, in general, and nothing negative directed toward any forum organizers, but is there any other way to do this so we can hear more questions answered by candidates? Is there any way to have actual discussion -- give-and-take -- among candidates?
It's a struggle, and I have no answers. I'm not sure how many people would be willing to give up longer hours on a weekend, or stay longer at an evening function.
I'm just throwing this out there, wondering if there are alternatives that people who may be considering organizing a candidate forum may consider?
I hear you. Last year there were eight candidates and when they all showed up, none had a lot of time.
In 2008, there were two debates sponsored by Democratic clubs: one by Greater Silver Spring and the other by Leisure World. At each of those debates, the four Democratic candidates had 20-30 minutes each. The MoCo Young Dems are holding such an event on April 1 at AFI. I don't know of any plan by the Republicans to do so - they did not last time.
Well, if you'd like my answers to the Sierra Club Questionnaire, it is right here.
I've decided that as I get and answer any questionnaires, I will be putting my answers online. If that makes any other candidates change their opinion or refine their positions because I said it first and I said it better (or was more thorough, in depth, etc), so much the better for the greater good of the Montgomery District 4 voter.
In any case, the local blogspace community has a fairly comprehensive idea, already, about my positions on Sprawl, McMansionism, people being forced to live in giant beehives (actually a very good idea for those who can stand it, in terms of salvaging the ecosystem, etc) and that sort of stuff.
All of my questionnaire answers will be found here.
Coming soon, my NARAL questionnaire. Oh, I 100-percent support everything they wanted to know about, so I guess that's all good.
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