I actually managed to drag myself out of the house to get to the Government Access Candidate's night. Interesting evening, at least for the portion I stayed for.
I left after the school committee candidates folks. Sorry, but staying for that was even a chore, given the probabilities and voting patterns in this town.
Plenty of no shows for candidates running unopposed. Although at least one did show up.
The main event was the selectmen's race segment. Before we get to that ...
Some definite improvements and still lingering peeves about the night.
One peeve is once again the sound system. I don't blame COA for this. It may be their building but it ain't their show. For most speakers not an issue. I suspect the most workable solution hear is to have someone instruct the speakers on how to utilize a microphone. Now granted, some have been around long enough so that they should know how to do just that, but some haven't. Put a mark in the organizational draw back column though, again.
The format. What use to be unlimited time for the candidates to introduce themselves went to five minutes. I realize it was just a year ago, but I don't remember this being the case last year. Apparently a few of the candidates were unaware of the limit. Not having seen the advance notice for the event given to the candidates, I am not going to rant too much here. I have never been the advocate for unlimited. If this limit was clearly stated to the candidates before hand, too bad for them. If it was not, well another mark in the column.
Biggest improvement, going back to getting the press to ask the questions. Last's year Candidate's Night highlighted just how wrong somethings can be, not only in perception, but in actuality.
The decision last year to stack the panel with members from a town committee which were essentially the sponsors of and presenting a ballot question to the voters, and have it "hosted" by another member of the same committee was point blank wrong and inexcusable. It was wrong for all the obvious reasons at the time and didn't get any less wrong with other information that came to light.
May that travesty of blatant promotion never happen again. One thing I will tell you, based on comments from people back then. It totally and completely backfired. Sometimes the average voter is greatly underestimated. What people forget is you don't have to be the world's greatest mathematician to be able to figure out what 2 + 2 equals. And that is all that will be said on this.
The press, love them or hate them, at least wear the badge of not being aligned.
Speaking of which ... kind of ...
My original thought for today's piece was an assessment of what was said by the four last night. Do yourself a favor and watch the darn thing when it airs. Then read the candidates statements in The Fairhaven Neighborhood News, the March 10th edition.
The answers to the reporters' questions are insightful, at least some of them. A couple of potential moments. One question relating to management style in particular for one of the challengers. One question about past actions in another capacity that was head in the right direction but missed the mark a bit. Would have been more relevant about skills and actions the last few years rather than the first few years.
Anyway, since I am somewhat pressed for time this morning, and giving the full attention all four deserve isn't going to happen today, it will have to wait.
I will end by butchering the H.L Menken line by splicing it together with another famous line, the KISS principle applies to explanations, the simple seldom though is the answer to most problems.
Until next time.
Biggest improvement, going back to getting the press to ask the questions. Last's year Candidate's Night highlighted just how wrong somethings can be, not only in perception, but in actuality.
The decision last year to stack the panel with members from a town committee which were essentially the sponsors of and presenting a ballot question to the voters, and have it "hosted" by another member of the same committee was point blank wrong and inexcusable. It was wrong for all the obvious reasons at the time and didn't get any less wrong with other information that came to light.
May that travesty of blatant promotion never happen again. One thing I will tell you, based on comments from people back then. It totally and completely backfired. Sometimes the average voter is greatly underestimated. What people forget is you don't have to be the world's greatest mathematician to be able to figure out what 2 + 2 equals. And that is all that will be said on this.
The press, love them or hate them, at least wear the badge of not being aligned.
Speaking of which ... kind of ...
My original thought for today's piece was an assessment of what was said by the four last night. Do yourself a favor and watch the darn thing when it airs. Then read the candidates statements in The Fairhaven Neighborhood News, the March 10th edition.
The answers to the reporters' questions are insightful, at least some of them. A couple of potential moments. One question relating to management style in particular for one of the challengers. One question about past actions in another capacity that was head in the right direction but missed the mark a bit. Would have been more relevant about skills and actions the last few years rather than the first few years.
Anyway, since I am somewhat pressed for time this morning, and giving the full attention all four deserve isn't going to happen today, it will have to wait.
I will end by butchering the H.L Menken line by splicing it together with another famous line, the KISS principle applies to explanations, the simple seldom though is the answer to most problems.
Until next time.
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