You can’t get the facts needed for making a wise choice in 30 minutes but at least Round Table Talk will show you the faces of Council Candidates. And you will hear their voices that can tell you much about a person’s ability and education. Just judging from a photo in the SNH it is tempting to call the winners. And why not? J.B. Varney should bust up the perception of impropriety of the combo Gardy, Johnson, and Johnson. Brown will convince Newsome and everyone else that despite accomplishing almost nothing in 16 years he can’t be beat even though Newsome could use the extra money. It will be close between popular Mike Duman and Caroline Martin. “IS” favors Duman because he is a proven businessman with critical decision-making experience. As for Parr and Copeland it could be a race race. Paar may not be that popular in the white community and the black part of our population may work hard to get out the vote. Four blacks on Council could make life in Suffolk very interesting.
14 comments:
Regardless of who is elected the problem is and will be, council's inability to take a stand. Johnson has her boys well trained and will pester them with phone calls and leverage them to get her way. This will not change until one of them says publicaly that he will no longer take her calls nor go into closed door meetings. The other concern after a council seat changes hands, there is an effort to "dirty" the new man with an insider deal or special patronage. Once that happens the councilman's reputation is enslaved for the duration of their term. It's very unfortunate but that is the way of our city.
Andy Damiani could do the voters a great service between now and election by making Roundtable Talk available for debate. It is the only forum we have that is on often enough to give every voter an opportunity to “know” the candidates. Give them tough questions and get out of the way. This would be a first for Andy, twenty minutes of have at it; no holds barred, Katy bar the door. Now their answers are on record and watching them in verbal fisticuffs would provide voters necessary insight for determining the quality of the candidates. If you agree write a comment about it. This could be important to you and your family.
I agree about Andy's show serving as a good forum. What's ironic, though, is that the moderator (Andy) probably has more sense about the city government than all the candidates combined.
Pock great idea. One show per contest to allow sufficient time to develope a dialogue. No prepared notes should be allowed. Questions must be answered instead of politicians using the time for advertising. If they appear not to answer the question they should be cut off and their opponent given the remaining time. If it's to happen, Andy should ask you and the IS crowd for assistance preparing questions. Allow ample time for follow up questions. Opening or closing remarks are a waste of precious time, just give the viewers good hard hitting questions. Leave the what's your favorite color, paper or plastic questions for the Suffolk News Herald.
IS favors Mike Duman for council because he is a proven businessman and he will probably be a good candidate and will be a good council person if elected. But all business people I have ever known are in business to get other peoples money, meaning they are only in business to make money. Hopefully he will understand he is not running a business while being on city council and doesn't try to get other peoples money for the city.
If Andy has other shows planned between now and election we hope he postpones them until after we vote. We need to hear and judge our candidates now, not later when it is too late. Hopefully Mr. Varney will take on Gardy who in one term has become a boring good old boy. As long as Johnson is mayor the relationship of a councilman in league with the mayors husband is a bit too much.
Anon 3:5o. Just how would Duman improve his way of making money? He does not need any advantage he would acquire by being on Council.
I agree. This would be a very good service from Andy!
I talked with Andy Damiani about arranging debates on his show. He had already considered the idea but is up against time. It would require the cooperation of Prime Media and postponing other planned shows. He will do his best to make it happen, Not necessarily a debate but at least a discussion covering important points. You can encourage Andy when you see him. He realizes it has never been done before. ku
Did someone miss the Board of Education election? Over 50% of our taxes is spent on the public school system and not a peep from any of them running. The last time our city ignored the candidates we elected Johnson, Obama and Warner. We NEVER want to let that happen again so we better start asking them the tough questions they need to answer.
We deliberately avoided confusion and kept School Board campaign seperate from the Council campaign.
"IS" favors Debra Wahlstrom over Debranski...she has a doctorate in education. And think it a bit unfair that he has rights to sell students cap and gowns, etc. There once was on the Suffolk city agenda that he be given sole right to sell to Suffolk students.
I welcome questions and am always ready to answer them! I also have a blog site up and running that I will keep updated - even when elected.
DebWahlstromforSchoolBoard.wordpress.com
Please take a minute to look through my postings and send your questions along.
Successdeb@aol.com
539-2668
Many thanks!
The question concerning school board candidates was directed at the other candidates besides Deborah Wahlstrom. She has done a yeoman's job of getting her message out. The others however either don't have a clue what to say, or will just hide and hope for the best in November. That's just great for our children's future and our city. After last night's primary upsets one wonders what is going through the minds of the council and school board incumbents?
Watch the mayor closely to see who she steathfully endorses. She already is cozying up to the next batch of council members.
"After last night's primary upsets one wonders what is going through the minds of the council and school board incumbents?"
Great question answered with a question. What minds?
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