SYP Candidate Forums: Initial Responses
SYP is hosting three municipal candidate forums at the Hilton Garden Inn, with the first on this Tuesday, March 10. Read more about the times and format in our previous post.
Below, we have provided links to each of the candidates’ responses to the five initial questions required to participate in the SYP forum. We encourage everyone to read the responses of the candidates (especially those trying to represent your ward), and then attend the forums with further questions in mind.
Unlinked candidates do not have their responses posted because they could not be contacted in time or due to their personal preference. However, they are welcome to participate in the forums.
Note: SYP questions are printed in light gray text prior to the darker text of the numbered candidate responses.
Mayoral Race
Dan Camp
Matt Cox
Marnita Henderson
Parker Wiseman
Ward 1
Corey Bagwell
Ben Carver
Mark Duncan
Helen Eaves
Juliette Weaver-Reese
Ward 2
Rodney Lincoln
Sandra Sistrunk
Ward 3
Eric Parker
John Gaskin
Ward 4
Richard Corey
Nick Papas
John Michael VanHorn
Ward 5
Mike Allen
Virgil Bolin
Jeremiah Dumas
Scott Maynard
Ward 6
Roy Perkins
Ward 7
Janette Self
Henry Vaughn
I find it disturbing that any organization would bar a qualified candidate from appearing in a political forum, no matter what the reason. From a technology standpoint, speaking as a PROFESSIONAL, web pages can be updated in seconds and information sent out just as quickly. How do the voters benefit from a needlessly limited field of candidates?
Not having completed a questionnaire ‘in time’ is hardly an adequate defense for selective prohibition of the free speech of qualified candidates.
I have requested a list of all qualified candidates in the Starkville city election and will be posting the information to the Starkville web page at http://www.CityCandidates.com
There will also be a section for Starkville candidates on the ColumbusTalks.com web site, with no banning or prohibition of any qualified candidates…period.
Both web sites are no-charge, open access, community service and free speech sites. Contact info is on each web site for interested candidates.
Mr. Geiger, thanks for your interest in our forums. As this is the first year that SYP has done anything like this, we are all learning as we go with guidance from the members, candidates, and the rest of the community. We tried to publicize our intention to hold these forums prior to qualification, but we admittedly could not reach everyone.
We initially excluded 3 candidates (others declined) that missed our submission deadline so they would not have an unfair advantage by reading other candidates’ responses before submitting their own. This is a common problem, in our opinion, with many traditional debate formats…weaker candidates can tailor their responses to those of the stronger candidates. Our submission deadline was meant to yield independent candidate thoughts.
After much discussion, we have decided to allow those that missed our deadline to participate in our forums, but we will still not publish their responses to those initial questions. This is not a violation of free speech, as all candidates are free to publish whatever they want…on their own sites.
The purpose of the forums is to allow voters to find out as much about each candidate as they can. We will certainly have room for improvement, so constructive feedback is welcome.
In the special mayoral election in Columbus, there were four qualified candidates for the office. Three were allowed to appear on local television to be interviewed about their platforms, goals, political philosophies and why each thought they were the best candidate for the office. The fourth candidate was barred from the series of interviews, based on the claim that there were not enough slots open before the election.
When the issue was raised to those sponsoring and conducting the TV series, the response was that the fourth candidate could purchase air time if they wanted to express their political platform.
If you have any young media professionals in your group, they should know the illegality of what was done and why it is not allowed by law. The FCC even publishes an Election Campaign Media Guide for television and radio stations, to help them resolve these types of issues.
If spontaneity and revealing answers to questions are desired, the optimum scenario for that would be to not post any answers until after a forum, allowing all qualified candidates equal opportunity to appear and respond in kind. Then posting answers after the forum would allow the public to compare all candidates’ answers on questionnaires to those given on the spur of the moment. Many times, there are big surprises when forums are conducted this way.
Just food for thought, and the CityCandidates.com web site will be more than happy to see that any content, from any qualified candidates in a N. Miss. political race, are posted to the internet.
This is just my personal opinion, but I truly think this type of format would reveal more about the candidate than a canned format, with known positions stated in advance.
I appreciate your response and the courtesy shown a senior citizen professional (IT administration).