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October 11, 2007
District 10 candidates square off in first post-primary debate
The Friendship Community Church played host tonight to the Brainerd Forum, which featured an hour-long debate between the two general election candidates in next month's special election to fill the 10th District Senate seat. The event was organized by BUG, or Brainerd Unity Group, which is a new organization seeking to promote community among the various neighborhoods that line Brainerd Road.
It was a night of firsts: this is the first bid for public office by Andy Berke and Oscar Brock; it was their first appearance together after last week's primary elections nominated them; this was the first public meeting held by the Brainerd Unity Group; and it was my first time moderating a political debate. The folks at BUG were kind enough to invite me to do so, and I can only say that I come away enriched (and — watch out — somewhat emboldened) by the experience.
Turnout was great, for a school night, and no doubt because the promoters worked hard to get the word out through every media outlet possible. It was thrilling to see so many Brainerd residents there. There were donated refreshments, a voter registration table, and a chance for community members to indicate which local issues are most important to them by voting with colored dots on flip chart paper.
All right, then, what did the candidates say? I have to be honest: I am still trying to recall, absorb, and distill their comments. I was so focused on organizing the questions (almost all of which were submitted by attendees) and remembering whom to ask the next one that I could not really focus, with a reporter's (or, for that matter, a voter's) mindset on what was being said in response to each one. I'll try to pull together some highlights, though, and I will also link to media reports as they arrive online. (At least three television crews were there, and I recognized a Times Free Press reporter as well.)
In addition to thanking the Brainerd Unity Group for asking me to moderate, I would like to extend great appreciation to the candidates for making the task a real pleasure. I didn't use a stopwatch, but wouldn't have needed to, as each man kept his response within a reasonable time amount (a couple minutes or so), and the whole affair was kept very civil, despite some expected disagreements on policy.
I hope citizens in other parts of District 10 will take advantage of any opportunity to go hear these two good candidates state their reasons why they should serve in this seat (er, thanks for your understanding, Lookout Valley). Most importantly, I hope we all go vote after informing ourselves as best we can.
Media links:
NewsChannel9 (on the tube at Fox61 as well)
State Senate Elections | By joe lance | 09:54 PM