[RP TownTalk] Ward 1 race

Mon Aug 29 17:49:33 UTC 2005

I do think it's important to be able to probe the candidates' positions in public forum, where all interested voters can read and participate.  On the other hand, you have a point - especially since this is such a new list, the campaign could potentially very much dominate it.  Perhaps a candidates' forum could be set up - not necessarily on town webspace - for all 4, + anyone else who decides to run.  It wouldn't avoid argument, but then a healthy debate can be helpful to voters in judging among candidates. Could be a good format.  It's unscripted, in that the voters can post any questions or challenges they want.  But it's an "open-book test" - candidates can take time to think through their answers and how best to phrase their messages.  Perhaps a ground rule could be that only voters get to challenge candidates, candidates do not directly question each other.  Each candidate could have a little space for a simple platform, and link to their own more elaborate pages.  But I'm not a geek and wouldn't know how to go about setting something like that up.  Is there a citizen out there who knows how and would be willing to host it?  Preferably someone less opinionated, or at least less loudly opinionated, than I am!  And someone all the candidates could agree on moderating. 

In the meantime, until something election-specific could be set up, hopefully positions could be discussed on this list without ripping one another apart.

***On the election itself, though, can Vernon or someone else answer the question as to whether Tracey's replacement will chair the Economic Development Committee?  Also, do we have a date for a special election?  And will there be an interim appointment, as Tracey was appointed by Mr. Tiberio to serve out Chris Davis's term before being elected in her own right?  Anything else we should know about this transition?  Of course, Tracey may not even know yet when she will be moving out of town, so if answers to some questions are not yet available please just keep in mind to post them when they do become known.

Thanks
Regina

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roland Walker" <roland.walker at gmail.com>
To: "Regina Kreger" <regina at kreger.net>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Ward 1 race
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:11:52 -0400

> 
> For the sake of our community, I would greatly prefer if we candidates
> would agree (as Vern and Tracey did in the last election) to keep
> electioneering communications off the pogos and new Town Talk lists.
> 
> One reason is that argumentative conversations, which campaign
> communications are by nature, may alienate people and lead to many
> dropping off the list.  I say this as the veteran of many mailing
> lists.
> 
> What we worked out (sort of unilaterally) in the last election was
> that announcements and invitations going to the pogos list were OK,
> but that electioneering, argument, and get-out-the-vote messages
> should be kept off general community lists.
> 
> Even Vern's announcement letter was somewhat too rhetorical for
> perfect comfort, which if I remember correctly, led us to expediting
> the setup of the separate archerformayor list.
> 
> Regina, I will of course talk over the issues you raise in person.
> Please know that I read your thoughts with great interest.
> 
> Other candidates, I would be glad to talk specifics if anyone wants to
> work out an agreement on ground rules for the list.
> 
> R
> 
> On 8/29/05, Regina Kreger <regina at kreger.net> wrote:
> > Tracey Toscano has announced that she and her family have bought 
> > a new house and are moving across the line out of Riverdale Park. 
> >  Her seat as representative of Ward 1 on the Town Council will be 
> > vacant, not sure as of what date.  Roland Walker, Maureen 
> > Farrington, Bruce Wernek, and Jack Jones have announced their 
> > candidacies for the seat.  Since Tracey chairs the Economic 
> > Development Committee, I am assuming her replacement will do the 
> > same (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).  For me, living 
> > near ghost-town center, still mourning the loss of the Bookshop, 
> > top on my list of questions to the candidates is how you propose 
> > to deal with Douglas Jemal.
> >
> >
> > Especially Maureen -- back in mid-July you posted this to the 
> > pogos list -- does this represent the approach you would take to 
> > Jemal, as our Ward 1 rep?
> >
> > "Maureen E. Farrington freckles at portal.nothingbutshell.net
> > Fri Jul 15 14:32:06 EDT 2005
> >
> > http://www.theavalon.org/history.cfm
> >
> > Here's another article.  Here Jemal worked with the community to 
> > save a local treasure.  What community?  Silver Spring.  What 
> > treasure?  The Avalon Theatre.
> >
> > I don't think legal action or negative media involvement is a 
> > good idea. A cursory web search on Jemal indicates that he is 
> > regularly dragged through the mud, so it would do nothing but 
> > keep him busy dealing with the negative press instead of working 
> > of filling the center.
> >
> > I think that he would respond much more warmly to a show of 
> > support for buying the properties in the first place.  He was 
> > eyed suspisciously from the beginning, and I bet all he wants is 
> > a genuine hug instead of one of those half-hearted shoulder taps 
> > for his efforts.
> >
> > -Maureen"
> >
> >
> > yr neighbor,
> > Regina
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TownTalk mailing list
> > TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
> > http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk_riverdale-park.org
> >