Republicans Say "No" to League of Women Voters Debate
A fundamental difference in the Democrats vs. Republican approach to openness with the community was uncovered this week. As reported in the Bucks County Courrier [link]
An open forum debate was canceled last week after Republicans questioned the proposed format. "The Republican candidates wanted the questions before the debate, and since we take questions from the audience, we cannot predict what the public will ask," Kip Malloy, president of the League of Women Voters, said. Under the guidelines of debates moderated by the League of Women Voters, candidates are asked to answer a few questions developed by the league and a series of questions from the audience.
None of the questions are available before the debate, Malloy said.
"The point of these appearances is for the public to have access to knowledge about the candidates in a manner not controlled by the candidates - an open and free discussion of public concerns," she continued.
Jerry Schenkman, one of the Democratic candidates for a Newtown supervisor seat, said he was looking forward to discussing the issues with his opponents.
"An open forum with people asking questions and a nonpartisan moderator seems like the most forthright approach to this. Anything else smacks of being managed too much," he said. "A fear of answering the questions that people want answers to is not the way we want to begin managing our township."
An open forum debate was canceled last week after Republicans questioned the proposed format. "The Republican candidates wanted the questions before the debate, and since we take questions from the audience, we cannot predict what the public will ask," Kip Malloy, president of the League of Women Voters, said. Under the guidelines of debates moderated by the League of Women Voters, candidates are asked to answer a few questions developed by the league and a series of questions from the audience.
None of the questions are available before the debate, Malloy said.
"The point of these appearances is for the public to have access to knowledge about the candidates in a manner not controlled by the candidates - an open and free discussion of public concerns," she continued.
Jerry Schenkman, one of the Democratic candidates for a Newtown supervisor seat, said he was looking forward to discussing the issues with his opponents.
"An open forum with people asking questions and a nonpartisan moderator seems like the most forthright approach to this. Anything else smacks of being managed too much," he said. "A fear of answering the questions that people want answers to is not the way we want to begin managing our township."
posted by Newtown Dems at 10:18 AM
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