 The
Annual
ITA Candidates' Forum, 2010!
September 14, 6:30 p.m.
is set for our Candidates' Forum, and replaces our regular
monthly meeting. As usual, it is open to the public, who are encouraged to attend and
question the candidates.
Each guest at our candidate's forum receives instructions and a
scorecard of candidates. If they are members of ITA, the scorecard also serves as a ballot
for voting on ITA endorsements. Member or not, we invite comments and all are welcome to
drop their sheets into the ballot box as they leave.
This year we will hear from candidates for City Council,
City Mayor, and
the Borough Assembly. Because we did not have the School
Board Candidates, the forum should only last about 4 hours.
Each candidate is given one minute for an opening statement, after
which they answer questions. They do not receive "canned" questions, but
take questions from the audience, which is encouraged to participate.
One way in which our forum differs from others is that questions may be
directed at one or more candidates, or the questioner may request that all the candidates
for that seat (or all seats represented at the front) answer the question. There is no
strict time limit set for questions for any particular seat, but when the audience seems
satisfied, the candidates will be given 1 1/2 minutes for a closing comment, in the
opposite order in which they gave their opening statements.
We will discuss the ballot propositions midway in
the forum. It generally takes about 5 minutes between
groups to switch labels and candidates at the front of the hall. During that time guests
are encouraged to help themselves to refreshments, coffee, and punch, which
members and friends supply.
We ask those who must leave early to please slip out quietly so as not
to disturb those candidates who are talking, and if they are ITA members, to please vote
as much of their ballot as they can and drop it in the ballot box as they leave.
Candidates and their
supporters should be warned: You may not hand out campaign
literature of any kind during our forums. This is a forum for meeting and learning
about ALL the candidates in a neutral and non-partisan way, not to push those who thought
to bring brochures, etc. We ask candidates to leave their campaign literature in
their cars to save them and
us the embarrassment of having to ask them to remove it.
The
election for these seats and proposition will be
October 5, 2010.
Don't forget, it all
means little
unless you remember to vote October 5!
Back to Home|Guest Page|Lighten Up|Contact ITA |
