Media forum helped best candidates stand out

Having been involved in election forums for the past few decades, I’ve learned there is no format that is going to please everyone. However (and I’m admittedly biased on this point), I think last night’s forum was the best of the bunch during this civic election campaign.

Rather than written questions, we accepted verbal questions only. In order to maintain a good balance between questions to mayoralty candidates and questions to those running for council, we designated one microphone for each. It worked very well.

Having learned from our federal election forum as well as other civic forums this year, we decided to allow questions to be directed to more than one candidate at a time, and this provided for a more interesting exchange of opinions.

One candidate complained after the forum that he hadn’t been given enough opportunity to speak. Well, part of the purpose of the format we used was to see which candidates would stand out, who would jump in on questions and have something to say.

Several candidates shone in this regard; a number of others sat quietly throughout the evening, even though my co-moderator, Sandy Heimlich-Hall of CFJC, was careful to allow candidates a chance to chime in.

And, sure, some candidates “planted” questions from the audience, and that bugged some of the others in the running. But if your own supporters don’t stand up and toss you a softball question, who’s to blame — your opponent, or you and your committee?

Thanks to The Daily News, CFJC and Kamloops This Week for organizing and hosting the forum, and to TRU for providing use of the Grand Hall. Thanks, as well, to all those who came to hear what the candidates had to say.

And, if you’re wondering about that other election — for school board — come on out to St. Andrew’s on the Square tonight at 6 fora  trustees’ forum. Yours truly moderating.