Can we just talk?

The past month has been a joy.  I’ve declared for the RSM City Council and started walking door to door each day.  I’ve met hundreds of people and found it very interesting listening to their stories regarding our city and our city government.

During this time I’ve been invited to several meetings to meet with groups offering endorsements.  Some have been very interesting, others were a little suspect.  On the 20th of the month, Cox Cable will run a forum taped last week.  It was good to have a chanced to tell my story, but it was sad that three candidates chose not appear.  Last evening I was scheduled to appear before a group to interview all the candidates in a forum open to the public.  Three candidates did not plan to attend and then suddenly the entire event was cancelled.

Each day I find my home mailbox filled with postcards and flyers from candidates telling me why they deserve my vote.  I’m growing a little weary of election by postcards since it is so easy to shade the truth.  I would prefer to hear the candidates  speak, defend their positions and answer questions from the community.  I would like to take stock of my candidates and see how they deal with the public.  Unfortunately, there are few places to have these conversations.

We have a community center here in RSM.  How many of you would attend a meeting where all the candidates were invited?  How many would take two hours out of an evening during the week to meet with the candidates, talk with them, and listen respectively while each person and measure is presented by supporters?

I have a little money in my election war chest and would consider setting up such a meeting.  There would need to be some restrictive rules in place to make it work.  It would be restricted to RSM candidates and citizens only.  Every candidate and local measure would receive equal time.  Each citizen would be given equal time with a cutoff when the rental time on the facility expires.  Groups with a specific agenda would have to maintain decorum or be asked to leave the meeting.  If the meeting went long or if citizens demanded it, we could have a second meeting.  There are only three weeks left until the election.  I’m posting this on The Patch, and asking you to respond on line, so people can see the level of interest.

We seem to be losing the ability to sit down and deal with each other when we offer differing points of view.  What do you think of taking the first step toward returning local government to citizens willing to talk about our challenges and opportunities.....let me know.