Wednesday’s Lunch Time Soapbox Forum

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Thu, Aug 21, 2003, 3:09 pm  //  John Servais

At the Lunch Time Soapbox Forum on Wednesday, Brett Bonner, running for Mayor of Bellingham, answers questions before an audience of over 150 citizens. Folks are lined up at the microphone to hit him with hard questions.
At yesterday's forum, the mayor and four challengers faced the audience for over an hour of questions. The forum does not allow them to use notes, so the give and take is very entertaining as well as enlightening. We learn more about them as persons.

This website helped start these Soapbox forums two years ago and is one of the sponsors this year. While I am not shy about posting opinionated reports here, I also support fair and open campaigns for all who are willing to run for public office. We have sought to create a forum that is very fair to all candidates. The goal is to inform citizens of the positions of candidates.

Watch for the forums to repeat after the Primary election. The format will be different, with both candidates for each office on the two soapboxes together and asking each other questions as well as fielding questions from the audience.

You can check the websites of candidates throughout the campaign season with the handy list on the right. The Email links make it convenient to contact them for invitations to speaking events. We need to help candidates reach out to more voters and not just leave it to the candidates to scramble. Challengers should be invited to neighborhood meetings. We can all help make our election process work better. There are also links to the Bellingham Herald's web pages of campaign coverage and the County Auditors pages. See the column on the right.
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This city is in serious need of good local news coverage

Sun, Aug 31, 2003, 2:50 pm  //  John Servais

According to today's Herald, editorial page editor Carolyn Nielson is on leave. Eric Thomas, who has been writing goofy editorials aimed at humor, is now…

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What is happening at the Herald?

Fri, Aug 29, 2003, 2:54 pm  //  John Servais

You would think the Port of Bellingham getting a windfall of $17 million would be news. But since posting that here - and scooping the…

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The Port Commissioner campaign is getting hot

Wed, Aug 27, 2003, 2:57 pm  //  John Servais

Ginny Benton, seeking her third term as commissioner, stated this evening at the Rome Grange that she will not respond to the "mud slinging" being…

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Wednesday’s Lunch Time Soapbox Forum

Thu, Aug 21, 2003, 3:09 pm  //  John Servais

At yesterday's forum, the mayor and four challengers faced the audience for over an hour of questions. The forum does not allow them to use…

0 comments

Do we have to endure a tragedy before we wake up?

Thu, Aug 14, 2003, 3:15 pm  //  John Servais

Go pick up today's issue of the Bellingham Weekly and read the Skinny. It reports on the Bellingham Police giving jaywalking citations to downtown merchants…

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Give GW what he deserves

Mon, Aug 11, 2003, 3:22 pm  //  John Servais

If you are interested in giving the raspberry to George W when he visits Washington State next week, then check out www.stopbushseattle.com and make travel…

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This is an exclusive NwCitizen feature

Fri, Aug 08, 2003, 3:25 pm  //  John Servais

If you like a good read then check The Door to War and the Futurist Markets article. The author takes the concept of a Terror…

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OK. They are completely insane

Sun, Aug 03, 2003, 3:32 pm  //  John Servais

Amazing. I can call the supposed president of our country insane and my conservative friends only object to the f word. This is an adult…

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