The candidate forum last night came off as we hoped. Candidates told us afterward that it was fair and several said it was the best live forum they had attended. Several said it was the most comprehensive in that we had all six local campaigns represented. And we gave most of the time to live questions from the audience.

About eight of us, writers and editors, decided in August - just after the primary election - to produce this forum. We could not find any scheduled forum for the general election. We decided on the day the ballots were mailed as a best date. Now that it is over, we think we may do this again.

Turnout was about 150 citizens for the 42nd District offices with about half or more leaving once these were over. With only Jean Melious showing up for the County Council seat, it seemed the conservative folks - and Tea Party folks - had no interest in hearing only Jean speak and answer questions from voters. Tony Larson was a no show. Jean spoke well and answered questions from the audience.  

Much has been written elsewhere about Tony not showing up to forums. I've held back so as to not prejudice the possibility of his showing up for ours last night. I think each candidate for any office makes decisions on what to attend or skip based on what will aid their being elected. Thus, Tony, or more likely his handlers, decided an open forum with no notes and unscripted questions from a live audience was not best for him. I don't buy the excuse that he had another commitment. We invited him over a month ago. This was simply a forum he did not want to attend. All political junkies know that. Let's not kid ourselves.

A few of us gathered afterward at the Temple Bar. We felt that Jason Overstreet was the surprise speaker of the evening. He showed a great grasp issues and a dynamic speaking style. We were not judging his opinions, just his ability to speak and hold our attention and answer questions well. We also noted a definite absence of liberal progressives in the audience.  The conservatives and Tea Party folks were dominant.  It truly seems they are energized this election and the liberals and Democrats are not. 

We who write for this Internet web blog think live forums are important to the election process. We all learn much from newspapers, TV news, radio, the Internet - and from direct mail from candidates, TV and radio ads, brochures, yard signs - and other creative ways. They are all useful - but they are also indirect. A live forum is the compliment that is needed. We see the candidates face to face - and next to each other so we can compare them and either change our minds or reinforce our opinions. We can ask them questions with a microphone so all can hear - and they both have to respond. There is no avoiding our questions. They have no notes or aids. We see how well they know the issues and how they handle slip ups or when they make a mistake. We see them as who they are. It makes the process real. That is why a bunch of Internet writers and editors put in the effort to stage this forum. We still need genuine full human interaction to make the best voting decision.

We saw a number of NWCitizen commenters at the forum.  I'd appreciate any comments on the forum and how it might be improved if we do another one next year.