The 7th Ward Citizens Coalition will conduct a candidates & issues forum on Wednesday, September 24th, in advance of the November general election.
The forum will be held at the D.D. & Velma Davis Center at Mill Creek Park's Fellows Riverside Garden and is set to begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Youngstown Mayor John McNally will lead off the event with his statement in support of a City Charter Amendment to merge the Community Development Agency and the Department of Economic Development. Other issues currently scheduled to be presented during the program include the redistricting charter amendment (Anita Davis speaking in opposition and Chris Travers speaking in support), the Citizens Bill of Rights ("anti-fracking") charter amendment (Jean Engle speaking in support with a speaker in opposition likely to be confirmed Wednesday), the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County levy (library executive director Heidi Daniel speaking in support), and the Mahoning County sales tax issue (Audrey Tillis, Director of the Mahoning County Office of Management & Budget speaking in support).
As of this time, no speakers in opposition to the last two issues have come forward with a request to participate, but they are still urged to do so by emailing the 7WCC at info@7wcc.org by noon Wednesday to submit their interest and contact information. Ballot issues are entitled to one speaker in support and one speaker in opposition. Three minutes for a statement is granted to each side of an issue.
Candidates participating in the forum include Democrat Anthony Donofrio and Republican Carol Ann Robb (7th District Court of Appeals), Democrat Susan Maruca and independent candidate Robert Rusu (Mahoning County Probate Judge), Democrat Michael Sciortino and Republican Ralph Meachem (Mahoning County Auditor), and Anita Rios, the Green Party candidate for governor. Each candidate will be allotted ten minutes: two minutes for an opening statement, seven minutes in which to answer questions submitted in writing from the audience and posed by 7WCC president Atty. Patricia Dougan, and one minute for a closing statement.
Wonderful. I just wish that this could be taped and shown later on one of the TV channels. OR televised on one of TimeWarners local channels. This will be the definitive political event of the year. A huge thanks to the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition for putting this forum together.
i wish this event would be held in the seventh ward. i wonder, how many westsiders would come to the ss for a politcal event?
With their noses so high in the air that they would need to wear oxydgen masks, they wouldn't be caught "slumming" in our beloved 7th Ward.
those are fighting words, sister. i guess us southerners are always in need of fight to our blood pumping.
When you get as old as I am, it's called being cantankerous, ie. difficult or irritating (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritate) to deal with.
Note than one of the topics is the redistricting and possible reduction of Youngstown's 7 wards - which the majority of the 7WCC members are in favor of. ;)
I think it's great that the public is getting to see both sides of the arguments for the issues and that
each side's point of view will be heard. Democracy in action - and maybe it will get more people to
come out and vote.
Hope they will have enough speakers come forward to hear the pros and cons for all of the issues.
As far as recording the event, I couldn't agree more. ANYONE with a decent phone or tablet could
record this event and post it to YouTube for free - and also embed the video into a Facebook page.
All it takes is someone who is willing to bring their mobile device and do the recording. Not difficult
at all in this day and age. Beyond the willingness to do it and the time involved, it would cost nothing.
Not all Youngstowners have computers, but most have TV's and everyone has a radio.
Well, there's always the public library - and the local media are free to download the
videon and audio from Youtube - and rebroadcast them as it would be un-copyrighted
material, in the public domain, and fall under fair-use.
Regarding the SWCC Candidates Forum's redistricting charter amendment presentation
The choice of spokesperson for each side shows that the racial divide is already being framed.
How would you have set the pro-con debate up so far as who it was that was speaking on the 5 ward issue?
Quote from: Towntalk on September 23, 2014, 10:09:14 PM
When you get as old as I am, it's called being cantankerous, ie. difficult or irritating (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritate) to deal with.
lmdo
Quote from: jay on September 24, 2014, 08:25:25 AM
Regarding the SWCC Candidates Forum's redistricting charter amendment presentation
The choice of spokesperson for each side shows that the racial divide is already being framed.
That is not true, because they did not Choose the spokespersons for either side. They asked for
volunteers.
Chris Travers volunteered to speak on the Pro side and happens to be white.
The fact that the person who volunteered for the con side happens to be black is simply that way because that is the person who volunteered first.
It is only racial if they CHOOSE to make it racial, which apparently, they are bound and determined to do.
Sad.
What do you have against Miss Davis Jay ... over 30 years with YPD ... a community leader ... a resident of Youngstown?
We're off to VOTE!
i would like to know what ms. Davis was referring to this charter adm as a conspiracy to obtain power by a certain grp.
It's a conspiracy to improve city government.
Did the media cover this event? If so, which TV stations were there?
I saw it on WKBN, but they didn't interview anyone. It was just a 1 minuite clip.
Quick rundown regarding the ward reduction
Chris Travers did an outstanding job, stuck with the facts, figures, benefits and cited examples of other cities for example Columbus has 5 part time council members
Cited use of saved funds for safety forces etc, also said 5 wards no boundaries yet
Anita Davis said this is all a conspiracy theory, politically motivated, there would be less minorities, said that if we have 5 it will be easier to corrupt those 5 with money and favors also a power shift
Didn't really say why having 7 would be a benefit
It's very apparent that the group against this has no platform and will be saying this is a power thing which isn't true
if questions were allowed to be asked with this issue. we would know the answers. this will be my last 7Th wcc debate i will attd. i enjoy attending new bethel and union baptist chs were all questions are asked for all issues and candidates.
Agreed. It's really unfair to not be able to ask a question. If they're so worried about time constraints, just give the person 30 sec to ask a question, and 30 seconds to respond to the answer.
time was not the issue.
I didn't figure it was.
i say it is all abt having a problem allowing a debate flow without you having the upper hand which way the debate it is going
My High School debate coach told me:
1. Smack your debate opponent square in the mouth with FACTS
2. Then you slam him/her up against the wall with MORE FACTS
3. Once you got them on the ground you stomp on them with EVEN MORE FACTS
4. NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS, DOUBT, OR HESATATION
5. INSTILL IN THEM HOLY FEAR, NEVER GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT.
6. Once the debate is done and you've left your opponent a sniveling wreck, shaking with mortal fear, show them just a wee bit of compassion, but leave them to lick their wounds alone.
this was not the case for the issues sponsored by the 7wcc.