Auburn Plainsman article: "Forum allows candidates chance to be heard"
State & Local
By Trey Wood
Staff Writer
Tuesday night’s political candidate’s forum — sponsored by the Auburn League of Women’s Voters, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and the Auburn Chamber of Commerce — allowed participating candidates the chance to speak directly to their constituents.
“We basically just wanted to provide a neutral forum in which candidates could convey to the public what their platforms are and give the public a chance to hear what they have to say,” said Lucy LaMar of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
The sections, which included vying candidates for the Lee County Board of Education, Lee County Commissions, the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate, were heated. Besides opening and closing statements, each participant was allowed one minute to answer each question.
The Auburn University Libertarians were well represented with a number of their members showing to cheer on 2004 graduate Dick Clark, a candidate for the Alabama House District 79 seat.
Their clapping and cheering had to be subdued by Steven Brown, an associate professor in the department of public policy and the neutral mediator for the forum.
A number of individuals, however, were there for the forum. Gerald Johnson, director of the Capital Survey Research Center in Montgomery, was there to enjoy the speeches given.
“It’s my interest,” Johnson said. “I have candidates I like and candidates I don’t like, but I’m here to observe like everybody is. Professionally and personally, this is something I like to do.”
Informing voters was the name of the game. Instead of forcing a platform on those individuals, they were allowed to make their choice.
“We believe that an informed voter is the kind of voter we need,” said Janet Clark, a member of the Auburn League of Women’s Voters and one of the two timekeepers in the auditorium.
Though not full, the red plastic seats of Opelika Middle School’s auditorium held a number of individuals representing the Lee County area and the Chambers County area.
From Loachapoka to LaFayette, from the young to the elderly, the group showed the demographic variety the counties held.
“We’re giving the public and the voters the opportunity to hear what the candidates have to say so that they can make an informed decision when they vote,” LaMar said.
The questions, provided by citizens residing in the areas, ranged from the acceptance of Gov. Bob Riley’s Plan 2010 to where money provided during the Hurricane Katrina disaster should be appropriated.
Another big question was the reform of Alabama’s Constitution. The sixth constitution the state has accepted, it is the longest constitution in the world with 771 amendments and nearly 360,000 words.
The election on Nov. 7 should prove interesting for House District 79, which includes most of the City of Auburn, parts of Opelika and other sections of Lee County.
Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Lee, incumbent, represents the Republican party, Carolyn Ellis represents the democratic party candidate and Dick Clark represents the independent party.
They easily held the attention of the audience. Momentary cheers, low giggles and sarcastic words became a mainstay for the three candidates in the spotlight.
The sponsoring groups worked to create informed voters out of everyone.
It was a chance for candidates to speak up and reveal their hopes of sitting in powerful chairs in Lee County.
(Read the original here.)
