Calling all candidates!
As a service to Hatters we are once again offering this Blog Space to candidates for the Municipal Election of 2010. Like the 07 format every candidate will be given unlimited space to explain why we citizens should cast a vote their way this election term.
Rules of the Game
We will post each candidates platform on the main blog page with the understanding that candidates will answer questions from us and our readers. Using this format we will ask moderated questions. Questions will be on topic, on or about election issues and in a format that is respectful. The goal is to build an online ‘Town Hall” type format. We promise to be at least as civil as council chambers! 
Some candidates (especially incumbents) may face several questions. I will put a hard cap on the answer expectations to at least 7 Questions. Like the original post each candidate will be given unlimited space to express themselves. They can type their responses in a Word document and e-mail dangermousemh@gmail.com if they want to ensure typing accuracy.
Don’t Make the Mistake of Not Answering Questions
If you would like to participate in communicating with the medhatblog readers, please follow through and answer questions. That’s what makes this online format superior to other news media. It is not one way, it is interactive – and read by many ; our biggest feedback comment was how much people turned to this discussion to help decide who to vote for. Last time numbers exceeded 17,000 unique visitors during peak times of the discussion. That has to be worth an hour or so of campaign time.
The most successful candidates in our format were candidates who:
…Participated in the discussion and answered questions from our readers. Even after answering a question some might still disagree with you on an issue, but even in that they respect getting an honest answer. Its near impossible to find a candidate to support who agrees with every single position I hold (unless I ran I guess) so I think most readers are sophisticated enough to read an answer to help make a decision on election day.
The least successful candidates in our format
…Are the ones who misunderstand the nature of social media. As the famous (Albertan!) Philosopher Marshall McLuhan once said, “the medium is the message” – participating in the MedHatBlog format communicates that a candidate is open, willing to have ideas challenged and hear detractors. That is a very strong message during a campaign. The worst thing a candidate can do is hide from the questions and avoid discussion.
This format is available to every candidate who is running in the election. I think it also sends a message if a candidate chooses not to utilize this format. A message will be sent either way.
I pledge that questions and discussion in this format will follow the community standards we expect of intelligent discussion. I will summarize the questions and post your answer in the same space. I don’t promise that readers will skip asking the tough questions or not hold politicians accountable in this public square for their voting record or public positions.
It is my sincere hope that each candidate will take the opportunity to reach us and our readers by explaining what they represent. We are a broad community with many beautiful and varied viewpoints. Just tell us who you are and what you stand for – since we are not of one voice and mind, its not possible to agree with us all.
Good Luck to all candidates, I look forward to hearing from all who wish to participate in the Election Blog.
DM
/Dedicated to my good blog friend “Squishy” who loved these political discussions. (L) – Go easy on Trudeau.
Medicine Hat Media
last time I based my vote mainly on what i read here. cant wait to read it.
07 we had our own discussion as well as the platform of the candidates – I hope we do both.
Glad to see you guys back for this election. I based a lot of my votes on the answers candidates gave on this forum as well, and look forward to seeing some of their thoughts again.
//I am the freakin Pope.
I did not attend the forum downtown last night and I will say that Scott Cowan as some ideas that are appealing. However if the story in today’s News is accurate, how can you criticize current council members for their “divisions” and then tell people who boo your ideas that they live in “Disneyland”? Not the ideal example for bridging the gap with your ideological opponents.
As many of you already know, I kinda walked for election 3 years ago.
What I did cannot be called running for election…. I filled in the papers, and then got married and spent two of the 4 weeks of the campaign in the Caribbean… on a honeymoon.
I admit that I was a bit of a joke during the election, but it did open my eyes a bit.
You see when I put in my name, there were only 12 people that had said they were going to run.
But by the time that the papers were finalized, there were 25… one of which dropped out… leaving a slate of 24.
The point that I want to bring up is kinda following along with a comment elsewhere on this board from now Mayor Boucher. The other “forums” that are available to the candidates are biased (to say the least)
Facebook is a forum that is in the total control of the candidate and their supporting team. If you post a comment on any of those “Support our candidate” pages, and you don’t support their candidate, then the comment gets deleted. Not really open… kinda biased.
The CHAT TV site, is limited on the input side of things… they ask the questions… if the candidate answers, then it is published. NO real bi-directional input.
The Tri-cube group is owned and operated by the newspaper. Now on the chance that I might just offend someone, I am going to open up my opinion. The Medicine Hat News is far from a reporters professional ideal. The guys there have chosen their lead candidates and they will support them until H**** freezes over. The main income generator for the News last time round was Ty. He got great reviews, headlines and all kinds of high profile press coverage…. Well when you spend that kind of money on a campaign, I guess that you should get a few perks.
But just what happened to “non-biased” reporting.
It aint in this city!
I looked at saturdays news, and nearly barfed!
What the heck does a big tractor have to do with debt, other than the farmer that loaned it to Cowan is more than likely a good friend of his banker…. To buy that tractor takes a fair line of credit! But the real point is if you or I stand on the top of our car on the side of Dunmore road and wave a sign saying that our taxes are too high, do you think we would get front page coverage….let alone the same font size as the News gave the Kennedy shooting?
The rest of the candidates (other than a quote from Friesen) are relocated to pages of 3+…..
Julie stated that she would not enter into a negative campaign. And I am going to qupte Kim Johnston.: “Hey if you dig deep enough you can find dirt on anyone!”. Well folks I have one thing to say:
Let the open debates begin! I look forward to hearing the open discussion on this forum.
And please keep in mind that even when you give the medicine hat news (and yet i intentionally did not capitalize) a photo ready piece of print… for an ad, they still foul it up…. this is my experience and I will stand by it until the management changes their attitude.
Fred McFall
I couldn’t make it, but did anyone attend the forums at the Library?
Hey Fred I agree …I started writing a blog post about election coverage in Medicine Hat’s media market …I ask many of those same questions.
Kennedy shooting?…oh oh ..Another conspiracy theory? LOL
Male, My age demographic is 30-40.
I have decided to vote in the following manner.
Julie Friesen
-Brian Varga
-Phil Turnbull
-Wayne Craven
If anyone feels they need to sway my decision, then I welcome your comments.