WGXC is working with the League of Women Voters of Columbia County to "Meet the Candidates" forums for politicians running for Greene County Legislature seats, as well as local posts in Athens and Catskill.

WGXC will air all forums live on an internet web stream at www.wgxc.org, and is inviting all members of the local media to cover the event. Recordings of the events will be posted as quickly as possible here and at www.wgxc.org.

The Athens forum, for candidates for Town Council, Town Justice, and Athens Legislature representation will be Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at the Athens Community Center, 2 First Street, Athens.

The Catskill session for candidates for Town Council, Town Justice, Catskill Legislature representation will be Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Catskill Community Center, 344 Main Street, Catskill.

The forum for all Greene County Legislative candidates will be Sunday, October 25,2009 from 4-6 p.m. at Union Mills Lofts, 361 Main Street, Catskill.

Journalists confirmed attending:
Melanie Lekocevic, Greene County Local Courier (Athens and Catskill forums)
WGXC

For more information:

Fawn Potash/League of Women Voters

518-929-5764

fawnpotash@yahoo.com

Or

Paul Smart/WGXC.org

518-943-4224

paulsmart@aol.com



Basic Political Debate/Meet the Candidates Event Format

Event should be no more than 90 minutes long.

Candidates need to arrive 15 minutes before start of event.

Panel may consist of up to 8 members (more if cleared with the moderator).

Substitute speakers are not permitted.

No campaign literature or materials will be allowed inside the room.

Lots will be drawn in advance to determine the order of speakers for opening remarks.

Moderator will be introduced by the sponsoring organization’s spokesperson

Moderator will introduce panel members and go over the rules.

Each candidate will have a 3-minute opening statement.

Audience members will be asked to silence all electronic devices.

The audience will be provided with index cards/writing implements with which to write questions.

1. No statements
2. No personal remarks
3. All questions must be legible
4. The moderator will choose questions and paraphrase for clarity/appropriateness.

The candidates will have one minute (or two, depending on number of candidates and time available) to answer. The moderator will call on candidates in succeeding order to answer. The moderator has the right to rule on all questions. No one else will be permitted to see the questions before, during or after the event. [Candidates should be reminded that they may take notes and cover issues/comments they missed during the Q&A as part of their closing statement.]

Depending on time available, questions may be permitted from the floor. Questions will be limited to one minute and will be answered as above. The same rules apply as with written questions.

Each candidate may have a 2 or 3-minute closing statement.

The moderator will close the event and invite members of the audience to remain in order to have personal conversations with the candidates (must be agreed upon in advance by candidates).

SPEAKING TIME WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND THE AUDIENCE’S RIGHT TO HEAR ALL CANDIDATES SPEAK.

Candidates are encouraged to bring campaign literature. A table should be set up outside the room for the purpose of distributing the literature. Each candidate will be permitted to display a packet of flyers, position papers, and letters of endorsement or other campaign material. However, each candidate will be allowed only ONE stack of information on the table unless the organizer permits more.

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NOTES:

Candidates should be sent invitation letters. Those who accept must be sent an outline for the evening’s program and the rules (above information or organizer’s preference). The moderator should be supplied the name/contact information of a person to call with questions (from sponsoring organization). Candidates who choose not to attend will be noted at the event (possibly by a name sign at an empty chair). Events that feature missing candidates may not be recorded or televised (per LWV rules). Write-in candidates may not participate in these events (per LWV rules).

Inform moderator of any contentious issues or anticipated difficulties.

Correct pronunciation of candidate’s names and titles are requested by the moderator (phonetic if necessary).

Those who participate, as well as the facility staff and anyone else who were particularly helpful should be sent thank you notes as soon as possible after the event (within 2 weeks).

Name signs should be made (tented full sheet of index card stock works well- we have a template) for each candidate and placed where they are legible and visible to the audience. Names should be printed on both sides of the sign so that the moderator can see them as well.

Questions may be ‘planted’ with audience members to get things started for the Q & A.

The moderator should be provided with a podium and informed of the use of other equipment, such as microphones or television cameras. Microphones are always a good idea.

All speakers should be provided with drinking water.