Norm and moderators, Bruce and Ruth, are all to be commended for their efforts in informing the voters about the candidates.

The Chamber of Commerce forum had all 10 candidates while the Cow had only 4 (from Wards 2 and 3), so the Chamber’s format was much more restrictive. At the Chamber, the candidates had 45-60 seconds to answer important questions. It’s a very tight timeframe, but nonetheless it still helps inform voters about the candidates. It forces candidates to be articulate and concise, which are valuable skills!

This in such obvious contrast to the Chamber forum yesterday AM ,which had the candidates restricted mostly to 45 SECOND (!) answers, to some very complex questions… and forced most of the candidates into soundbite mode. I’m perplexed by what information anyone gains by such a format. I felt very sorry for all the candidates having to deal with such a difficult situation.

I would recommend that more people attend the Cow forums, as they are the most informative you’ll find, especially if there’s a candidate whom you don’t know and would like to consider.

Thanks Norman…

Ruth Amerman and Tim from the Key plus Bruce Morlan from Politics & a Pint will moderate the three forums at the Cow and which will be more fluid, dynamic and altogether more interesting than any and all of the other debates and forums evidenced thus far both locally and nationally.

10/12: The Northfield East Side Neighborhood Association is having a candidates’ forum at 4:00 p.m. -- 5:00, and a social from 5:00 -- 6:30 at the First United Church of Christ, 300 Union St. Questions are geared toward the neighborhood’s concerns. Write to northfield.east.side.neighborhood@gmail.com for more information.

10/22: The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum begins at 8:00 a.m at the Community Resource Bank community room, 1605 Heritage Dr. Questions are geared toward local business and the general community.

10/22 -- 10/30: The Contented Cow is hosting several candidate fora (see Norm’s post above).

10/30: The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates’ forum. I don’t have specific details.

Come prepared to listen FIRST, and then you can argue about whether there should be amendments to the MN Constitution…
See ‘ya there!

The forums will be hosted jointly by Josh Hinnenkamp (Director of The Key) and Bruce Morlan (of Politics & A Pint) and will consist of a 5-minute presentation by the Candidates followed by a moderated Q&A session. Each forum starts at 6pm.

Many thanks to those candidates who are willing and able to talk with the citizens at the Cow on the following dates:

Wed 10/22…… Ward 2 + Ward 3
Thurs 10/23…. Both At Large
Wed 10/29……. Mayoral
Thurs 10/30…. State Representatives

In the meantime, Ward 2 voters (click here if you’re not sure if you live in Ward 2) can check out my website:

http://betseybuckheit.wordpress.com/

Thursday Oct 2nd….2-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 9th…Ward 3
Thursday Oct 16th…Ward 2
Thursday Oct 23rd…4-year At-Large
Wednesday Oct 29th…Mayor

Please note the changes for Oct 9th, 16th, 29th.

Are Bly and Rudd included in the LWV Forum on the 30th. If not can they come to the Cow on the 30th?

Also, we hope that Bly and Rudd can come to the Cow on Wednesday the 29th.

We also hereby invite Coleman and Franken on Saturday 1st November.

We also extend a warm welcome to Obama & McCain on Sunday 2nd November, 6pm at the Cow.

In all cases, the Cow & The Key cordially invite the candidates. Please pass it on and rsvp.

That would conflict with your proposed mayoral debate on the same night.

Does anyone know if this conflicts with any other forum/gathering on this matter? The schedule will be:

Thursday Oct 2nd….2-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 9th…Ward 2
Thursday Oct 16th…Ward 3
Thursday Oct 23rd…4-year At-Large
Thursday Oct 30th…Mayor

Tuesday Nov 4th -- Election Day

Jerry Anderson
Mike Piper
Jeff Docken
Gary Bruggenthies

There will be more publicity on Dist. 1 (Gillen/Drevlow) and Dist. 3 (Plaisance/Rowan) after the primary on Sept. 9. (See my letter to editor in Saturday, Aug. 30, NNews for details.)

These are the candidates:
Mike Piper (former Bridgewater clerk)
Jerry Anderson, local developer
Gary Bruggenthies (Wheatland treasurer?)
Jeff Docken, farmer in Webster Township

Everyone welcome.

Next will be the Ward 3 and At-Large candidates at 6pm, Tuesday Sept 2nd.

The City is about to take on some serious infrastructure issues. The annexation of more than 500 acres almost 7 miles from the sewer plant and safety center could result in serious costs … given that Minnesota law does not allow the use of impact fees to capture those costs directly from the developer, the current taxpayers are going to have to subsidize the very growth that threatens their lifestyle. What sort of total cost of services analysis do you understand well enough to communicate to the people why they should want to subsidize it?

Follow up: the safety center already is stressed by the fact that the railroad sometimes blocks the easy accesses to the west. Developing land that far away will almost certainly result in the need for a second station … good for the west side, but not so good for the city as a whole (who pays for it).

See you at the Cow tonight (Thursday) at 6pm.

1. On Show…A PRESENTATION from the candidates -- five minutes each with no stopwatch.

Then questions that each candidate would like to be asked and which will be put to the other candidates. So far, one question from a mayoral candidate…

2…On The Spot…”…the city of Northfield spent over $200,000 on legal fees in 2007. It is running up a huge total this year. What would you do as mayor to reduce the legal fees of the city?”.

I hope that more questions from the mayoral candidates will be put. For my part, I will as moderator ask them.

So Norman, the coast is clear for you to move yours to the evening of Tues Sept. 2.