The Observation Deck

Will there be any mayoral debates?

Will Mr. Fitzgerald debate Councilman Demro if Mayor George is afraid to participate?

What is each candidate's official stance on each of the current/proposed taxes and levies?

What about...

Crime?
Streets?
Sewers?
City code enforcement?
Parks?
Wifi?
Schools?
Lightspeed?
Bars?
Condos?
Outlawing renting (current renters would be grandfathered in)?
Windmills (are we going to let Bill Mason push us around or are we going take the lead ourselves)?
Etc.?

Does anyone care?

I had asked about debates here:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... al+debates

Jim said there were things in the works…

Doug,
We all care and are hoping for debates!!! And I am personally not deciding until I do hear where they all stand on those issues. There is absolutely too much at stake here. I hope you get a reply!!!

Doug-

I posted here early on that I would like to do a series of debates, each focusing on a specific issue- crime, economic development, city finances, etc. I think we could have a format which would avoid the superficial "sound byte" type of debate which is prevalent in national campaigns.

I really don't think that there is any substitute for that kind of dialogue, and I don't think we should wait for the traditional League of Women Voters or Chamber of Commerce forums, which are fine, but usually occur a week or so before the election. There are all kinds of options for re-broadcast, podcast, etc.

Beginning in June, I would propose having one about every 30 days or so before the October 2nd primary. I'm sure Councilman Demro would agree, and I hope the mayor will as well. He attends plenty of political events outside of Lakewood, so I'm sure he can find the time.

Ed I think that is a great idea!

Maybe LO can podcast these debates unedited. Or maybe Cox cable could even show it unedited.

I do like the idea of debates on different topics - that allows time to really get meaningful questions answered.

Thanks for responding.

Observers & Councilman FitzGerald,

I would like to accept the offer for debates. I agree that a debate each month between now and the primary beginning at the end of June would create the appropriate level of dialogue in this race. Any thoughts on good third party organizations to serve as hosts? I would like to suggest LakewoodAlive, the Chamber, Kiwanis, Rotary, League of Women Voters.

Great, now it's Mayor George's turn.

Mayor, will you accept debates?

Lynn Farris wrote:Ed I think that is a great idea!

Maybe LO can podcast these debates unedited. Or maybe Cox cable could even show it unedited.

I do like the idea of debates on different topics - that allows time to really get meaningful questions answered.

Thanks for responding.

Lynn

We can do both. We have been in conversations with Cox, and we just increased our server size by 1,000% to handle video, Mp3, and podcasts.

We are ready.


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I am looking forward to these debates with our without the participation of the current Mayor.

Councilman Fitzgerald and Councilman Demro are both qualified and credible candidates. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Bill Call wrote:I am looking forward to these debates with our without the participation of the current Mayor.

Councilman Fitzgerald and Councilman Demro are both qualified and credible candidates. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Bill you never mentioned who the candidates you were working with are.



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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Call wrote:I am looking forward to these debates with our without the participation of the current Mayor.

Councilman Fitzgerald and Councilman Demro are both qualified and credible candidates. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Bill you never mentioned who the candidates you were working with are.
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I've given money to all three.

Right now I am leaning towards Ryan Demro with Ed Fitzgerald a close second. I could still support the Mayor. He has done a good job of managing the status quo. Maybe that's the best we can hope for.

That's not a dig. Most government officials manage the status qou. It's safer and easier (although not easy).

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Call wrote:I am looking forward to these debates with our without the participation of the current Mayor.

Councilman Fitzgerald and Councilman Demro are both qualified and credible candidates. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Bill you never mentioned who the candidates you were working with are.
.

Now, who are you supporting? Or should I say working with?

Bill Call wrote:

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Call wrote:I am looking forward to these debates with our without the participation of the current Mayor.

Councilman Fitzgerald and Councilman Demro are both qualified and credible candidates. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Bill you never mentioned who the candidates you were working with are.
.

Now, who are you supporting? Or should I say working with?

Bill


I voted for Mayor Tom George last time, and maybe knowing more than most I still support Mayor Tom George.

I am working with no candidate. Was working with Tom Bullock, but has spun that work off to others.

The Observer has people I believe working with all three campaigns. The Advisory Board seems split again.

I do believe this election cycle will be good for discussions that are needed if for no other reason than to clear the air.

I fear by November, that who ever wins, will inherit a city aflame with the fires started by ruthless attacks on City Hall and the City. This would be like the one candidate that went on county wide radio to announce a town hall meeting on the parks. I believe the quote was, "I am afraid to walk into Lakewood's Parks." Yeah that is the week, people flooded into the city. Looking for homes where the candidate for mayor was afraid to go in.

Bill, some of us work everyday, most for FREE at building and defining the Lakewood Brand for Realtors and the Planning Department to cash in on. This is something citizens can do, and the cost is very low. But I have seen months of works go down the tube with one incident, or comment.

Last night was another MAMA meeting with a nice strong turnout. Two candidates were invited. One showed. Everyone at the tables saw that as Lakewood's typical, "Who cares about Madison Ave.?" mentality.

You want to see smart, loyal, brave and energized store owners. MAMA is it. They want nothing to do with the Chamber, they want to do it on their own and they are doing it. They have a summer schedule that will cast Madison Ave. in a whole new light. They want nothing from the Chamber, the city or Main street. They want to accomplish things, was the comment overheard. They recoil from the current groups who offer lip service, want ownership and control and have histories of talking more than doing.

With the right leadership, with out attacks, this city is on the verge of great things. You tell me which candidate is right for the wave of citizen involvement I see. These are names that appear on no other list, and fly off the silent network.

June will see the announcement of two new groups, that will question the sanity of current trends. It will be interesting to see who supports these groups. I know memebrs of the current adminsitration has already opened up to some of their nice but radical ideas. Where will they fall in the election debates?

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Jim -

You wrote "This would be like the one candidate that went on county wide radio to announce a town hall meeting on the parks. I believe the quote was, 'I am afraid to walk into Lakewood's Parks.'"

I missed this incident or misplaced it in my head somewhere. Who was this?

David Anderson wrote:Jim -

You wrote "This would be like the one candidate that went on county wide radio to announce a town hall meeting on the parks. I believe the quote was, 'I am afraid to walk into Lakewood's Parks.'"

I missed this incident or misplaced it in my head somewhere. Who was this?

Dave

I forgot who! Funny how names slip your mind at the damnedest times. Maybe I can remember down the road. The fact is that person, and I talked and I hope he understands the error of his way.

One problem is that candidates are always looking for media. sometimes the looking for exposure makes no sense. Like advertising a Lakewood meeting on WTAM? To be honest the advertising is not so bad, but when a grown male says to Northern Ohio, "I am afraid in my city." the ripples are devastating.

That incident I put behind me and only use it as an example of how candidates sometimes see comments that further their cause, but not the cause of the city. This year I will be watching closely those that have ideas, and those that attack, at any cost.

FWIW


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