Op-ed by Chris Watts –
It has been a long campaign season already. Having been there before, I fully understand the commitment it takes to run for public office. That being said, the biggest thing involved here is the candidates’ and incumbents’ commitment to the people they are to represent. I found it very discouraging and appalling that the 4 incumbents are refusing to participate in the upcoming public forums.
The incumbents don’t matter to me anymore. We WILL follow through with the forums. Your attempts to blackball this public process last election worked. But not this time. If we have 50 or 200 people–it doesn’t matter. What does matter is we gave the citizens a chance to address BOTH incumbents and candidates.
I hope you have the fortitude to participate before your citizens that you claim to represent.
And for the record, readers, I would like to publicly endorse Max Weaver for Mayor, Matt Marquardt for Fourth Ward and Jody Draper for Second Ward City Council.
I have never endorsed candidates before, but with the behavior of the current incumbents, I feel compelled to this election year.
PLEASE GO VOTE!!!
How do ya like me nooow?
That should be your campaign song Bookmeyer!
You are soooooo GROSS!
I truly hope a big news network does show up to cover Mason’s election! It should be a great expose’ of what has happened here.
Yes you are wrong.
Weaver isn’t in it to argue with anyone. If the truth is an argument then maybe. And so what.
RESPECT? Seriously? These jokers have zero respect for anyone even amoung themselves.
You are a fool thinking like that as many many others. They are the fiasco period.
I honestly don’t think its the elected officials are “afraid” to debate, but I dont honestly think it would be a debate. I think the world of Max, known him and of him for a long, long, time, he grew up with my Dad..Max has some great ideas and you can see the passion, but the debate wouldnt be more than just bickering and rambling…its like a fight..some people want to pick fights and when they argue back, they know they got them. I dont honestly think that Max, Matt respect their opponents, and I dont think that is reciprocated back to them..so I dont think healthy debate and an opportunity for the voters to see and chose would be there…Am I wrong?
That’s what a moderator is for. He controls the questions and limits the answers, keeps people on topic. It is irrelevant if the candidates like or respect each other. The voters need and deserve to hear from the people that are going to represent them.
If the moderator is on onr side it is kind of unfair
I thought the Mayor from Hampton who is not running again is going to be the Moderator, so how is that on anyone’s side? He is not from here, does not have a side in the fight, he is not seeking re election….. There is no cause for this except the incumbents are to important to see the need for a debate. They are so good at what they do, you just have to take it to the bank, as they said so. End of Story… or wait we live in America, we have the freedom to vote and question.
Shady and one sided? That’s a joke.
This guy wouldn’t know shady if he were sitting under it. His credibility is like the sun shining!
We are dealing with gangsters, although a real mob boss would have em whacked by this afternoon for being so transparant and stupid.
Encumbents think of your favorite movie and who get’s the cheers in the end no mater the outcome?
It won’t be you’s.
Incumbants taking the 5th -just like the mafia at hearings in DC – Incumbant politicans IN DC learned from them and either take the 5th or act stupid like they din’nt know what was happening –
I wish national new would come and see how shady this mayor really is. How did he get in the condos on South Taft? When I called to see if candidates could come speak and they said no! We all no how he doesn’t have the time for older people till he needs them
Thank you Chris-It is obvious that the incumbents are afraid to debate. The new candidates would rip them apart and they know it. They think hiding is safer, hopefully they will be proved wrong “AGAIN”.
I heard yesterday at coffee that there is a good chance ABC news might show up here for the debates. This is upresented when 4 elected officials refuse to show for a public debate in the free world, this is news worth reporting on a national scale.
Mr, watts if you never endorsed a candidate before, then why did you have a Marquardt sign in your front yard before the forums were announced?
Wow the incumbents didn’t want to show up to the forum. The guy that is organizing the forum came out for the challengers. If I was an incumbent I wouldn’t show up either. The whole thing sounded shady and one sided.
Chris Watts stated his reasoning for endorsing the candidates; what possibly better reason could there be? These are four elected officials who refuse to answer any and all questions the voters might have, and you want to talk about a yard sign? Nice try but that dog won’t hunt in this game.
All I am trying to say is that chris watts had an agenda and the incumbents aren’t going to put up with his tricks. Its the same reason msnbc or fox news do not hold presidential debates.
@mc resident- think you are wrong. I remember Fox hosting a debate in the last presidential election. And you are not even close to comparing apples to apples here. Chris is supporting the people he believes in and the new candidates are willing to stand up and state their positions. The incumbents are to busy hiding and have nothing to stand for so they are afraid. That will come back to bite them. As for you, you are just trying to discredit Chris when he is doing something good for the city. How in the hell can you run for a local office and NOT state your position.
Fox never hosted one stop with all the lies. Are you going to the forum tomorrow LVS?
@mc resident-No I am not. No need to go as I have already made up my mind. Not a lot of room there so I am willing to leave the space for the ones that are still trying to decide.
Chris Watts is not the moderator. He simply organized the event. The moderator is from Hampton, a town 28 miles away. He did a great job and for what, to take abuse from someone like you?
Chris watts has all the time to organize these events becausr he doesn’t have a real job. Just like the guy that claims writing a blog is a real job.
@mc resident, Chris Watts has spent more of his personal time helping this City and his area of town than you could imagine. That is exactly what you liberals do when you can’t discuss anything, you through out talking points.
Can you explain to me what you mean by a “real job?” You stated Chris didn’t have a real job, I would like you to explain.
We will all understand if you don’t respond, you will be just like Bookmeyer and his team. A coward hiding like the person you are MC Resident.
This is not rocket science, these four people cannot afford to face the public. In my entire life I have never once heard of the fact that encumbents would refuse to face those who voted to place them in those positions in the first place.
Chris Watts needs to be recognized for his efforts, I was disappointed he failed to endorse Mr. Foster, I will have to assume it was simply a matter of forgetting.
That said, there has never been the need to get out and vote more than any other time. No one currently sitting at that council table belongs there, and the mayor is a sick joke.
Shame shame shame on the incumbents!
Do they NOT see this tells us everything we need to know!
Shady Chicken shits! The best part they will be tagged that the rest of their lives! No matter what position held. Win or LOSE it’s there forever.
History to go in the record books for their children to see what they really are!
Certainly nothing to be proud of ever.
That is worth it even if they win.
VOTE!!!!