Last night I was anticipating what I had been told would be a debate between Rose Lounsbury and Andrea White — the candidates for Ohio House District 36. The event was scheduled to be held in the parlor of Christ Methodist Church. As it turned out, the event was not a debate, but a Forum conducted by a League Of Women Voters where candidates answer questions given by a moderator. I was surprised and disappointed by what, evidently, are new LWV rules.
Rose Lounsbury’s mom drove from Toledo to attend the Kettering LWV event
I had hoped to record the event, but, Christine Corba, the LWV Executive Director, started the meeting by politely announcing that no video recording would be permitted. This was surprising. Then, another surprise — Christine said there would be no opportunity for questions from the audience!
These two prohibitions — no recording, no questions — seem contrary to the League’s mission that Christine had quoted in her opening remarks — “to encourage informed and active participation in government and to increase understanding of major public policy …”
After the meeting, I talked with Christine — a very nice person who has been in her position since Susan Hesselgesser retired five years ago. I expressed my disappointment and surprise at the rules. She explained that the two prohibitions apply to all LVW Candidate Forums statewide and were established by the state LWV governing body.
The “no video rule” comes from the fact that the League is concerned that videos taken at a League forum will be altered and the League will be blamed. The “no audience question” rule seems based on the fear that rude audience members will be uncontrollable by a moderator and will cause chaos in a meeting.
Christine Corba, the LWV Executive Director for this region
I diplomatically asked Christine, how in the world these rules — no video, no questions — possibly could help the League fulfill its mission? I asked if she would once again quote the mission statement and, kindly, she did.
To create a citizenry that is informed enough and motivated enough to actively participate in government is a wonderful goal and the LWV advances this mission each election in its highly regarded Voter Guides. But, it seems to me, sadly, these LWV Forums, as structured, have little value. I urged Christine to become an advocate in the LWV organization to restructure these forums so they will be interesting events that the public will want to attend and so that the exchanges between candidates can be shared on social media.
The Kettering Centerville Kiwanis Club sponsored the event — including providing some great molasses cookies — and as I was leaving, I spoke with its President, Bill Pees. I thanked him and the club and told him my disappointment that in the meeting many important topics were not addressed and no audience member had an opportunity to ask questions. I suggested to him that since Kiwanis already is making the effort to sponsor LWV Forums, that his club might consider taking the next step and allow a Kiwanis committee to be in charge of public meetings and to implement a a better format. Pees explained that the central concern of Kiwanis is the welfare of children, so engaging in politics in that way may not be what the members would want.
Not allowing the candidates to question each other, not allowing questions from any audience member, and, not asking the candidates any provocative questions is a good recipe for a dull event.
After the event, I got to meet Rose Lounsbury’s mother — a lovely person with a gracious spirit. She had driven from Toledo. I praised Rose but I told her mom that Rose needs to be stronger in making the case for change. Her mom seemed to agree.
Citizens attending this event heard not a word about these key facts:
- The Republican Party in Ohio has had a super majority in the State Assembly for twenty years — total control — and has repeatedly enacted ever more radical right-wing laws that have caused Ohio’s decline.
- Andrea White voted for the “Constitutional Carry” law — one of the worst and most dangerous laws ever conceived.
- Andrea White voted for tax payers money to pay for the building of religious school buildings.
- Andrea White voted to completely eliminate the income tax bracket for Ohio’s highest incomes.
See:
Well, at least the cookies were good :-)