LWV Candidates Night: Video-on-Demand, in four parts
October 28, 2011
Editor’s Note: Last night, candidates for office—including those for county legislature, town supervisor and board positions—made two-minute opening statements, answered questions and closed with a one-minute statement. The candidates’ forum lasted two and a half hours. In video, the forum is now divided into four parts—38 minutes for the two town supervisor candidates, 64 minutes for the four town board candidates for two seats, 18 minutes for statements by the three candidates for two town justice spots, and 38 minutes for Kaplowitz and Murphy, running for county legislator. The four videos are embedded below:
The controversial referendum to institute a system of representation by ward featured strongly in the evening’s questions, both from the League and from individuals. NCNOW will publish a summary of last night’s questions and candidates’ answers over the weekend. In the meantime, the four videos are embedded below.
—And if you want to hear more from the candidates, take a look at two videos NCNOW produced last Friday, a one-hour question and answer with three reporters—first with town supervisor candidates and then with the candidates for town board. They are separated into two one-hour segments:
See Elections 2011: Interviews with candidates for supervisor and town board
League of Women Voters of New Castle Forum: Two Candidates for one Supervisor seat:
[About 38 minutes in length]
League of Women Voters of New Castle Forum: Four Candidates for two Town Board seats:
[About one hour in length]
League of Women Voters of New Castle Forum: Three Candidates for two Town Justice seats:
[About 18 minutes in length]
League of Women Voters of New Castle Forum: Kapolowitz and Murphy for County Legislator:
[About 36 minutes in length]
The controversial referendum to institute a system of representation by ward featured strongly in the evening’s questions…
Why is the referendum “controversial”? Just because there is a difference of opinion on how to vote and a difference on the need for a change does not make it controversial. Every time someone gets their panties in a bunch does not mean things are controversial. We can certainly disagree without it being a controversy.
Does NCNOW or any local group do any polling on local elections? Is there any way to predict the outcome? What is the typical voter turnout for a council race? Are there circumstances where there would be a runoff? 4 candidates for 2 positions; can you win with 26% of the vote (26, 26, 24, 24) or does the winner have to get over some percentage?
Refreshing to see Rob Greenstein say “I don’t know” when asked about the water run-off question. Richard Diefenbach should have followed his lead when asked about sewers. Diefenbach’s rambling, incoherent & wrong response about sewers—at the 45 minute mark—is both disconcerting & very amusing.
I was present at the debate and I was quite shocked to see how biased toward a certain party (the Democrats in this case) the League of Women Voters is.
Case in point, the Republican candidate for Town Justice, Kevin Moore, was cut off after a few minutes, when he was winding down his speech, while incumbent and current candidate for judge David Zuckerman rambled on, seemingly without end. I was surprised by how they favored the Democrats over the Republicans throughout the debate.
First of all, to clear this up, I am a Democrat so I have nothing against the party itself. Second of all, I was not at all surprised.
I will be voting regardless of party affiliation this year.
It was Mr. Moore who rambled on, at high-speed, about his life. Zuckerman stuck with court, justice, and a good story. I think you must have had the IMPRESSION that Moore was cut off because he tried to jam in so MUCH!
The 3 timekeeper league of wm voter women sitting in the front row cracked up every time Kirkwood made a joke - which he did a LOT!!!!! The were like teenagers at a rock concert! That might not be bias in a conventional sense, but WOW don’t they have a duty to remain poker-faced?
And since when are league of women voter people so concerned when someone’s question is cut off? The same timekeepers acted wounded when the moderator shut down Vicki TIp. What was Tip’s point, by the way?
Vicki Tip raised a very important point. The wording of the referendum is confusing, and very well might lead to litigation. In section (a) it mentions at-large seats & in section (b) it says they will be elected as representatives of each of six wards, which is not at large. Therein lies the contradiction
The two-part proposal will appear in the November 8 referendum as a single statement to which voters will answer Yes or No. It will read as follows:
“That a) the number of at-large seats on the Town Board be increased from four to six
and
b) that these six members of the Board be elected as representatives of each of six wards respectively of the Town of New Castle, to be defined in accordance with the laws of New York State, Town Law, Article 6, Section 85.”
I thought that the 3 candidates running for the 2 open Town Justice seats were the
highlight of the evening. Many people left before they spoke, for good reasons
no doubt, but I urge those who have not yet heard these candidates to take the time to hear them all.
