For Immediate Release
Citizens Group to Hold Forum for Evansville School Board Candidates
A Grassroots Forum has been organized to showcase the candidates for Evansville School Board in the Spring Primary Election. The forum will be held on Saturday, February 3 beginning at 10 AM in the Media Room at the Evansville High School, 640 South Fifth Street. The ninety minute event is planned to allow each candidate time to present their vision for the district to the public.
“This event is not intended to be a debate or to be confrontational,†said Karen Aikman, one of the event organizers. “The candidates will each be provided with a list of the questions to be asked so that their responses will be well thought out and exactly what they want them to be. We are striving to build a safe environment to start a discussion of the issues facing the district.â€
Each candidate will be given three minutes to respond to each of four questions. The questions are:
You have each chosen to take on the difficult and rewarding task of running for the Evansville School Board. Please share with us the top two reasons you wish to serve.
The School Board is asked to respond to the needs, wants and demands of many stakeholders in the district. Who is the primary “customer†of the school board and why?
We read each week of the competing demands placed on the school district and upon the board. Please focus on those which you consider to be the top two issues facing the board after the election and how you would balance those with the remaining issues.
There are six candidates to fill two seats. Why should the voters of the district hire you? What skills and experiences will you bring to the board making you the best candidate for the position?
“We hope that this forum will be a starting point for the district rather than a stand-alone event. The voters seldom get a chance to meet the candidates in a venue like this and the candidates will have a unique opportunity to frame their own platform for the voters,†said Jim Brooks, the event’s other organizer. “Karen and I hope that the public will stay after the forum to meet with the candidates.â€
Each of the six candidates has been invited to participate. The six candidates are: Richard T. Woulfe, 255 East Main Street, Tris Lahti, 8702 N. Territorial Road, Jeff Herbers, 411 S. Fifth Street, Kathi Swanson, 4322 N. Cornfield Drive, Gary Rehfeldt, 10678 W. Oak Ridge Road, and Melissa Hammann, 250 Eager Court.
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Given the format of this event there is absolutely no excuse for any of them to sound less than perfect in their formulations of the softball questions.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it would be benficial for the community if the community in fact turns out and throws the candidates on the hot seat after the easy part in the meet & greet time.
I guess if I could add one question it would go a little something like this: For any and all candidates who have family that work for the school district, are you kidding me? Even if you are willing to recuse yourself from a vote that would have ANY bearing on wages or benefits with your significant other why should the voters add a member to the school board that will HAVE to be less effective than a potential candidate with NO direct conflicts coming into the venue?