The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce hosts candidate political forums prior to voting dates for citizens to learn where the candidates stand. This is a great service to us citizens before we cast our vote.
After the candidates deliver their timed opening remarks, two panel members ask introductory questions of their own to the candidates.
About half way thru the forum there is an intermission when citizens in attendance have an opportunity to submit written questions for the candidates. The written questions are given to the two panel members. Then the two panel members read the written questions from the citizens in attendance to the candidates. But the panel members do not READ the questions as written. The panel members seem to have a filter they put the questions thru and do not read the questions as written but as they see fit.
In comparison, the American Legion hosted a candidate forum on 9 August at 6:30 PM to a capacity crowd that filled the Post 49 American Legion Hall. Citizens in the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions themselves directly to the candidates – with the microphone in hand.
The Monticello News/Jefferson County Journal has a written policy for its Letters to The Editor that states “Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, as sent to this newspaper”.
Suggestion to the Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce: At candidate forums, let citizens ask questions on their own or instruct the panel members to read the questions as submitted, word for word, comma for comma.
Bill Snyder