Normally at Neotribune we don’t get deeply involved in the City activities. But in this case we see a problem coming and would like to head it off before it happens. There has been a sign put up in the City Community Center for a Meet and Greet for the candidates for this evening, Monday April 15th. This sign has been posted by the present Mayor and listed as a Meet and Greet. The Mayor informed Mr. Hobbs that it was to be a Meet and Greet and made it sound like it was meant to be just exactly that.

What Mr. Hobbs did not know is that the Mayor had in mind for this to be a debate. And the Mayor has set it up to have two podiums and a moderator to handle the discussion, which means a debate. If you look at the last sentence on the Mayor’s questionnaire it says, quote, “I would love to have a public debate. Thank you very much.”

The Neotribune would like to see a public debate as well but with advance notice and not scheduled on a school board meeting night. The scheduling on a school board meeting night shows the lack of concern for the city and the school board working together. This lack of concern is one of the main reasons we see that the population has dropped dramatically over the past twenty years.

We are suggesting that a debate be done and promoted as a debate and held on another night giving a few days to get notice out to everyone in the town and moderated as a debate. This means that the questions will be put together and presented at the meeting with no one having advance time to come up with their answers. It could easily be held with a five minute introduction by each candidate separately, but it needs to be treated as a debate using debate rules and agreed to by both mayoral candidates.

If this is acceptable by both mayoral candidates they can ask Neotribune to handle it. Neotribune will be glad to advertise it as to when. Neotribune will be glad to find a moderator or the candidates themselves can find a moderator but we do not want to see it be a blindside which it appears to be for tonight.

Neotribune’s suggestion is that candidate Hobbs does not show up to this add hock debate and that mayoral candidate and the present Mayor cancel this meeting. Then he and Mr. Hobbs between them can set up a new date.

This is published after several people involved have verified the above.