Our Questions for Lynch and D'Alessandro
What question would you ask Congressional candidates Stephen Lynch and Mac D'Alessandro to answer if you had the chance? The editors of community web sites from Milton (02186 MyTownMatters), Dedham (MyDedham), and Westwood (Our Westwood) are inviting you to submit your questions as comments below from now until August 31. We will select 10 questions and submit those to both campaigns, then publish their responses online before the September 14 Democratic Primary.
Please suggest questions both candidates can answer--don't try to debate/discuss the merits of the candidates under this topic yet. Save that for after they respond. Please follow the community guidelines as you make comments.
Comments
Healthcare? Debate??
For both: Please tell the voters was changed in the healthcare bill between the first version and the second that causes legislatures to change their vote. Be specific.
For both: Will the voters get to hear a live debate? Why or why not? When?
Biased much?
Keith Lepor http://www.keithlepor2010.com/
Vernon Harrison http://www.voteforvernon.com/
the more discussion, the better
I've linked to the Republican campaigns several times here-see http://westwoodblog.org/content/register-vote-september-primary - also, I know Westwood resident Phil Dunkelbarger is running as an Independent. Let's see what questions we get and if the others are willing to answer, I will gladly post all the responses.
Discussion, Viablility, and Visibility of the 9th Congressional
Seems like some of the comments in response to Dave Atkins' original post are regarding his "biased" mention of the two Democratic Candidates, over the Republicans, or even, the only Independent in the race, Westwood's own Phil Dunkelbarger.
However, as a biased writer myself, here are some observations that I have made over the months that I have been following, and have been involved with, the 9th Congressional Election.
If you're watching the Republicans, Vernon Harrison is virtually non-existent. As I've observed, he's been nowhere that I have been, and I've been to almost every public event in 21 cities and towns within the district. Republican Keith Lepor has shown up a lot more, and has been greatly visible. However, no matter who shows where and how often, there have been no challenges to debates by either candidate. I could be wrong, since I'm not following either person that closely.
Dave's original post refers to the frustration of the Mac D'Alessandro Campaign after their numerous attempts to contact, and get Stephen Lynch to commit to at least one debate. It seems only fair, since Lynch, (a self proclaimed outsider in 2001 when he first ran), participated in 29 debates before the Democratic Primary. My best assumption is that Dave was only echoing, and helping to call attention to the fact that there is a public demand in the 9th District for a Democratic debate, something that has not been seen by any of Republican candidates this year.
I hope, that within time, there can be at least one debate for each set of the party candidates. I'm a huge supporter, as everyone should be, in the democratic process and making an informed decision on Primary Day (Sept. 14th).
After September 14th, I hope to see Phil Dunklebarger, the Democratic Nominee, and the Republican Nominee, participate in at least 4 televised debates, in addition to numerous public forums. It's the only way people can make an informed decision.
In the end, I don't fault Dave for being biased. He was merely trying to emphasize what others in the 9th District believe to be an important issue for us to focus on. After all, if there is public demand for anything, we should respect that demand and try to deliver results to the people. In this case, it's all in the name of a severe need for a real Congressman for the 9th District who will deliver for the people of Massachusetts.