In Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down - June 3, 2016 under the headline Stopping Political Games, the editors of the Alexandria Echo Press write:
Thumbs Up: If a candidate refuses to appear at a debate or candidate forum, that shouldn’t stop voters from hearing the views of his or her opponent. That’s why we fully support the Minnesota League of Women Voters’ (LWV) announcement that this year, all League candidate forums statewide will now take place as scheduled, even if one of the candidates in a two-candidate race is unwilling or unable to attend. In the past, the League canceled a forum if a candidate didn’t confirm attendance or didn’t arrive at the scheduled start time. This was done to avoid creating the appearance of a conflict of interest. However, according to LWV Minnesota executive director Susan Sheridan Tucker, it appears that some candidates and/or their political party attempted to manipulate LWV and its events by not appearing or not responding. “We feel this policy change respects the time and interests of voters and candidates in attendance, and we will conduct the forum in a manner that is neutral to the absent candidate,” Tucker said.
The paper reported on the policy change itself earlier in League of Women Voters changes candidate forum policy, while noting the process for setting up a LWV candidate debate:
League of Women Voters members all across Minnesota are focused on working with other community organizations to build broad coalitions together in hosting candidate forums before both the primary and general elections.
Nonpartisan organizations interested in learning more about bringing a candidate forum to their community should contact Liz Haan, community organizer, at [email protected] or a member of the local League. Information on local Leagues can be found at lwvmn.org under the "Local Leagues" tab.
We hope that nonpartisan organizations across the state work with the League to set up debates, especially for seats with primaries.
For a look at the two 2014 League of Women Voters debates in the Alexandria area, check out House candidates tired of negative ads and House candidates debate.
An illustration of forum flight? Check out the 2012 Star Tribune report by Tom Meersman, Carver County candidates shun debates for an extreme example.
Photo: Minnesota House candidates participated in a 2014 forum sponsored by the Alexandria League of Women Voters and the Echo Press. They included (left to right) Mary Franson, R-incumbent in District 8B, Jay Seiling, DFL-challenger in District 8B, Jeff Backer, R-challenger in District 12A, Jay McNamar, DFL-incumbent in District 12A, Paul Anderson, R-incumbent in District 12B and Gordy Wagner, DFL-challenger in District 12B. (Echo Press photo by Al Edenloff).
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