Poor Form at the Forum

The political forum held Thursday, August 14, where candidates vying for voter appeal did a little question and answer series in front of a full house in the Commissioner’s Chamber, wasn’t much more than what anyone could have expected. It appeared people were already pretty well decided in their picks, some wearing campaign attire to attract the attention of undecided voters.

It wasn’t quite a social affair, but most of the after-five crowd was nicely dressed as they mingled and indulged on some of the munchies laid out in the lobby. With an hour of time before the question and answer period began allowed candidates the opportunity to mix and mingle with intimate discussions on how current commissioners have lost connection with their constituents. For many candidates that one hour was the better part of the glory they had envisioned. Which is to say, too often there was plenty of silence and stuttering that kept some of us anticipating what the candidate was trying to communicate.

The candidates’ performance at the forum was less impressive than others have suggested but there were no trick questions. As a matter of fact, the questions were very clearly articulated and shouldn’t have created an obstacle for any of the candidates. Some were moderately impressive but for others it didn’t work out that way.

Fortunately, there was only one blithering idiot which was one too many considering the importance of seeking election as a representative of the residents of Hernando County.

Some who have been outspoken at many of the commission hearings were nearly tongue-tied in trying to make sense of their answers. The disappointments were all too apparent.

There was that same old yawn-inspiring promise to cut spending, cut services, cut employees because economic conditions have cut revenues. If anything needs to be cut, it’s all the rhetoric. These are already being addressed. Fresh ideas are needed but they often sound like pipedreams, without details. Is it wrong to contemplate that a citizen/candidate might get some insight on the possibilities through discussions with county employees?

There were some who were mild-mannered while others talked fast and furious yet made their points within the allotted time period. Some were impressive while others on the opposite end of the spectrum appeared overly seasoned with a casual style of presumptive intellect.

There were moments when the candidates were noticeably shy on their knowledge of certain topics; other candidates were honest in their lack of knowledge. Neither was acceptable. Repeat performances on Hernando County Government Broadcast on Brighthouse channel 622 ought to bring a bad case of déjà vu.

The “kid”, Richard Skandera, may have been a little soft-spoken but his thoughts were well presented as he did less humming and hawing than many. His opponent in the race for State Senator in District 11 poorly arranged his involvement by not appearing at the forum. Invitations were sent out well in advance. Being judgmental, without an explanation his priorities are questionable.

An interesting item offered by Michael Robinson, running for Commissioner in District 5, centered on promoting a charter government for Hernando County. The possibilities appear far-reaching with a board of some 25 residents offering voters a charter that addresses the specific needs of the county. Hopefully, the board would include a cross-section of citizens on every socio-economic level, not just those of selective importance.

Come October, The Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum for the final candidates to present their visions on the direction Hernando County will take in the years ahead. Hopefully, these finalists will have their acts together and impress voters with less restrictive solutions to the challenges facing Hernando County.

Once the primary ballots have been counted, the real campaigning will begin.