Video of the Candidates Forum

I finally have gotten the technology worked out. Here is the video of the candidates forum for County Executive and County Council District 4 candidates that was hosted by the Harper’s Choice Village Board.

The candidates on the left are the County Exec candidates (from left to right):

• Steve Wallis (Independent)

• Ken Ulman (D)

• Chris Merdon (R)

• Harry Dunbar (D)

The candidates on the right are the County Council candidates (from left to right):

• Tom D'Asto (R)

• Josh Feldmark (D)

• Mary Kay Sigaty (D)

• UNcommon (D)

The Moderator is Phil Wright, President of the Harper’s Choice Village Board.

My filming was a little shaky at first, but it gets better so please forgive my shaky filming.

Here is Phil Wright’s introduction to the forum, the candidates, and the rules:

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Exec:

1 of 3) What is your reason for running for office?

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Council:

1 of 3) What is your reason for running for office?

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Exec:

2 of 3) What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Council:

2 of 3) What do you hope to accomplish if elected?

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Exec:

3 of 3) What background, education, or experience makes you qualified you for the position? They skipped this question so there would be more time for audience questions.

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ 3 Pre-set Questions for County Council:

3 of 3) What background, education, or experience makes you qualified you for the position? They skipped this question so there would be more time for audience questions.

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ Questions: Building Height Limits

Harper’s Choice Village Boards’ Questions: Making Governor Warfield Parkway Scenic Road or the Birth of Legislation

Audience Questions Start: Trust or Scouts Honor

Party Loyalty

A Quick Question then Belmont

Preserving the Village Center Concept

Smoking Ban

School Funding

My apologies to the women who asked this question and Chris Merdon that the end of answer to her question got cut off. I had to switch tapes in the middle of the answer to this one. If Chris wants send me a copy of his tape (I know his campaign was also taping the forum) I would be happy to post his full answer here. (Update: Below is video of the full answer supplied to me by the Merdon campaign.)

My apologies also go to Gail Broida, who is asking this next question while I was still trying to get the camera back on the tripod. The video shakes all over the place at the start, but it is a very important question and the audio is good. I am not sure what kind of penance I will have to do on this one, but I am sure Gail will think of something since she is a regular reader of this blog.

Wincopin Street Extension through the Hug Statue Park and Over the Top Edge of the Grass Amphitheater

Will Zoning Changes Be Made at One Time or Will Downtown and Rest of Columbia be Done Separately? (Includes Comment on who can ask for Zoning Changes in Columbia.)

Assess to Department of Planning and Zoning Files

Ombudsman

Working With Other Local Jurisdictions

What Resource are at the County Exec’s Disposal to Help Village Centers Attract and Keep Grocery Stores?

County Government Working With Other Organization Like Columbia Association

Dealing with Growth and How Do You Find More Revenue Without Promoting More Development?

Offer to Answer Follow Up Questions; Oh and for Good Measure Harry gives his website address again

If you are interested in taking the candidates up on the offer of asking follow up questions, feel free to post your follow up questions in the comments section and I will give a heads up to the candidates if anyone asks a question there (though I think most of the candidates or their staffs check this blog pretty regularly).

Closing Statements

Here is a true test of if you listened to the whole thing:

How many times did Harry Dunbar mention his website?

Which 2006 School Board Candidate was well-advertised at the Forum and was he helped by it?

If you took a shot every time Harry said “slow growth” please get a designated driver.

As a reminder, we will have the Bloggers Candidates Forum after the primary. If you have questions you want us to ask please post them in the comments or email them to me.

Also on Primary Night, September 12th, the local Howard County Bloggers will bring you live precinct level coverage.

Thank you again to the Harper’s Choice Village Board for hosting this live forum! Phil, Rebecca, and gang you guys rock! 300 plus people and standing room only.