The following letter appeared in today’s Buffalo News EVERYBODY’S COLUMN:

http://buffalonews.com/2017/10/06/le...-attend-forum/

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The Town of Amherst is poised to make local history and conduct a candidate forum for all Amherst Town Board candidates who wish to participate. The event will take place on Oct. 12 in the Amherst Town Hall auditorium at 5:30 p.m.


Historic indeed and a direction the Town of Lancaster Town Board should consider taking. The debate that took place in Lancaster’s Oprah Hall between then incumbent Supervisor Robert Giza and challenger Dino Fudoli was also historic. The event was well attended, the debate questions came from the attendees and were screened by the Woman’s League of Voters for relevance and importance; and the candidates cordial and respectful in answering questions and in they’re demeanor. In my mind that debate turned the corner for Fudoli and got him elected.

More importantly, the debate allowed attendees the opportunity to listen to both candidates addressing a perceived issue facing the town at the same time; and/or they’re idea for resolve and reason for their claim for change.

IMHO such format serves the voters better than candidates walking door-to-door often presenting ideas without challenge, claiming feedback from residents that often is manipulated, receiving mailers that often go unread and wind up immediately in the waste bin, or endless robo- calls that are annoying, deceptive and less than fruitful.

Under the Fudoli administration the town entered the technological digital state. It has since been enhanced under the current administration and is being further enhanced in having Town /Planning/Zoning Board meetings recorded. Following Amherst’s candidate forum should be the next step in bring further transparency to the Town of Lancaster.

It would also help to eliminate the unfounded mean-spirited, hateful, rhetoric used by politicos and their support group to demean opposing candidates. The candidates would have to answer for themselves in proving they have the intelligence, commitment, qualifications and worthiness to serve the best interests of the community. Then placing a recording of the debate forum on the town website disallows any voter to claim ignorance of the issues facing the town and candidate responses to such claims.

Such avenue of openness might just make the party hierarchy think twice about endorsing patronage candidates who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

BTW - I also agree with the News author that any candidate not attending such forum should be eliminated from consideration.