It's cold, wet and dreary outside, but here in the the main hall at the Little League complex on Mix Street, there are about 75 people gathered for the final forum of this year's mayoral campaign.
Sponsored by the Republicans and the Democrats, it is inherently bipartisan.
It's a big room with a very high ceiling. At the front are three tables covered with blue cloths - one for Democratic hopeful Art Ward, one for Republican champion Ken Johnson, and one for the press. I'm actually sitting in the audience, in the front row, because I didn't want to ask the questions tonight. I can ask these guys questions any time I want so why do it before a crowd? I learned a long time ago that it's tough to write a story, let alone blog live, when you're a panelist.
Tom Monahan from NBC's channel 30 in Hartford, a Bristol guy, is serving as the moderator. He's nice that way.
I probably couldn't be a moderator because I'm way too prone to make snide asides to candidates.
Ward just wandered over. He said his 6-year-old grandson asked him where he was going this evening. To a debate, Ward answered.
"Oh," the kid said.
"Even he knew," Ward said.
Yeah, that's about right.
Ward told me to "be nice" to him tonight. Yeah, right.
Johnson's got an orange tie, in keeping with the Halloween color theme of his campaign. But he's got a blue suit, so he's actually wearing the school colors of his college (and mine), the University of Virginia.
Wahoo-Wa, Ken.
Anyway, I'll try to be as nice as the candidates deserve, and to let anyone willing to slog through this know what's happening here.
The one thing I'm sure of is that by 8:30, I'll be checking more on what's happening at Fenway than paying attention to whatever blather the candidates are mouthing tonight.
Both Art Mocabee, the GOP chairman, and Dean Kilbourne, the Democratic leader, are wandering around up front, looking busy. They have a rare moment in the sun, too.
The crowd is mostly politicos, of course, but there are a handful of people I've never seen before here. So perhaps a few regular citizens stumbled in, presumably on purpose.
About to get going -- just waiting for Monahan to arrive -- so I'll post this.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
3 comments:
Ken Johnson is just trying to suck up to you, Steve.
Steve
3 - 0 Red Sox. Ditch the debate!
Ken Johnson is an actor - I guess he is trying to win the oscar. Sorry Ken but we can see right through you. Thanks for wearing orange becasue it reminded me I need to pick up a pumpkin.
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