Last Wednesday, it was announced in the Register-Star that a debate between incumbent mayor Kamal Johnson and his challenger in the Democratic primary Joe Ferris had agreed to debate: "Hudson Democratic mayoral contenders to debate June 16." The debate will take place in the Hudson High School auditorium.
When Johnson shared the news on his Facebook page, the first comment came from a supporter who does not live in Hudson and cannot vote in the primary:
Perfect location 💪 gotta show who the Bluehawk is
This nativist sentiment, among other things, made me wonder how the arrangements for the debate had come about, so I asked Ferris how it had happened. He obliged by providing this statement:
I have never been concerned with moderators or location. I will take questions wherever, whenever, and from whomever.
I had been calling for a debate in each ward since I announced my candidacy in March. In the end, the mayor reached out to me and we agreed to a debate hosted by the Register-Star and moderated by their editor. I met with Mary [Dempsey], the mayor, and mayoral aide Justin Weaver on Wednesday [June 4] at the newspaper's office to discuss rules of the debate. Neither Kamal nor I opposed the other's suggestions.
A follow-up call was held on Thursday [June 5] with the help of the mayoral aide via his city email address to clear up any unresolved questions.
I look forward to the 16th and am excited to share my vision for Hudson.
The debate takes place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, in the Hudson High School auditorium, 215 Harry Howard Avenue. It is also expected to be livestreamed, although the link to the livestream is not yet available.
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One mustn't forget that the Register Star relies on income from Hudson City Hall in the form of advertising its notices in the paper that city hall is legally bound to do. Small town papers typically go out of their way NOT to get on anyone's bad side in the Town/City Hall they rely on and report on. So, you could easily see how Dempsey might steer clear of forcing Johnson into an uncomfortable space, maybe just pepper him and Ferris with softballs. This is not crazy talk, and it's why I should have been the moderator. Or John Friedman.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, I refrain from responding to your posts, Bill, but this one is, indeed, "crazy talk."
DeleteYou raise an inference of bias on the basis of revenue the RS receives from the City for publishing its legal notices -- which must amount to maybe $10k a year in a very busy year. That is not a significant amount of money in terms of either the RS's operating expenses nor its ad revenue. Besides, the City has no other choice by the RS as its "official" newspaper -- there is no other newspaper in town. And even if there were, I can't see Ms. Dempsey playing favorites. She's a journalist.
Bill’s right. If their reporting or editorial stance is any clue, they will be lobbing softballs at the mayor. Their articles about Hudson’s governance is usually straight dictation from the mayor or council president. No follow up, no investigation. They definitely don’t want to rock the boat. Don’t expect any probing questions that the mayor has never gone on the record on, like how much rent does he pay Galvan for his house, if any? Or, are you having a romantic relationship with your direct report, one who’s running the city’s housing policy behinds the scenes, crafting the comprehensive plan, and quickly got a significant raise, now one of the highest paid officials in the city? Or, why are you now trying to hide from any association with Galvan’s Depot Lofts? Something that you championed as helping Hudson’s housing “crisis,” but was actually an out of context behemoth that’s being subsidized by PILOTs (other taxpayers money), and is being marketed to the nouveau Hudsonian with promises of “luxury vinyl flooring.”
ReplyDeleteCredit to Joe for being flexible, but the High School is not the smartest venue choice and will probably be packed with the mayor’s Greenport booster club. The moderator should ask the audience to do a show of hands for who actually lives, pays taxes, and votes in the City of Hudson. And no, it’s not because your post office address routes your mail through Hudson, or you went to Hudson High School.
Joe, if you’re reading this, and I bet you are—the only way you are going to have a chance is to get tough. General platitudes about unpaid property taxes and senior center bills is not going to cut it. Just like your latest 11 Warren video. You need to explain HOW this current administration failed us in these individual situations and how you will proactively do better if elected.
If Kamal was smart, he'd be throwing this debate: In November, he can beat three rivals more easily than two when one of those is Lloyd.
DeleteThat said, residents can submit questions ahead of time via https://www.dailygazette.com/hv360/site/forms/debate_questions/ and some may be hurled at the candidates. I would hope folks make liberal use of it and submit the more pressing and uncomfortable ones.
It is a terrible venue for a debate!!! But first question would be: HCSD kicked the Children's book festival out of the schools -- why is it allowing a mayoral debate? Who''s paying for space rental? Third question would be: What will the candidates do about the lousy education Hudson kids are getting? --peter meyer
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