It's time to candidate people-watch. Attend one or more debates, events and forums and you don't know what you might hear or see.
There have been so many that it can be dizzying. Candidates have been asked to be in two or three places at the same time.
If you go to enough of these events, you'll hear some of the same lines from the same candidates. You will also see candidates adjust their answers based on audience and campaign feedback. Sometimes it has an impact on when they arrive and how.
Mayoral candidate Ricky Twiggs wants to end Entergy as it is, making it a public utility that he thinks will lower rates. Sheriff candidate Bob Murray wants to stop jail escapes by putting up an electric fence around the jail. City Council member JP Morrell has asked for votes based on his accomplishments and his strong legislative advocacy. One of his challengers, the Rev. Gregory Manning, has continued to accuse Morrell of being in Entergy's pocket. Morrell calls that hogwash. Assessor candidatesCoreygerard Dowden andCassius H. Pealer III laughed on stage as incumbent Assessor Errol Williams talked about the efficiency and the strength of his staff dealing with parish property during a Friday night debate at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center. (Yes, I spent my Friday night at a campaign event.) Dowden said he would bring assessments to the people — with block parties.
New Orleans mayoral candidates Helena Moreno, Oliver Thomas and Royce Duplessis.
At one event, I saw incumbent Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson sweep the floor with her challengers with her strong command of what's really going on with the parish jail and office operations. At another, Constable Ed Shorty showed that he didn't appreciate taking a beating and came out fighting, winning a round. New Orleans Interim Police Chief Michelle Woodfork got so much applause at one event, you might've thought she was former LSU Tiger Angel Reese walking the floor after winning a championship.
At a recent mayoral forum at the Treme Community Center, as mayoral candidates strolled in before the program started, Helena Moreno received some polite applause, mostly from campaign staff and supporters. Meanwhile, Thomas could hardly get to his seat as so many stopped him to shake his hand, give him a hug and whisper a little something. But before a mayoral debate held at the Lakefront Airport, Oliver Thomas walked in and casually worked the room before Moreno received thunderous applause and a standing ovation only 6 feet after crossing the threshold.
It was during the Treme event that Royce Duplessis and Thomas were showering each other with compliments. Duplessis said he met Thomas when he was a young chief of staff in the office of City Council member James Carter and he learned from OT. Thomas said some things couldn't get done without Duplessis in the Legislature. Moreno, who was sitting with Duplessis several seats to her right and Thomas several seats to her left, seemed to catch whiplash as she watched, suggesting that they were teaming up on her.
During a City Council District C debate, the participating candidates walked from behind the curtain to their assigned podiums. If you had flown in from Anchorage or Atlanta, you would have known which was the incumbent. Challengers disagreed with the incumbent, City Council member Freddie King III, on little but style and a specific business-neighborhood conflict. At one point, one challenger told King he was doing a good job; he just wanted a baton handoff so he could finish the race to help the district.
There are a number of ways to assess and evaluate candidates who want you to spend your taxpayer dollars to give them a public service job. One of the best ways is to ask them challenging, hot-seat, subject-specific questions and see what they say, or watch event moderators ask them.
The debates and forums have different formats. Some are limited to one hour. Some have a two-hour maximum goal. Some focus on audience questions, but usually, you have to write them down. No lectures for five minutes, then a short question. Some divide the event into subject-specific segments. Some have rapid-fire yes/no questions. There are community, small business and cultural candidate events this week, and more coming before early voting starts on Sept. 27.
Pick one, two, three or more to attend or watch.
And watch for the things you don't see reported.
You might see something that makes you decide that one candidate or another is a clumsy clown, a fanatical fool or just the intelligent, smart and visionary candidate who has earned your vote.
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TUESDAY
The Urban League of Louisiana and its partners has had a series of eight debates. The final debate includes mayoral candidates at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 9 at Xavier University's It's already sold out, so I suggest you RSVP at . All mayoral candidates have been invited. WDSU-TV morning anchor Darryl Forges and Makesha Judson, lead for government and community relations for Vale USA, will moderate.
WEDNESDAY
The (New Orleans) is hosting itson Wednesday, September 10 at theat 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans. DDD invited,Իbased on recent polls. Former WDSU-TV anchor Norman Robinson will moderate.
THURSDAY
The New Orleans Entrepreneurial Support Ecosystem System is hosting a mayoral forum focused on small business at Propeller, 4035 Washington Avenue, New Orleans. Registration and networking starts at 6 p.m. The forum starts at 7 p.m. WDSU-TV anchor Gina Swanson will moderate.