08-25-2008, 04:55 AM
Although we did not originally plan to, after running up on some old friends, we all went to the candidate forum yesterday in Opihikao.
Participants ...
3 Council candidates -- Gumapac, Joseph, Stocksdale.
2 Mayor candidates -- Moore, Pilago.
4 State House candidates -- Blas, Hanohano, Marzi, Sparks
...and a good, not huge, crowd of people in the audience.
It seemed most of the audience were there to genuinely learn more. That is, not so much rent-a-crowd and camp followers there to applaud their own candidate on prompt as with some of the bigger forums.
My guess is, Pilago earned a few more votes there yesterday. His demeanor, grasp of issues and necessary actions, and easy rapport with the audience certainly put him in a different class than anyone else on the stage (our two friends had not heard him before and were positively impressed with Angel the person).
Moore as usual, had a lot to say about the sky falling, which in 2008 is not a hard thing to do; however, there is still is zero indication of a clear grasp of what the Hawaii County Mayor might do about any of it.
This was the first time I'd seen the four State House candidates at a forum -- it could turn out to be a real race! Marzi was my blind choice a few weeks ago and I will stay with that as a better informed choice also. (...maybe Fred Blas should have run for Council?).
The Council candidates reminded me of what I heard a neighbor say early in the campaign after meeting a particularly vocal candidate, "He said all the right things." ...that, fellow citizens, is a sure sign to be wary!
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Participants ...
3 Council candidates -- Gumapac, Joseph, Stocksdale.
2 Mayor candidates -- Moore, Pilago.
4 State House candidates -- Blas, Hanohano, Marzi, Sparks
...and a good, not huge, crowd of people in the audience.
It seemed most of the audience were there to genuinely learn more. That is, not so much rent-a-crowd and camp followers there to applaud their own candidate on prompt as with some of the bigger forums.
My guess is, Pilago earned a few more votes there yesterday. His demeanor, grasp of issues and necessary actions, and easy rapport with the audience certainly put him in a different class than anyone else on the stage (our two friends had not heard him before and were positively impressed with Angel the person).
Moore as usual, had a lot to say about the sky falling, which in 2008 is not a hard thing to do; however, there is still is zero indication of a clear grasp of what the Hawaii County Mayor might do about any of it.
This was the first time I'd seen the four State House candidates at a forum -- it could turn out to be a real race! Marzi was my blind choice a few weeks ago and I will stay with that as a better informed choice also. (...maybe Fred Blas should have run for Council?).
The Council candidates reminded me of what I heard a neighbor say early in the campaign after meeting a particularly vocal candidate, "He said all the right things." ...that, fellow citizens, is a sure sign to be wary!
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park