More on the forum
I've exchanged emails with both David Hamilton and Peter Gess regarding the District Eight forum.
Hamilton said due to the hectic schedule of a short election cycle, coupled with the lateness of the organizing of the event, made it impossible for him to attend the debate. He sent me the following email he sent to Gess, the secretary of the University Heights Community Association, at 10:26 a.m. on Monday:
However much I would welcome the opportunity to meet in a public forum, unfortunately the compressed time frame of the next two weeks makes it impossible. I have spent the past two days trying to juggle my schedule to free some time, but I just can't make it work. Our volunteers and supporters have helped coordinate activities between now and election-day. This, combined with my ongoing obligations to work and my various prior (non-campaign related) commitments, means virtually every hour is spoken for up to March 20th.
This is a completely understandable reason for declining any invitation. Running a full-fledged campaign in a condensed period of time doesn't sound like it's a lot of fun.
Gess has a slightly different version of the events. He said a fellow board member from UHCA contacted Hamilton on Feb. 19 via email, and that Hamilton responded the same day saying he thought this was a great idea and that he would contact Dan DeLamater, the past president of Cedar Creek Neighborhood Association, to see if their organization could assist with the planning and logistics. Gess said he contacted Herod as well at the same time.
Gess also said he never heard back from Hamilton or DeLamater regarding the proposed joint forum/debate.
On March 2, Gess met with members of staff from Flagpole to discuss the newspaper's possible involvement in the forum, thinking having their inclusion would help generate interest in the forum, and they agreed to lend a hand. Gess said he secured Cedar Shoals High School's auditorium as the venue that morning, and promptly left messages for both participants. He said he spoke with Herod first, who agreed to participate.
He said Hamilton returned his call around 5:30 p.m. that afternoon and expressed interest, but said he did have a very jam-packed schedule. Gess told him if he could know something by noon on Saturday, March 3 that would be fine for their planning purposes. Another primary reason for the deadline was so to meet Flagpole's deadline for this week's issue.
Gess said he never heard back from Hamilton and also said that phone calls made by staff at Flagpole to Hamilton were also unreturned. Gess said he's not angry over Hamilton's decision to not participate, but that he was disappointed in his decision.
What to make of this? Who knows. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think this really means a lot ... outside of being entertaining political news. Would Hamilton have been served well by participating in a debate sponsored by a neighborhood association that, according to rumor, is appearing to have many of its residents leaning Herod? Possibly not, though Gess said a large number of voters were undecided and were hopeful to hear him speak.
The battle, I still think, will be won in Cedar Creek. Herod's starting to spread his influence outside of that gigantic neighborhood, but Hamilton still has to be considered the leader in that particular neighborhood. It's his backyard and where he serves as the president of its neighborhood association. He should take a majority over there, but it's becoming apparent he might have to turn out an increasingly larger number of folks in Cedar Creek to help put him over the top.
Regardless ... Hamilton won't be present for the debate. He encouraged me to remind folks to visit his blog which he updates fairly regularly and where he fleshes out some of his thoughts on particular issues. And, in shameless self-promotional efforts, he did record a lengthy podcast with me.
Hamilton said due to the hectic schedule of a short election cycle, coupled with the lateness of the organizing of the event, made it impossible for him to attend the debate. He sent me the following email he sent to Gess, the secretary of the University Heights Community Association, at 10:26 a.m. on Monday:
However much I would welcome the opportunity to meet in a public forum, unfortunately the compressed time frame of the next two weeks makes it impossible. I have spent the past two days trying to juggle my schedule to free some time, but I just can't make it work. Our volunteers and supporters have helped coordinate activities between now and election-day. This, combined with my ongoing obligations to work and my various prior (non-campaign related) commitments, means virtually every hour is spoken for up to March 20th.
This is a completely understandable reason for declining any invitation. Running a full-fledged campaign in a condensed period of time doesn't sound like it's a lot of fun.
Gess has a slightly different version of the events. He said a fellow board member from UHCA contacted Hamilton on Feb. 19 via email, and that Hamilton responded the same day saying he thought this was a great idea and that he would contact Dan DeLamater, the past president of Cedar Creek Neighborhood Association, to see if their organization could assist with the planning and logistics. Gess said he contacted Herod as well at the same time.
Gess also said he never heard back from Hamilton or DeLamater regarding the proposed joint forum/debate.
On March 2, Gess met with members of staff from Flagpole to discuss the newspaper's possible involvement in the forum, thinking having their inclusion would help generate interest in the forum, and they agreed to lend a hand. Gess said he secured Cedar Shoals High School's auditorium as the venue that morning, and promptly left messages for both participants. He said he spoke with Herod first, who agreed to participate.
He said Hamilton returned his call around 5:30 p.m. that afternoon and expressed interest, but said he did have a very jam-packed schedule. Gess told him if he could know something by noon on Saturday, March 3 that would be fine for their planning purposes. Another primary reason for the deadline was so to meet Flagpole's deadline for this week's issue.
Gess said he never heard back from Hamilton and also said that phone calls made by staff at Flagpole to Hamilton were also unreturned. Gess said he's not angry over Hamilton's decision to not participate, but that he was disappointed in his decision.
What to make of this? Who knows. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think this really means a lot ... outside of being entertaining political news. Would Hamilton have been served well by participating in a debate sponsored by a neighborhood association that, according to rumor, is appearing to have many of its residents leaning Herod? Possibly not, though Gess said a large number of voters were undecided and were hopeful to hear him speak.
The battle, I still think, will be won in Cedar Creek. Herod's starting to spread his influence outside of that gigantic neighborhood, but Hamilton still has to be considered the leader in that particular neighborhood. It's his backyard and where he serves as the president of its neighborhood association. He should take a majority over there, but it's becoming apparent he might have to turn out an increasingly larger number of folks in Cedar Creek to help put him over the top.
Regardless ... Hamilton won't be present for the debate. He encouraged me to remind folks to visit his blog which he updates fairly regularly and where he fleshes out some of his thoughts on particular issues. And, in shameless self-promotional efforts, he did record a lengthy podcast with me.
posted by Jmac at 4:07 PM
4 Comments:
I think that arguably one of the best things about a campaign is that it prepares you for the time demands of public office. I find it hard to believe that he does not have one hour of free time in the next two weeks. If he really doesn't perhaps he should reconsider whether or not he has the time to be a public servant.
When I look at the number of Herod signs up in Cedar Creek, I just have to disagree that Hamilton "has to be considered the leader in that particular neighborhood." He may still end up winning Cedar Creek, but I don't think it will be that definitive.
This is a crock, he's afraid to meet Andy because he knows Andy is a polished, effective communicator. And the real progressive in this race. David is just a shil for the Doc/Charlie crowd.
He should go on the Tim Bryant show, with Andy, if he hasn't got the "time" to do a whole debate for an entire evening, surely he has an hour to tell the voters of Athens Clarke county why we should vote for him. He is, after all, asking for our votes... I'm really wondering whether he has the time management skills he'll need if he gets elected.
He's just afraid that his complete lack of experience will show up obviously if he doesn't have control of the questions... he's a cowardly wimp, and doesn't deserve anyone's vote if he can't do better than this.
obviously supporting Andy....
Gotta say, I'm supporting Andy, but I know David, and he is a good guy. He is well intentioned and not simply carrying water for the Doc/Charlie crowd. However, he is not as experienced or capable as Andy.
-Voice of Reason
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