Bloggers’ forum draws candidates
Mary Davidson/For the Stafford County Sun
Mark Osborn was one of eight candidates at the Rappahannock Bloggers Forum on Sept. 30. Check back for more photos.
Published: October 7, 2009
Updated: October 8, 2009
STAFFORD — The Rappahannock Bloggers Forum drew candidates in four of Stafford County’s district races Sept. 30.
Eight showed up to debate local issues, and three opted out of the forum — Doug Filler, Paul Ortiz and Susan Stimpson.
According to blogger and event organizer Eric Martin, Filler and Ortiz had prior commitments, and Stimpson first planned on attending, but ultimately declined.
The three-hour forum, held at Mountain View High School, is the brainchild of Colin Brehm, a local blogger and student who attends Germanna Community College. Other area bloggers, including Martin, were panelists during the event: Shaun Kenney, Matt Kelly and Tim Watson were the others.
The bloggers’ forum drew at least 50 people at any one time throughout the night, and bloggers estimated that throughout the night 75 to 90 area residents took in what candidates had to say sometime that night.
Issues discussed included the BPOL tax, the SPCA, traffic congestion, Stafford’s airport, fire-rescue, parks and rec, transportation issues and more.
The bloggers forum also utilized a unique, fun system that included playing cards given to the candidates: a PWNED! Card to silence another person, a Hyperlink Card to pass a question to another candidate, a Flame Card to extend one’s speaking time by one minute and an Epic Fail Card to pass a question to another person or remain silent.
— Staff report
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Reader Reactions
truthsquad- I just wanted to personally clarify any misconceptions about the legitimacy of the Bloggers Forum. All candidates were told of my involvement in the campaign prior the the RSVP. Numerous times. It was the actions of one candidate who wanted to stage a dramatic re-enactment if you will of what was essentially old news. On numerous occasions I offered to not ask her questions at the debate (which she said was not necessary), invite her media director/vice chair of Stafford GOP Scott Hirons (who refused numerous times) If you would like I am more than willing to email you all emails regarding this topic uncensored. Visit www.bloggersforum09.com to get in touch with me. Happy voting!
The bloggers’ forum was a set-up; that’s why some candidates didn’t attend. The host is a paid staff member of Mark Osborn. The bloggers’ forum is a great idea but it needs to be coordinated by an impartial facilitator.
I really liked mark osborn. He seems like that guy who is willing to just sit down with you and explain what happened, and what we gotta do to fix it. thats why im telling everyone to vote for mark!
gary snellings was really good too. seems like a great guy, wish i could vote for him too.
What a neat idea! It’s great that the candidates took the time to come to a public event like this. I assume that the missing candidates have no respect for democracy or are arrogant enough to think that it isn’t important to be seen and heard by the public you are asking to employ you and trust your judgement for 4 years with our money.
I’ll vote for a candidate that attended long before someone else that snubbed a public forum, even if they’re in a different party. There’s no excuse for being a coward if you want to lead!!!
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