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Local candidates and experts participate in political forum
By Colette Lefebvre-Davis
Nevada Daily Mail
A candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 19, was broadcast over 1240AM radio and was well attended. The event was organized by Soroptimist International of Nevada, the government affairs committee of the chamber of commerce and the Community Council for the Performing Arts. It was meant to be simply a forum, not a rally nor a debate, stated forum moderator Nancy Kerbs. "This activity illustrates two principles on which our country was founded- the right to form and express opinions and the privilege to vote." said Kerbs.
The candidates included those seeking office as state representative in the 125th District, associate circuit judge candidates and Vernon County presiding commissioner candidates, and speakers for and against the Stem Cell Initiative and the Tobacco Tax Amendment participated as well.
"Each candidate or speaker will be allowed two minutes to provide opening remarks, one minute to respond to each question, and two minutes for closing remarks. Candidates and speakers are not to address each other. Time limits will be strictly enforced." stated Kerbs, prior to the event.
Kerbs also explained that the forum was to be implemented as a round robin format. Questions from the audience were not accepted as most of the questions were randomly picked out of a hat, and were voted upon prior to the forum. The first speakers were there to discuss Amendment 2, Missouri's Stem Cell Research Initiative. Joe Rhea of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures was on the pro and Dr. Scott Beard, local OBGYN and volunteer for Missourian's Against Cloning represented opposition to the amendment..
Rhea introduced himself by telling about an accident that left him almost paralyzed 22 years ago; however, he said with the help of a stem cell treatment, he was able to walk again. His message was to provide access to lifesaving cures for all Missourians, he said.
Beard took out a hot dog and said "This amendment is like a hot dog, it looks good on the outside but when you find out what it's made of it's not so good. This amendment kills unborn babies. It promotes all cloning including reproductive cloning and there will be a sales tax on all of it. Rhea and Beard then answered an array of randomly drawn questions.
Amendment 3, known as the tobacco tax, was the next issue discussed, with the pros of the topic presented by Ronald J. Leone, executive director of Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association and the cons of the topic presented by Dr. Jim Blaine, a volunteer for the Committee for a Healthy Future and a family physician.
The tobacco tax was flayed back and forth as being a big step for Missourians and healthcare, according to Blaine, or a big tax in order to make the legislature's coffers richer, according to Leone.
At the intermission, citizens rallied round the voting machine on display and grabbed some snacks.
State Rep. Barney Fisher said he was pleased to announce that the roads and bridges have been kept up extremely well since he started and they were "as smooth as a baby's fanny." The crowd chuckled, Wells grimaced. Wells began to state that he was there "Not to represent moneyed interested in St. Louis but people here at home, regardless of color or orientation, regardless of wealth, If you are a citizen of District 125 I want to represent you," said Wells.
After the candidates, Wells and Fisher shook hands.
Candidates for Associate Circuit judge in the 28th Circuit were heard from next -- Neal Quitno, a Democrat, and Judge Gerald McBeth, a Republican.
"Please don't fire me." said McBeth, to a hearty and well receiving audience.
Quitno explained his run as Vernon County prosecutor and his competency as a prosecutor. McBeth said, "Quitno is a nice guy but sometimes a judge can't be a nice guy."
Next up and certainly not least were presiding commissioner candidates Bonnie McCord and Arch Forkner. McCord held her own against Forkner, citing that the largest problem that the county needs to address is the jail system. She went on to explain the "farming" out process, in which local prisoners are sent to other institutions because of overcrowding. Forkner stated that there were problems and only so much could be done.
Although widely disparate opinions were expressed, candidates and forum presenters agreed on one thing -- it's important to vote. Election day is Nov. 7.