Here's your chance to see Boulder history in the making. On Monday October 15 at 7:00pm Boulder will have it's first live online debate. The City Council candidates will be debating live via and simultaneously the web right here at Liberal and Loving It.
Because of the large number of candidates, having an in-person debate is essentially unworkable. Giving each candidate a 3 minute introduction takes over an hour. Add 3 - 4 questions and you are looking at a 5-1/2 hour marathon where even the candidates fall asleep between their 3 minutes once an hour.
The structure of this debate is designed to allow all to "talk" at the same time while keeping with the debate framework where they are given the question and must answer immediately and in a limited time frame. Here's how it will work:
- A question (contribute your questions...) is posted to this blog.
- Each candidate must respond within 5 minutes, answering on their own, and in under 300 words.
- Answers are emailed to us and we then add all of the answers to the question at the same time.
- The next question is posted.
In under an hour we will present the candidates with 11 questions and get answers. By 8:00 we will be done. And this will occur the day you will probably receive your ballot. So you can watch, evaluate, and then vote.
A giant thank you to the candidates for trying this. None of them know if it will be useful so kudos to them for putting in the time to try something new.
Note: 21 candidates have agreed to participate. Adam Massey has declined.
Update: Macon Cowles has withdrawn from the event due to this post.
