I leave still unsure who I'm going to vote for, but I have a more solid idea about several candidates, of which Baltimore has many impressive ones.
Here are my quick thoughts about tonight's forum:
1. The Facility was really great. Pastor Dr. Heber Brown III began the forum by welcoming the public, and then engaged in some discussion of the justice issues of Baltimore, telling us that York Road (the church is right off of York Road, near The Senator) is an important dividing line of justice in the city. Just crossing the line, he explained, changes your life expectancy from 73 (east side) to 81 (west side). The west side has 3% unemployment; the east side has 15% unemployment. And, of course, the east side of York Rd. is mostly black, while the west side is mostly white. He says his church doesn't mince words or numbers, and tells it like it is. I was impressed.
2. The Moderators: I really like Marc Steiner (I didn't catch the other moderator's name), but often times it seemed like they were not keeping tally about how many times candidates spoke. I think some candidates, especially Embry and McKesson, got a short shrift.
3. The Candidates:
Gersham Cupid is a young (maybe around 30?) Baltimore City police officer running for mayor. He made a huge gaffe when describing police work, that sometimes they "sometimes get too aggressive with people" and someone dies (referring to Freddie Gray). He never recovered from the comment, which was pretty tone deaf beyond being really offensive, and the audience nearly booed him off the stage.
Sheila Dixon was very ho-hum, but the most telling moment for me was when she mixed up Joshua Harris and Calvin Young. It just speaks to her entitlement; she said something similar about DeRay McKesson when he came into the race (she claimed she didn't know who he was). Acting as if your opponents are negligible is an ego thing that I find just awful. I'd never vote for Dixon when there are so many other good candidates, and can't believe she's leading in the polls now (despite continued problems with finances).
Elizabeth Embry graduated from the high school where I teach and I find her to be impressive. She is not very smooth or politician-y, but I like the rawness to her public persona, the sorta messy hair, the lack of polish. I also think she gave very impressive answers throughout the forum tonight, often very specific, sometimes about things I'd never heard candidates discuss before, like eliminating cash bonds, and focusing on issues I don't think are getting enough attention, like rent courts. I have some hesitation about her being a former district attorney and am not sure that's the right direction for our city, but I haven't eliminated her from my contention yet. She also was really nice to talk to afterwards.
Armand Girard is an elderly man running for the Republican ticket. He appears to be in his 70s or maybe even 80s, and at one point had to walk all the way up to the table to hear the question. He also made a comment about some neighborhoods, he wouldn't want to go into. I felt a little bad for him at times, but everyone was polite to him and his presence did speak to the democratic (small D) nature of the forum.
Patrick Gutierrez was one of most dynamic speakers, often giving specific and impressive answers to questions (although mentioning he would have used Ubers to help get kids home from Douglass on the day of the unrest was a little silly). He's someone I want to learn more about.
Joshua Harris was the most impressive candidate in tonight's forum. Mr. Harris's answers were specific, and featured what seemed to be a pragmatic mix of business and justice issues; he was able to discuss tiffs and allocation of resources with much acumen and passion. He seems to have a strong handle on the big picture of what Baltimore needs, and, while I want to hear more about education from him (and hesitate since he changed at the last minute to the Green Party), he is someone I could see myself voting for, and even campaigning for, if someone uninspiring, like Dixon or Pugh, is nominated by the Democrats.
Emmanuel McCray got a lot of chances to speak, and has a raw and passionate personality. That's about it, though. I didn't really hear many specifics from him.
DeRay McKessen. I've spent some time lately online defending McKessen's candidacy, which I think far too many cynics have written off. He has a very impressive plan. Tonight, though, he was not particularly charismatic in the limited times he was given to speak. I'm interested in hearing more, but he didn't make a mark tonight. He also seemed to have a bit of backlash in the audience.
Nick Mosby gave several impressive answers with lots of specificity, many from his impressive plan he has on his website. But there's something very politician-y to me about him. I also was taken aback when he attacked Dixon for taking a few seconds over her allotted time, a move that seemed petty and drew boos from the crowd. I wish he would talk more about his time in City Council, where he has spent 5 years. How did he "connect the dots" there? What kind of change did he bring in his position of power there? I want to like him, I do (I find his narrative quite compelling), but I want more.
Catherine Pugh gives passionate responses at times but I find something about her to be fairly wan. I like when she talks about connecting city resources to federal and state resources, and about the Baltimore Design School, but otherwise I just feel like she didn't register that much with me. I don't know, maybe she deserves a shot at mayor (clearly I prefer her to Dixon), but she isn't someone that inspires me. I've also heard reports of disorganization and lack of follow through from friends in two very different fields who have worked with her.
Carl Stokes - now here is a perennial candidate who excites me a little. He began his night by saying, "16 years ago, I stood at a forum similar to this, and said I would invest in our communities and get jobs to our most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The guy on my right and the guy on my left said, 'Let's lock those n***** up'. One of them was elected, and you see where we are today. We owe those men we locked up reparations for what happened." At other times, he was just as passionate, discussing tiffs and economic and racial disparity. Unlike Mosby, he discusses his time in City Council, about what he tried to do, and what he couldn't do because he couldn't get the support (audits, funding more youth programs). He's in my top four of candidates.
David Warnock: I admit I've been excited about his candidacy because I feel like he comes off as very genuine and intelligent in his radio interviews (and I've heard several, with both Marc Steiner and Dan Rodericks), and he has done a number of impressive things here in Baltimore, from starting the Green School to the Center for Urban Families. Unfortunately, he only stayed for his 1-minute introduction, when he introduced himself as the "guy in the truck" (I'm not a huge fan of that commercial, to be honest), and apologized for having to "leave a bit early." He left immediately after he spoke, answering no questions. I was bummed out by this. I almost think it would have been better not to show up at all. It definitely would have been better to give a reason to the audience why you were taking off just as the event started. Anyhow, huge bummer there. He's still on my list but I was hoping to get more of an impression of him today.
Calvin Young: The forgotten man at times, as he pointed out when he was finally asked a question. And his answers were solid, then at one point he very dramatically called out the media for ignoring his, and Harris's, and Gutierrez's campaigns. He pointed out that he was one of the first to run, not waiting until after Rawlings-Blake decided not to run, unlike most of the candidates up there, and that he has a degree from Harvard, and he will be okay if he doesn't win, but he's concerned about the youth. It was an impressive moment for a young candidate who I hope doesn't get dissuaded and runs again if he doesn't win this time, because he's definitely passionate and smart.
 |
| Packed house! |
 |
| I enjoyed when Embry used the word "Dickensian". City College English! |
 |
| Joshua Harris was tonight's most impressive candidate. |
 |
| Pugh, a cheerleader at Morgan State back in her day, says Baltimore needs a cheerleader more than ever. |
 |
| DeRay McKessen and his trademark blue vest. |
 |
| Stokes was impressive. |
 |
| Mosby definitely has impressive answers. I want to hear more about what he's done though. |
 |
| Warnock addresses the audience at start of forum, then apologizes for having to leave early, and then leaves immediately. |
 |
| The passionate Calvin Young. |
 |
| Armand Girard, Republican candidate. |
 |
| Gersham Cupid. |
from Epiphany in Baltimore http://ift.tt/1Q2tOFZ Some Thoughts on Tonight's Baltimore Mayoral Forum by the Open Society Institute - Entrepreneur Generations
0 Response to "Some Thoughts on Tonight's Baltimore Mayoral Forum by the Open Society Institute - Entrepreneur Generations"
Post a Comment