Carter Campaign “Strategy” #10

Public Forum

Provided with an opportunity to outshine each other in the public eye, Candidate Carter and incumbent Robinson recently appeared at a local public forum. A moderator asked each candidate several prepared questions in alternating fashion and allowed them to respond within a specified amount of time. Two of the discussion issues were particularly noteworthy.

The first such issue was the contentious new jail/courthouse. Candidate Carter was first to provide a quick response stating that building a new jail/courthouse was “bad timing” due to the current economic climate. He further added that “it should be located in North Branch” not Center City. Candidate Carter did not provide any explanation or description of the lengthy legislative process required to move the county seat from Center City to North Branch in order to meet the legal requirements of building a new jail/courthouse in North Branch. Incumbent Robinson responded next by informing the public that whether the antiquated Center City jail was remodeled or a new jail was built would ultimately cost taxpayer dollars to resolve the current problem of an overcrowded, non-compliant jail. He did not believe the issue or costs should be compounded by attempting to relocate the state mandated county seat a few miles further north.

On the second noteworthy issue, each candidate was asked what measures they would propose to reduce or eliminate crime and vandalism plaguing the local area. Incumbent Robinson answered in part by suggesting that the creation of more local jobs would help alleviate the situation. When asked the same question, Candidate Carter initially responded, “I wish I knew.”