Editorial

EDITORIAL“Forum” Format Is Debatable

While it’s always good for candidates for any office to address the public, we were disappointed in the format of a recent forum on environmental conservation issues between Republican Congressman John Faso and Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado. The forum was held at The Western Hotel in Callicoon, so it’s great that Sullivan County is considered critical to the candidates’ success. Faso resides in Columbia County and Delgado lives in Dutchess County.

The fact that the public did not get to see the pair square off ​directly​ was a disservice to voters, even if unintentional. In the forum format, the candidates largely repeated lines from their stump speeches instead of allowing us to see how they handle the pressures of a real debate seated or standing directly next to their opponent.

I’m confident there will be debates between now and Election Day. But with attention spans short enough these days, we can only hope that, at this point, there are at least two more comprehensive debates -- that all are live streamed across the entire District. One should focus on jobs and the economy and the other should be on healthcare, including the horrific opioid crisis.

Our broken political campaign system is too heavily focused on radio/TV ads that conveniently ignore issues that most impact constituents’ lives. Debates, like in the days of Lincoln-Douglas, are an American tradition. Let’s demand more of them from all our politicians at every level of government.

The Sullivan Times Editor & Publisher: Rich Klein PO Box 502 Jeffersonville NY 12748 sullivancatskillstimes@gmail.com

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