I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to finally be able to present a Primary Candidates Forum in a slightly modified form. The sponsors, League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, consider this one of their most important services to the community.
From an annual event hosted at a large venue with a live audience and face-to-face contact, it was transformed into a one-on-one, recorded interviews without an audience and available only on the radio thanks to COVID-19 and its many restrictions. Starting with the initial restrictions, the “plan” seemed to change weekly, if not daily. Needless to say, the candidates were becoming a little anxious. We were slowly running out of options when Dave Peach, general Mmnager of our local radio stations, broached the idea of using their facilities to put on a modified forum. Since social distancing was an issue, it was decided we would record each candidate individually using basically the same format as the other forums but without an audience and with each candidate answering the same questions.
I can’t thank the candidates enough for their patience and understanding while this process was playing out. It’s very difficult, not to mention, frustrating, attempting to run a campaign for a public office when you have to stay home, not allowed to have gatherings or even go door-to-door to introduce yourself to the voters. They all came out to the radio station over a two-day period to record their interview.
The interviews were checked and then placed in order by the station staff and made ready for the Primary Candidates Forum On Radio which was held May 5, which so happened to be the original date of the primary. Many thanks to Peach and his staff for volunteering their time, effort and facilities as a community service to allow the candidates to reach out to the voters and share their ideas, thoughts and concerns as to why they should be supported in their election efforts.
If you were not able to listen to the forum or would like to do so again, it’s available by going to the WCDQ Facebook Live page and clicking on the forum flyer icon. As always, thanks to the folks at the Journal Review and The Paper of Montgomery County for assisting in getting the word out to the community.
Remember, early voting starts May 26 and lasts through June 1 with Election Day, June 2. You are strongly encouraged to vote by mail because the chances are good that there will be long lines on Election Day as there are only three voting sites in the county that day. Applications for ballots must be received by May 21. For more information, call 765-364-6437.
S. David Long
Forum coordinator
