Dear Editor:
Two Hoboken citizen groups, People for Open Government and the Quality of Life Coalition, have conducted public candidates’ forums for the last six years. Before every one of these events, members of the public invariably raise concerns that the event will end up boisterous and undisciplined. This pre-forum anxiety occurred again right before the 4th Ward council candidates’ forum on Oct. 13 due in great part this time to the overheated nature of Hoboken politics everywhere in the city. As always, we assured everyone that there would be no problems and, as usual, there were none.
We know the outcome of these events not only because we have the experience, but because we know the basic goodness and civility of the people throughout this city who come to these events to learn and see candidates in action. This is democracy in action. On Wednesday, the two candidates were articulate and responsive. POG and the QLC owe thanks for the help of Scott Siegel, Ines Garcia Keim, and Melissa Abernathy for being the question gatherers (all questions are written by the audience); Liza Duval for once more working as a question sorter; and Eduardo Gonzalez for working as timekeeper. Gratitude also to camera techies Bob Duval and Eric Kurta. Our great thanks, once again, to our longtime moderator Bob Bowdon for his disciplined yet easy approach to that task, and to Rev. Geoffrey Curtiss for the use of space in the Jubilee Center. Replay of the event is currently running on the POG website www.hobokenpog.org. and will soon be available on channels 78 and 47.
Helen Manogue, Coordinator QLC