Tips For Future Candidates' Forums

I attended the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress 's City Council District Candidates Forum earlier this evening.

First off, thanks to the organizers for putting on an event that was well-worth attending.

I also appreciated and enjoyed hearing from the candidates themselves.

I definitely think our city has some good options in the upcoming district elections.

This forum was a great way to get the campaign season jump-started.

A few suggestions for future candidates' forums (by the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress, or by other organizations):

1) Use a basic font for name cards. I liked the large name cards that stood on the table in front of each candidate. I think the letter size was fine, but I couldn't read them very well from further back in the room because of the fancy font that was used. That made it hard to read the candidates' names.

2) Begin on time. The event was scheduled to begin at 6:45 PM. Things didn't actually get started until 7:00 PM. What that ended up meaning is that hardly any questions collected from the audience were asked.

3) Avoid repeating similar questions. There are so many topics and issues that different people care about. Give the candidates the opportunity to address as many different topics as possible.

4) Emphasize that all electronic devices be turned off. At least once, a very loud cell phone went off--while a candidate was in the middle of speaking. Organizers of this forum did a great job of emphasizing conduct, but I don't think they mentioned turning off electronic devices.

5) Encourage candidates to stand up when speaking. A few candidates did this. And for them, it made a powerful difference. Since the seating is all level, people in the back often cannot see the candidates very well (or at all) when they're seated. Candidates can choose not to stand, but I'd suggest pointing out to them that it makes a better impression when they stand for everyone to see them.

6) Be sure you have enough copies of all forum documents. One sheet outlined Procedures for Conduct of Forum; another sheet provided information about the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress and future candidates' forums. Great information. Just not enough copies available for everyone who attended. (Both sheets were single-sided; back-and-front copies should have been made.)

7) Collect, print, and provide candidates' contact information. When you invite candidates to the forum, ask for their permission to print their contact information. It would have been great to have provided everyone a handout with the candidates' e-mail addresses and website/blog addresses. At the very least, provide audience members a list of the candidates' names.

Thanks again to the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress and the Greensboro City Council district candidates.

The suggestions I've made above are only to make future forums even better than this one already was.