The Great Debate?

What a disappoinment after watching and listening to the only debate of the Akron primary between Joe Finley and Don Plusquellic.

I can't say it is aimed at either politician; I thought the Mayor did a fairly decent job of holding his famous temper and challenger Finley came off stronger than I thought he would against the more polished Plusquellic. The crowd reaction was about what you would expect: the folks with jobs in City Hall and the Courthouse applauded Plusquellic, and Finley's side got a nice boost from eight of his nine children -- including four in uniform with the Army and Air Force -- at a side table.

What was disappointing? The execution of the debate itself. The lack of time constraints for answers from either candidate didn't lead to more in-depth answers but instead allowed for near-filibuster responses, limiting questions to a handful. If Finley and Plusquellic hadn't bought up Bass Pro Shops or Goodyear I doubt it would have made the cut. There was little opportunity for either to respond to the other (note to the Press Club: debate should mean candidates take on each other) and the one issue that sparked the most fire languished from lack of followup.

The shape of the Akron building inspector's office, now under state investigation, deserved far more time but this only direct give-and-take was cut off for a poorly-timed question on the prediction from the candidates of a turnout. Holy cow, the bloody election's in two weeks! How about getting deeper on the service levels from the department, why the state's involved, and whether it works for or against Akron's public interests?

The Finley campaign offered up a CD of the Mayor busting inspector butts and threatening their jobs; Plusquellic sort of shrugged his shoulders and said so what, the public isn't getting the service they deserve so he should be kicking tail...a message most who've had to deal with the building inspection office will probably enjoy hearing. One thing occurring to me: just what kind of environment do we have at City Hall when a supervisor trying to get more responsive service to the public has to always consider he or she is being recorded? Sounds like the building inspector's office could use a little house cleaning.

All told, some advice for the next big debate: set up some tried and true moderator rules (like how much time they get and allow for responses) and then get out of the way and let the candidates duke it out they way they would on the stump. THAT would be a change of pace the voters might benefit from.