North Andover's local election is March 26, and the League of Women Voters will have a Candidates' Night on March 6 in the Board of Selectmen meeting room at Town Hall.
This will give members of the community a chance top engage with candidates, asking questions about where candidates stand on the issues and what they will pursue if they win.
This year, there is only one contested race -- the race for a School Committee seat. Incumbant Chris Allen chose not to run for reelection. The candidates are Mark Mezzina and Zora Warren.
Selectman Rosemary Smedile is running for reelection unopposed. Mary Beth Soucy is also running unopposed, for an open seat on the North Andover Housing Authority.
The Candidates' Night is free and open to the public. It will also be broadcast live on North Andover CAM. If you attend, you may submit questions on cards at the event. You may also email your questions in advance of the event or even while the event is in progress, lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org. Visit www.northandovercam.org for programming information.
Questions must apply to all candidates for a given seat.
For more information or to submit questions, contact Heather McNeil or Kathy Stevens at lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org.
Michael Quinlan
9:14 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
'Managed Democracy' in action; submit cards with question. Leftist moderators decide which questions and in which order they will be presented. Can't let actual people ask questions; too confrontational (i.e. real).
Bryan McGonigle2
9:56 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
On the one hand, some questions are inappropriate, irrelevant, dumb, or ... I don't have a problem with moderators choosing questions from those submitted or asking their own questions.
On the other hand, there could be more transparency to the process - like publishing all the submitted questions so that we can see what questions didn't make the cut.
Maybe the crack journalists at the Patch can publish the "unanswered" questions from the debate if the LWV isn't inclined to do so (or add them to the ones John Tierney is feverishly NOT answering from his WORST live chat in PATCH HISTORY last May. BTW, worst live chat should be a category in those yearly north andover polls some people like to do).
I agree that the LWV is a left of center organization - not unlike the rest of Massachusetts.
Bill Callahan
11:52 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Why don't you write up your questions, Mr. Quinlan and post them here and then send to the League? So all of us can see this "bias" in action?
Bryan McGonigle2
12:23 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
That would be awesome!
Michael Quinlan
12:31 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
How about I have the questions submitted to LWV, see if they use them and then post the questions here? That seems more reasonable to detect bias. It might be useful if the text of all the questions were made available by LWV and a note of which ones were selected and what order presented. People could then review for selection and presentation bias. (If there are too many questions submitted for the time allowed then some won't get aired.)
Bill Callahan
7:36 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Michael - a little advice. Sometimes a very opened and simple questions will be get the best answer.
Michael Quinlan
12:13 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Bill - your comment as read is nonsensical. I will do my best to interpret.
Michael Quinlan
5:53 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Just watched the LWV telecast. They did use my question:
Five years ago North Andover was confronted with unacceptable achievement in Middle School Science as was documented in stagnant MCAS scores. Our School Committee strongly recommended a new science curriculum be adopted. It was. Since then the average Proficient+ MCAS percentage for Grade 8 science has declined not increased. What will you do to improve the mediocre MCAS performance in North Andover that has not been previously attempted?
MikeAaa
1:03 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I plan on being there and commenting on every topic, even if I don't know anything about it. Just like I do here.
Bryan McGonigle2
1:26 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
"Many imitators but no equals ..."
Heather McNeil
10:10 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Submit your questions for our candidates, you can send them to
lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org or post them here. Questions must apply to all candidates for that board and not be of a personal nature. If you do have questions specifically for one candidate, we would recommend you contact the candidate directly.
kathy Stevens
8:08 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Candidates Night March 6 on NACAM. Send your questions to lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org or attend event in the Board of selectmen's Room, Town Hall. Questions should be addressed to both candidates.
Heather McNeil
8:40 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Less than one week to go! Two candidates for School Committee and our incumbent Board of Selectmen member who is running unopposed for one seat will be attending the Canidates' Night. Come to hear from the candidates or submit your questions here or to lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org.
Heather McNeil
8:06 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Submit your questions for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee Candidates who will be attending on Wednesday evening! lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org
Heather McNeil
8:27 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
North Andover Candidates' Night! Join us, watch, and/or send in questions for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee candidates! This Wednesday, 7:00 PM, Town Hall! Get informed and get out and VOTE on March 26th!
kathy Stevens
11:10 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Email questions to lwvforum@lwv-andovers.org. Come to the event in Town Hall, Board of Selectmen's Room at 7 Pm on wednesday.
Heather McNeil
4:11 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
North Andover’s local elections will be held next Tuesday, March 26th at the North Andover High School. Polls will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM. Voters will be choosing one Selectmen, one School Committee member, and one representative for the North Andover Housing Authority.
Watch the LWV Candidates Forum! Click the link below to view! And feel free to forward this message to others or contact the candidates with further questions. Then GO VOTE! If you need an absentee ballot, they are available in the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is noon on March 25th.
http://98.118.32.13:8083/TRMSVOD/7257-1LeagueofWomenVotersCandidatesForum.wmv
Board of Selectmen (1 seat)
Rosemary Connelly Smedile, the incumbent and unopposed candidate rosemarysmedile@aol.com
School Committee (1 seat)
Mark B. Mezzina http://www.mezzinaschoolcommittee.org/
Zora Warren http://zoraforschoolcommittee.org/
North Andover Housing Authority (1 seat)
Mary Beth Soucy, the incumbent and unopposed candidate (978)682-8444
Heather McNeil
8:19 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Watch the League forum.
http://98.118.32.13:8083/TRMSVOD/7257-1LeagueofWomenVotersCandidatesForum.wmv