“Would you like to be in a mayoral debate?”
With that phone call question, I finally participated in a televised political debate.
Since this column began, I’ve fiercely advocated for African-American journalists and African-American media to be included in televised political debates in Indianapolis. My public prodding has led to this newspaper, WTLC and Black journalists to be included as debate questioners.
But, I was never asked to participate.
A couple of times, I was suggested as a proposed questioner, but was turned down (blackballed?) by candidates and campaigns. Even though I was never included, I was proud my advocacy allowed our community and issues to be represented.
So, imagine my surprise when I was asked to participate in this week’s debate aired on WIBC Radio (the current AM 1070 and coming FM 93.1) and WXIN/Fox 59 television.
“You’ll be representing the Recorder,” debate organizers told me.
“But don’t they know I’m on WTLC,” I replied.
“No problem,” said WIBC news director Sherry Fisher.
So there I was with Fox 59 anchor Bob Donaldson and WIBC newsman Stan Lehr questioning Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson, Republican Greg Ballard and Libertarian Fred Peterson.
Though WIBC has aired political debates before, this was Fox 59’s first effort (airing in prime time at 7 p.m. this Saturday night). Both stations impressed with their attention to detail and preparation.
Monday night inside Fox 59’s Pike Township studios you could cut the tension with a meat ax. To break it, Mayor Peterson kidded me and Lehr about interrupting the Christmas music on 93.1 FM for the debate. The mayor’s friendliness was fully displayed, engaging Greg Ballard in small talk and friendly banter, while Fred Peterson kept to himself.
During the debate, all three candidates played it safe sticking to their themes. Ballard said Indy’s on the wrong track, he’ll lower taxes, cut tens of millions from the city/county budget. Libertarian Peterson, the contrary grandfather is running against the Colts stadium and warning against partisanship.
Mayor Peterson stressed the city’s progress, though he spent too much time talking about downtown progress, which I think doesn’t impress voters anymore.
I asked three questions, one on increasing employment opportunities in older neighborhoods. All three skirted answering. Mayor Peterson disagreed with my data, then cited the Keystone Park Industrial area as a success story. Libertarian Peterson said we need to create a climate for economic growth and blaming job losses on the city’s sewer problems.
And though Ballard criticized tax abatements he said he’d support them to create jobs.
All three uttered misstatements.
Ballard quoted the “19 tax increases in two years” malarkey, (again local Republicans where is the documentation)?
The mayor boasted about his administration’s code enforcement efforts, which neighborhood folks know has been haphazard and spotty.
Libertarian Peterson said he’d cut taxes and spend less, but advocates increasing IndyGo service and buying non-polluting buses. (Where would the cash come from, Fred?)
In a question about homelessness, Ballard and Fred Peterson showed insensitivity. Fred Peterson said the homeless must treat their mental illness and addictions “on their own,” an utterly insensitive remark demonstrating serial naivete.
Ballard advocated spending more on shelters while saying “we should make it tough on the homeless.”
At an hour, the Fox 59/WIBC debate was the longest aired by local media this year. And airing a total of three times on two stations, it was a significant amount of airtime. The city’s other TV news departments should be ashamed that they allowed upstart, feisty Fox 59 to produce the best political debate of the year.
A final word on debates.
Recorder Editor Shannon Williams was slated to be part of WRTV/Channel 6’s debate last week. But Williams was bounced in an argument over the involvement of controversial conservative Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, a Channel 6 commentator. Channel 6 officials, tired of the heat over Shabazz, pulled him and Williams off the debate. Only fulltime Channel 6 journalists participated. The decision to pull Williams and Shabazz was boneheaded.
But the debate was historic since it was the first time an African-American, anchor Todd Wallace moderated with another African-American, weekend anchor Ericka Flye as a questioner, along with Norman Cox.
What I’m hearing in the streets
Last week, Indiana Black Expo’s board named Tanasha Anders, currently VP for programs, as their interim president/CEO. Anders, who’s been at Expo since 2002, isn’t well known outside Expo; especially to key donors and Expo supporters.
Though Anders’ appointment was publicized, Expo’s board did not release information on their search for Joyce Roger’s successor. Even though a news release on the search process and criteria for a new president/CEO was posted on Expo’s Web site, no news release was sent to the city’s Black media; including this column.
In their release, Expo says their next CEO “must have a management style and the ability to advance the organization through internal development, fundraising, external partnership building and legislative relations” and be a leader with “a track record that demonstrates proven leadership capabilities, evidence of a thorough knowledge of political environment on the local, state, national and international level.”
I was surprised at this sentence that Expo’s next president “will serve as the primary communicator (inside and outside the organization) in conjunction with the chairman of the board of IBE.”
It’s unusual for presidents of non-profit organizations AND the board chair to be the primary communicators of the organization to the community. That’s a MAJOR change in Indiana Black Expo’s policy and structure. See ‘ya next week.
Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. You can contact him at (317) 221-0915 or by e-mail at ACBROWN@AOL.COM.
