The candidate forum, for Oakland town council candidates, is now airing on Cabelvision’s channel 77 and Verizon’s channel 45.
The times scheduled are 8am, 4pm, and 10pm.
The candidate forum is provide by the Oakland Communications TV Committee, and allows each candidate an opportunity to speak directly to the people of Oakland.
The candidates record their piece in the council chambers. There is no interaction between the candidates, and they do not see each others recorded statement until it airs.
This might be the closest Oakland voters will get to comparing the Democrat and Republican candidates side by side.
Efforts to organize a real debate between Democrat and Republican candidates has met with resistance by the Republican ticket.
Who are the real Republicans here? I watched this video on Verizon 45 and if it didn’t give the party label and name I would think Piccoli and Kikot were the Republicans and Visconti and Pignatelli were the Democrats. Piccoli and Kikot want smaller government, fiscal responsibility and term limits. Visconti and Pignatelli want more of the same tax and spend policies that we’ve seen over the Szabo/DiPentima era. These poor policies have given us this enormous budget and a 60% tax increase. I urge everyone to watch this forum; it’s only 15 minutes long and see who the real fiscal conservatives are and who is disguised as false Republicans.
Chris and Pat might have given the worst performance since Richard Nixon in the 1960 debates. Could they have at least prepared a little? Peter and Cheryl were bright, articulate and energetic. Chris and Pat were very very tired and reading a script that talked more about their religious affiliation then what they will do for Oakland.
I want a reason to vote Republican down the line, but Visconti and Pignatelli are not giving me that reason. Unfortunately I will have to move over to the other column when I get down to the council choices. To add, I can see why the Republicans don’t want to debate, with candidates like Visconti and Pignatelli I too would keep them locked up and away from the cameras.
Cheryl Piccoli was impressive!