ALL CANDIDATES FORUM NOV. 4/14

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FAQ’S FOR ALL-CANDIDATES FORUM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 • 5 PM

VANCOUVER ISLAND CONFERENCE CENTRE

WHICH CANDIDATES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND?

All candidates running for Mayor, Council and School District 68. 

HOW DOES THIS “SPEED CAMPAIGNING” FORMAT WORK?

School Board Trustee candidates will be in Newcastle Lobby, City Council candidates will be in Mount Benson Ballroom A and B and Mayoral candidates will be in the Departure Bay Rooms A and B.

Each candidate has their own table so they can display materials and use it as a ‘speaking space’. We will keep as much distance as possible between tables. Tables will be in alphabetical order, arranged clockwise. Depending on how many candidates register, we will ring a reminder bell every 5-8 minutes to indicate that if a voter is trying to see all the candidates, they must move on to another table. 

IS IT MANDATORY FOR VOTERS TO MOVE ON?

No, they can visit as many or as few candidate’s tables as they like and spend however long they wish with each candidates. 

ARE VOTERS GETTING ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH CANDIDATES? 

Yes and no. The experience we are taking this from indicated that voters would visit tables in clusters; everyone gets a chance to speak and, the best part is, it most often resulted in a normal group discussion and debate. 

WILL A VOTER BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH ALL THE CANDIDATES?

Not likely. Voters are encouraged to educate themselves about candidates by attending other Forums prior to this one, to seek information online, and to check out Candidate Profiles in the local media, such as the November 4th, Nanaimo News Bulletin. When a voter has settled on a few candidates they would like to know better, they can create a check list of whom to speak with at this event. 

WHAT TIME DOES THIS START?

5:00 - 7:30 pm  School Trustees and City Council candidates ‘speed campaigning’. 
6:30 - 7:30 pm the Mayoral candidates ‘speed campaigning’. 

7:30 pm we will ask voters to take a seat in the main ballrooms for the next part of the presentation which is the Mayoral debate. 

WILL THERE BE ANY SPEECHES FROM A PODIUM OR STAGE?

At 7:30 pm we will begin hearing from Mayoral candidates in the main ballroom. Unfortunately, with 49 School District and Council candidates we don’t feel the night is long enough to accommodate everyone speaking from a stage. 

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE STAGE PRESENTATION BY MAYORAL CANDIDATES?

They will be invited to provide an opening address of 2 minutes in alphabetical order. We will then proceed with a moderated, pre-screened question and answer period. Question forms will be available when people arrive, questions are also invited in advance of the event and can be emailed to info@nanaimochamber.bc.ca. 

There won’t be questions from the floor. Scrutineers will screen submitted questions to eliminate duplication and keep them clear and concise. Our moderator, Hilary Eastmure, will address questions to Mayoral candidates as they have been directed by the questioner or will try to ensure equal distribution of the questions.

Mayoral candidates will also have 'rebuttal chips' that they can cash in to challenge an answer or add their opinion. These are limited so that Mayoral candidates can only cash them in at the best opportunity to rebut. The Q & A period will continue for up to one hour.  The Mayoral candidates will have 1 minute each to offer closing remarks at the end of the hour. 

IS THERE A COST TO ATTEND?

Only for candidates. There is a small cost recovery fee of $25 (plus GST) for table rental for any candidate wishing to participate. Order your table by emailing info@nanaimochamber.bc.ca or calling Marsha at 250-756-1191 

ARE TICKETS OR RSVP’S REQUIRED?

Not for voters. Candidates MUST pre-register so we know how many tables to put out and can prepare an invoice that they will need when filing their income and expense disclosure after the election.