Will MAYOR Mike Hogan ever debate anyone? The people can't be ignored.

[mfc]

Polls show Moran beats hogan in a runoff. Polls show hogan beating mullaney handily in a run off. Think about it!

[Timkin]

No-go for Hogan.... Moran +1,000,000

[stjr]

Empty podium in Mike Hogan's spot for first TV debate

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-galnor/2011-03-02/empty-podium-mike-hogans-spot-first-tv-debate

Submitted by Matt Galnor on March 2, 2011 - 11:22am PolitiJax

There will be an empty podium in place of Mike Hogan at Thursday's televised debate, the first in the upcoming Jacksonville mayoral race.

Hogan, the Duval County Tax Collector, last week backed out of two of the three forums hosted by several nonprofit and media partners, including The Times-Union.

Susie Wiles, Rick Mullaney's campaign manager, lobbied for an empty podium in a Tuesday e-mail to Scott Kim, the WJCT news director who is coordinating the debates.

Wiles was asking if there would be consequences for candidates who did not think the debates were important, but denied rumors that the former general counsel threatened to pull out of the event is there was not an empty podium.

Kim said the issue was discussed with the various partners, who decided to put an empty podium on Thursday and an empty stool for the March 17 town-hall style forum.

Kim said the decision was made on Monday, before Wiles sent her e-mail.

Hogan's absences at forums have been the subject of a blog and a Twitter account blasting the Republican front-runner for avoiding them.

Hogan has said there's more to the campaign that debates and forums.

Hogan, Mullaney and Moran, president of the Sulzbacher Center for the homeless are the Republican on the ballot. Former Clinton administration aide Alvin Brown and former juvenile justice officer Warren Lee are running on the Democratic side.

Bar owner Steve Irvine is running with no party affiliation.

All but Hogan will be at the debate. The candidates will be lined up in alphabetical order, so the second podium will be empty.

The election is March 22. If no candidate gets more than half the vote, the top two vote-getters will be in a May runoff.

[stjr]

No more empty podium for Mike Hogan at tonight's debate

Submitted by Matt Galnor on March 3, 2011 - 11:13am PolitiJax

On second thought, there will not be any empty podium in place of Mike Hogan at tonight's televised mayoral debate.

WJCT, the host station among several nonprofit and media partners including The Times-Union, said this morning there will only be five podiums for the five people attending.

"We don't want to be part of the story," WJCT news director Scott Kim said. "We feel like this part of the story is just detracting from the point of this, which are the debates themselves."

Kim said the decision to was made to place an empty podium on stage, but this morning the plans changed.
Susie Wiles, campaign manager for Rick Mullaney, had urged WCJT to place an empty podium and said this morning she'll plead her case again.

Mullaney, the former general counsel, will attend the debate either way, Wiles said.
Wiles said Mullaney wished it were different, but says the debate is an opportunity to show he's the conservative candidates with a plan to cut government and grow jobs.

The debate will air at 8 p.m. and also will be streamed live on Jacksonville.com. It will feature the other five candidates on the ballot: Republicans Mullaney and Audrey Moran; Democrats Alvin Brown and Warren Lee, along with Steve Irvine, who is running with no party affiliation.

The election is March 22. If no one gets more than half the vote, the two two vote-getters will meet in a May runoff.

[Diane Melendez]

Everyone by now has been exposed the the created hubbub over forum appearances.  It seems everyone is focused on the candidates this year which is excellent, but apparently not everyone is all that concerned about issues. It seems the new gimmick this year is to keep score of what candidates are where and how often.  For some reason this is being used as a way to measure someones committment to issues.  Recently, a lot of heat has been put on Mike Hogan by some folks who want to make a case about him not being at certain venues they feel he should attend.  The criticism is not aimed at him alone however.  If Audrey misses an event, someone askes why, Alvin misses alot of them as do other candidates and Rick Mullaney has certainly not made every event and refused to interview with Firefighters or the JSO. So why all the heat on one candidate?

This thing called the "empty chair" found legs and it was being used as a way to draw particular attention to one candidate, in this case Mike Hogan.  Everyone heard and read that he was not showing to speak with Melissa Ross of WJCT and was ducking out on debates and forums.  I decided to find out first hand exactly what had transpired, with special attention to the growing excitement over some upcoming television debates.  So I went to the source, speaking directly to Mike Hogan and his campaign staff.  I also interacted directly with folks an WJCT regarding the issue and the proposed empty podium.  

I am a huge WJCT fan and have always been.  I enjoy the programs of Melissa Ross and her candid interview style and the television programing of our public station is way above par.  I wondered why the Hogan camp was not going to make the Monday interview and wanted the back story to the television spots.  I want to add that I was also thinking about another issue regarding all the uproar over where Mr. Hogan was or was not at any particular time and even before asking I knew much of the reason, because I had faced the same thing when Councilwoman Johnson was in the race.  Both are currently elected officials and have obligations to the posts to which they were elected.  Currently of the front running candidates, Mike Hogan is the only one who is still responsible to a full time elected position and the taxpayers daily.  He must do his campaigning around those duties. While all the others can turn their full attention to the campaign for Mayor, Mike must still do his fulltime job and as such must rely on others to do things like make appointments and choose which venues he should attend.  Those folks of course are his campaign staff.

So what was the deal with the Melissa Ross show?  To begin with persons other than Ms. Ross began to portray the situation as one in which Mike Hogan was a "no show" for a Monday morning program.  But the no show comments were coming out days ahead of the scheduled event.  How can he be called a no show for an event yet to happen?  I decided to call his campaign and spoke directly with his campaign manager and I found out some interesting things.  First regarding the radio spot with Melissa.  His campaign called WJCT approximately three days before the event.  Mike had no knowledge of this at the time and was simply following the lead of his team. He was informed by his campaign that his appearance was cancelled.  So he was not a no show and his camp had cancelled the appearance not him.  Granted they could have given more notice, but that is not how it worked out.  Melissa was publically gracious about it and said she looked forward to a time when she could sit down with him in the future.

Then comes the issue of television debates and the so called empty podium.  The story coming across was that Hogan was suddenly dropping out of scheduled T.V. spots to which he was committed.  Simply not so.  In fact I have in my hands copies of the correspondences between WJCT and Hogans camp.  The first correspondence from WJCT was sent to the info email address on the Hogan website.  It was dated January 6th and read the following: (Note that the correspondence says "tentative dates".)

From: Scott Kim [mailto:SKim@wjct.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 11:42 AM
To: info@HoganforMayor.com
Subject: WJCT Mayoral Debates

Hello,

My name is Scott Kim, and I'm the news director for WJCT.  We are working with several partners, including CBS 47, First Coast News, the Florida Times-Union, and the Jacksonville Business Journal to produce a series of televised debates between the major mayoral candidates.  I just wanted to quickly make you aware of the tentative dates for the debates.  They are Thursday, March 3, Thursday, March 10 (OR Tuesday, March , and Thursday, March 17.  The debates will take place at the WJCT Studios at 100 Festival Park Avenue at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on WJCT TV and Radio.  Our partners may also broadcast the debates live, or may tape them for later airing.  I will follow up very shortly with more details.  Thank you!


So, did the Hogan camp committ to all the debates for which there were no firm dates?  No they did not but sent the following reply:

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 11:46 AM
To: Scott Kim; info@HoganforMayor.com
Cc: john@principlecreative.com; pjm@themccormickagency.com; john@publicdialogue.com
Subject: RE: WJCT Mayoral Debates

We are acknowledging receipt of this information.

Thank you.

Then transpired a series of voice mail messages between the parties which were explained to me in detail.  Mr. Hogan and his camp had said he would attend two television debates.  One on March 7th and One on March 14th.
No other committment was made.  The following emails were sent and received:

Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 4:07 PM
To: Scott Kim
Subject: RE: WJCT Mayoral Debates
Importance: High

Kim -

Out of control wasteful spending at city hall, tax and fee increases on those who can least afford it and an unemployment rate that is through the roof remain the central issues in this campaign for mayor. Mr. Hogan is pleased to accept your invitation to debate these issues and his plans for turning this city around at the March 7th televised debate.

Then the reply from Scott Kim at WJCT:

From: Scott Kim [mailto:SKim@wjct.org]
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 4:14 PM
To: Maggie Bulin
Subject: RE: WJCT Mayoral Debates

Hi Maggie,

Thank you for your quick response.  However, we are holding THREE debates, with ones on Thursday, March 3 and Thursday, March 17 in addition to the one on the 7th.  Please let me know whether Mr. Hogan also intends to attend those as well.

Following the above the Hogan camp sent another email confirming the March 7th date and WJCT responded that they wished he could make the others but thanked the campaign for the clarification.  Somewhere in all of this WJCT said someone called the campaign and asked about the debates and were told it was on the books.  The Hogan camp meant the March 7th and 14th dates, WJCT folks assumed they meant all of their debates.  A simple miscommunication.

After this situation was clarified with all parties, WJCT wisely chose to forget the empty podium and focus on the debate and issues at hand.  It is also worth noting that Susie Wiles who is working for Rick Mullaney was championing the empty podium even through today.  WJCT says the initial idea was from a couple of staff on other stations that were a part of this effort.  Then Susie Wiles jumped on board looking to make her candidate look good.  Politics as usual.

What can we take from all of this?  I think we all need to take a breath and understand that there are a whole lot of different people and personalities behind the candidates and their issues.  There are circumstance and strategies at play and they change daily.  None of us can afford to be distracted by stunts and be lured into playing a game of who is where on what day.  The bottom line is that what we need to worry about is the issues, the platforms and the ideas and plans of the candidates.  Then, once elected we expect the chair to be occupied and the Mayor to be available and accountable to the people of Jacksonville.  

We should all vote based upon truths and not innuendo or hyperbole.  We respect everyones right to make their own choice of whom they support without name calling and snarky remarks.  If we expect a higher level of discourse from our representatives, we should expect the same from media and ourselves.  IMO

[Dog Walker]

I want to add that I was also thinking about another issue regarding all the uproar over where Mr. Hogan was or was not at any particular time and even before asking I knew much of the reason, because I had faced the same thing when Councilwoman Johnson was in the race.  Both are currently elected officials and have obligations to the posts to which they were elected.  Currently of the front running candidates, Mike Hogan is the only one who is still responsible to a full time elected position and the taxpayers daily.  He must do his campaigning around those duties. While all the others can turn their full attention to the campaign for Mayor, Mike must still do his fulltime job and as such must rely on others to do things like make appointments and choose which venues he should attend.  Those folks of course are his campaign staff.

Diane,

This is exactly why a public official should resign from an office before running for a different one.  All of the other candidates also have jobs and families to run and face the same time constraint issues, but still find time to get in front of the voters in a public forum.

Sorry, I don't think this excuse washes.

[Jimmy]

Diane, you've been working hard for Hogan the last couple of weeks.  I'm afraid your explanation is spin designed to make your guy look better.  It's suspicious on its face. 

Your tale above paints a picture of a candidate who can't control his schedule, can't control his staff, and can't control his supporters.  Hey, no one can control their supporters, so he gets a pass there.  But are you really going to lead us to believe that Mike Hogan's staff, without his instruction or knowledge, canceled his scheduled appearance on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross?  By itself your story strains credibility.

When you add in the fact that Hogan began to cancel these events and appearances only after his joke about bombing a clinic and comments about selling off our city's parkland... then your story shatters into transparent spin.  I know you're working your agenda, but it's not holding much water.  In my humble opinion, of course.

The fact is, Mike Hogan could walk into that studio tonight if he wanted to debate the issues in this race with his opponents.  If he doesn't, that's what speaks volumes here.

[Diane Melendez]

Jimmy, This is the way it went, what the conversations were and what the email record shows. You can decide for yourself what you believe about the circumstance.  I respect you right to do so.  I am not asking anyone to support any candidate. 

[Diane Melendez]

DW, No excuses being made, just sharing my experience and it should not be interpreted as anything more than my opinion of what went on and what the email documents show.  Again, everyone will decide what they think or don't about a candidate or their position. 

[Jimmy]

Jimmy, This is the way it went, what the conversations were and what the email record shows. You can decide for yourself what you believe about the circumstance.  I respect you right to do so.  I am not asking anyone to support any candidate. 

Fair enough.

[Dog Walker]

Hogan doesn't seem to have trouble finding the time and energy to speak in churches by himself.  Is he afraid of the other candidates or questions that he cannot control or possibly hostile receptions.

And he thinks he can be Mayor?!

[jblais]

"Out of control wasteful spending at city hall, tax and fee increases on those who can least afford it and an unemployment rate that is through the roof remain the central issues in this campaign for mayor. Mr. Hogan is pleased to accept your invitation to debate these issues and his plans for turning this city around at the March 7th televised debate."

This evening's topic of debate being "The Role of Government in Growth/Environment", coupled with the above quote tells me all I need to know.  He isn't showing up, because he has no opinion on this subject other than "NO". 










[/quote]

[LTTurner]

I am glad the Tea Party endorsed him, now I know voting against Mike Hogan is the right thing to do.

[Springfielder]

I am glad the Tea Party endorsed him, now I know voting against Mike Hogan is the right thing to do.

+1000

[stjr]

Diane, I am trying to think what campaign event could create more visibility and a greater chance to communicate to voters than last night's televised event.  Given that the candidates are spending hundreds of thousands, if not millions, for TV time, why would a serious candidate turn down an opportunity for an hour and half multimedia forum to espouse their viewpoints and make their case for being mayor?  To the average voter, there can only be one reason: a desire to evade the scrutiny of the voters due to an incapability to withstand the limelight that comes with the job.

Rick Scott did successfully (and most unfortunately) execute this strategy.  But, he also invested $75 million in overwhelming TV ads.  As to the consequences of voters electing an evasive candidate, look what we got with Scott.  I shutter to think that the voters would make the same mistake again with Hogan.