The 3rd District Forum

The free-for-all election to replace former Congressman Mark Souder, now at 15 candidates, saw a candidates' forum at IPFW last night, where 14 of the candidates spoke to both the public and some of the more than 500 precinct committeemen in the district.  The location for the forum, the ballroom at the Walb Student Union, was filled with nearly 300 people, about 30-40 (I think) of them were precinct committeemen.

I arrived there at about 6 p.m., and helped out as a volunteer for Marlin Stutzman.  The event started at 7 p.m., with four rounds of questioning for the candidates.  Pat Miller of WOWO got the ball rolling with the questions, taking a break during the third round while someone else gave the questions, and for the fourth and final round, questions submitted by the audience were asked of the candidates, concluded by closing arguments.

Issues ranging from the borders and illegal immigration to the economy and the bailouts, from abortion to the “Don't ask, don't tell” policy, from education to the War on Terror, were discussed during the forum, and the candidates gave satisfactory answers.

Prior to the debate, I came in with my opinions set on four of the candidates (I fully support Marlin Stutzman, I like Phil Troyer & Greg Dickman and would support them if nominated, and I dislike and distrust Bob Thomas enough that I'd vote Libertarian if he wins).  When the debate ended, and I went over what the candidates said and how they did.  Here's what I thought of their performances:

• Ryan Elijah: His answers were vague, and he seemed to dodge one of the questions asked; I wasn't impressed with him.
• Lonnie Powell: To some extent, his answers were also vague, and in one answer to the question of the definition of a social conservative, he seemed to drift away from the question; I'm not sure what to make of him as a candidate.
• Joe Schomburg: He drifted at times from a couple of the questions given to him; as with Mr. Elijah, Mr. Schomburg didn't leave me with any impression.
• Bob Thomas: Because I don't trust him, his answers were meaningless to me; like I said, if he's nominated, I'll vote Libertarian.
• Phil Troyer: In a question on an approach to the Obama administration, he gave a non-answer and drifted off a little from the question.  Otherwise, he did well; if he wins, he has my support (to repeat myself here).
• Richard Thonert: I wasn't impressed at all with his answers, which included his opinion of what a Congressman should do; I'm no fan of him.
• Mike Foster: His answer on what our most important foreign issue drifted a little and I can't say I understand it fully, but otherwise he also did well; I like him, and he'll have my support if he wins.
• Dennis Wright:  He did well overall, and I liked his answers; if he wins the nomination, he has my support.
• Greg Dickman: I don't believe he did as well as some of his opponents in his answers, but he did okay nevertheless; repeating myself, if he wins, he'll have my support.
• Randy Borror: Dodged on one question, was vague on another answer, but did okay overall; I'm not really sure what to make of him personally.
• Liz Brown: She did well in her answers, speaking firmly (I thought); I like her and I see no reason why I wouldn't support her if she wins the nomination.
• Wes Culver: Drifted off on one question, but did alright in his answers; don't know for sure about him, but I have yet to see any reason not to support him if he wins the nomination.
• Bob Morris: Didn't drift away from the questions or dodge them, and I found his bluntness refreshing; if he wins, he has my support.
• Marlin Stutzman: He did well, as expected (I know, I know, I'm biased here); Go Marlin!

None of the candidates really won the debate, in my opinion, but aside from Marlin Stutzman, there are at least six other candidates I'd be willing to support in both the special and general elections.  How they are going to do when the GOP has its caucus on June 12th in Columbia City, and what chances they have now in this free-for-all, I don't know and I'm not gonna try to surmise (my own track record in predicting who will be the likely winners in an election is close to zero).

The one candidate who didn't appear, Rachel Grubb, was unable to appear due to problems in the filing of paperwork to become a candidate.  Despite knowing how the caucus will be carried out, I don't know what to expect; all I can do is wait.  I continue to hope Marlin Stutzman will win (Go Marlin!), and I wish Phil Troyer, Greg Dickman, Mike Foster, Liz Brown, Wes Culver and Bob Morris the best in their efforts.

Note on pictures:
1st picture (from L to R): Pat Miller, Lonnie Powell, Joe Schomburg, Marlin Stutzman, Bob Thomas, Richard Thonert, Phil Troyer
2nd picture: Phil Troyer, Dennis Wright
3rd picture (from L to R): Randy Borror, Liz Brown, Wes Culver, Greg Dickman, Ryan Elijah, Mike Foster, Bob Morris, Pat Miller, Lonnie Powell, Joe Schomburg