*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** Volunteers with Minnesota E-Democracy are taking our "E-Debate" model the next step with the St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation <http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul>. One of the things I am most proud of about Web White & Blue Presidential online debate <http://www.webwhiteblue.org> is that it helps set the expectation that candidates at all levels should engage in such events. We need online debates and civic events to become an expectation of "E-Citizens" from the local level on up. The challenge is that these online events are serious work (particularly for all volunteers) and the best potential host organizations/partnership often don't know about existing models and experiences (i.e. use e-mail distribution or die). If you ever see yourself involved with an online candidate debate, I encourage you to join per the notes below in order to study our efforts. After the event starts I'll also share some behind the scenes support material. Below is the public "virtual doorknocking" announcement, the press release, and a comprehensive directory of St. Paul Mayoral candidates (a very good collection of web sites that you can use to compare and contrast Internet strategies). E-Democracy has also launched our 2001 election information/linking effort. Amazing grass roots sharing of early candidate information on the Minneapolis Issues Forum and resulting web pages, show what can happen if you combine a critical mass participatory audience with a top noch list manager (David Brauer), see <http://www.e-democracy.org/2001>. Forward E-Democracy, Steven Clift Democracies Online Newswire 1. Public Announcement ---- St. Paul Forward! ----> --------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation April 2 - May 17, 2001 http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul Calling all St. Paul citizens ... Do you want to know more about the many candidates for Mayor? Do you want to learn about local issues or express your views? Do you dream about making St. Paul an even better place? Meet and interact with the next Mayor of St. Paul *online* as part of the non-partisan, all-citizen produced St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation. This is your online event. Make sure your issues, communities, and neighborhoods are heard. The active Mayoral candidates will exchange their ideas on St. Paul's Economic Vitality, Quality of Life and Positioning St. Paul for the Future - two weeks of thoughtful issues-based deliberation on each topic. Citizens who sign-up below can send in follow-up short answer questions for the candidates! - - - - Participate on your own time via e-mail or the web. To "tune in" to the Candidate Conversation choose one of the three simple options: * To receive the Candidate Conversation conveniently in your e-mail box, including candidate responses AND to discuss local St. Paul issues with fellow citizens, send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * OR to receive just the Candidate Conversation (i.e. our virtual stage only) without the citizen discussion, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * For web access including Candidate Conversation content, candidate web site links, and the event calendar and more information, visit E-Democracy at: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul The St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation is presented by Minnesota E-Democracy's St. Paul Issues Forum with the League of Women Voters St. Paul. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-29-01 V1.0 ---- St. Paul Forward! ----> 2. Mayoral Candidate Contact Directory St. Paul Mayoral Candidates 2001 ===================================== Version 1.0 - March 29, 2001 Compiled by Minnesota E-Democracy* Current version available from: http://e-democracy.org/stpaul Send corrections/additions: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To discuss election, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation - April 2 - May 17 Declared/Active Candidates -------------------------- Table of Contents Jay Benenav - http://www.jayforsaintpaul.com Jerry Blakey - http://www.blakeyformayor.com Randy Kelly - http://www.randykelly.com Bob Kessler - http://www.kesslerformayor.com Bob Long - http://www.longforstpaul.com Bobbi Megard - http://www.megardformayor.com Janice Rettman - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jay Benenav Web: http://www.jayforsaintpaul.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-644-3588 Mailing Address: Benanav for Mayor Committee, PO Box 14107, St. Paul, MN 55114 Campaign Office: 1500 University Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jerry Blakey Web: http://www.blakeyformayor.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-632-5838 Mailing Address: Citizens for Blakey, PO Box 75126, St. Paul, MN 55175 Campaign Office: 1563 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Randy Kelly Web: http://www.randykelly.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-917-2839 Mailing Address: Kelly for Mayor Committee, PO Box 75455, St. Paul, MN 55175 Campaign Office: 1820 University Ave Suite 160, St. Paul, MN 55104 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bob Kessler Web: http://www.kesslerformayor.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-501-7815 Mailing Address: Kessler For Mayor Committee, 2190 Dahl Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55119 Campaign Office: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bob Long Web: http://www.longforstpaul.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-645-9171 Mailing Address: Neighbors for Long, PO Box 40203, St. Paul, MN 55104 Campaign Office: 1821 University Avenue, Suite S-215, St. Paul 55104 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bobbi Megard Web: http://www.megardformayor.com E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-659-9556 Mailing Address: Megard for Mayor, 1506 Raymond Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 Campaign Office: 1439 Hythe Street, Saint Paul, MN 55108 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Janice Rettman Web: Pending E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 651-489-8630 Mailing Address: Box 17063 Rice St. Station, St. Paul MN 55117 Campaign Office: Possible/Exploratory Candidates ------------------------------- Full information will be sought if they become active candidates. John Mannillo We seek information on prospective candidates from all parties. *This unofficial candidate directory is compiled by Minnesota E-Democracy volunteers. It may used, reproduced or forwarded freely as long as the source is cited as: Source: St. Paul Issues Forum, Minnesota E-Democracy http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul 3. Candidate Conversation Press Release St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation April 2 - May 17, 2001 Press Release March 26, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Lauree Stolarczyk Tim Erickson Both via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Citizens, Candidates Interact in Online St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Conversation, A Minnesota Mayoral Election First St. Paul residents can steer issues and debate by interacting directly St. Paul mayoral candidates in an upcoming online conversation with declared candidates. The event, presented by Minnesota E-Democracy/St. Paul Issues Forum, with the League of Women Voters St. Paul, is designed to stimulate conversation about the issues that will have the most impact on residents of St. Paul. Citizen volunteers living in St. Paul have coordinated and planned the event, including a rigorous effort to locate potential candidates to participate. Those same volunteers will moderate the citizen/candidate dialogue in a fair and balanced way. You can access the conversation on the Internet, in a developing and innovative format supported by Minnesota E-Democracy, a non-partisan, citizen-based organization whose mission is to improve participation in democracy in Minnesota through the use of information networks. It seeks to increase citizen participation in elections and public discourse through the use of information and communication technologies. All you have to do is point your browser to http://www.e-democracy.org and link to the St. Paul Issues Forum, the largest and most active online discussion of St. Paul community affairs. Once you sign up for the issues forum, you will receive the e-mail postings from the list. You may post your own comments and questions. The conversation will stretch across the weeks surrounding precinct caucuses, beginning with candidate introductions on Monday, April 2, and will conclude on May 17. The conversations will delve into three main themes - Economic Vitality, Quality of Life, and Positioning St. Paul for the Future - with two weeks for each topic. Specific short answer questions will be determined during the process to allow for citizen input. Any citizen can submit suggested questions for candidates during the process via e-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Each conversation begins on the first Monday with the introduction of the topic. Tuesdays and Thursdays, the candidates will respond to both long and short answer questions. Wednesdays will belong to the citizens to pose questions and challenges to the candidates and generally discuss the issues. For example, here is the proposed outline for Theme One - Economic Vitality the week of April 2nd: Week One - April 2: Candidate introductions - April 3: Candidates answers main long question - 500 words each - April 4: Up to 10 "Citizen Dialogues" of 200 words each - April 5: Candidates answer 5 short answer questions, 100 words each Week Two - April 10: Candidates answer 5 short answer questions, 100 words each - April 11: Up to 10 "Citizen Dialogues" of 200 words each - April 12: Final candidate responses to Theme One - further response and candidate interaction (500 words each) The week of April 16 will be for open citizen discussion, and the Candidate Conversation will continue with Theme Two - Quality of Life from April 23 to May 3 and concludes with Theme Three - Positioning St. Paul for the Future from May 7 to 17. All officially declared candidates, as of March 30, are invited to participate in Theme One. As candidates emerge, they may join at the beginning of the next theme. Citizens are free to discuss the local St. Paul issues that matter to them during and after the conversation via the St. Paul Issues Forum. Rules for Citizen Dialogue submissions that will share the "virtual stage" with the candidates will be available at the E-Democracy Web site listed above. The advantage of this type of online candidate/citizen exchange is that people may participate on their own time, from anywhere and the amount of time allowed for follow-up encourages a more substantial and reflective exchange on issues. Minnesota E-Democracy organized the world's first online candidate debates back in 1994 at the state level. This is Minnesota's first Mayoral online candidate exchange of its kind. During and after the conclusion of the conversation, the information will be available in an easy-to-access format on the Minnesota E-Democracy Web site. The content may be used/reprinted by the media and other civic organizations upon request. It will also be distributed to community organizations and local media in order to help residents familiarize themselves with the candidates and issues prior to the September primary. ### ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
