A recent forum for candidates running for Shoreline City Council was just lovely. And that’s about all it was. Mostly an in-person recitation of each candidates’ campaign flyers. Informative? You could learn more from reading the back of your cereal box. But these things usually go that way; the candidates are afraid to bring up anything controversial and the moderators don’t touch anything difficult.
Like the issue of Patty Hale using her classroom time (she did mention that she is a substitute teacher for the Shoreline School District) to recruit volunteers for her campaign, reminding them that they would get community service hours necessary toward graduation. When a Shorecrest student made a formal complaint after a sign-up sheet was passed around, the matter came to the attention of the school board, which issued a Letter of Direction stating that such actions are against district policy and that she should have no further contact with those students. While Hale denies any wrongdoing in this situation, it would have been a good opportunity for her to give her side of the story.
Although attendees were welcome to stay after and speak with the candidates individually, that is far different from addressing an issue to the entire audience. In this case, the organizers of the event, maybe to avoid alienating anyone, kept the questions safely generic. There was no debate, no disagreement, no controversy and little way to tell one candidate from another. How lovely.
Patti Norwood
Shoreline
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