The LWV hosted the six candidates on Thursday, May 10, at the Morse Pond school. Although several folks said I looked confident, I was nervous. It's hard not to be with a TV camera staring at you.
Most of the questions were pretty similar to what we've heard before, but some were new. For example, there was one about the charter change (Question 9 on the ballot) that would require the selectmen to define the duties of the boards and committees they appoint.
I noted in my answer that it wasn't enough to write job descriptions. There has to be feedback. For example (and I used this as my answer), as a member of the conservation commission, I've not seen any member of the board of selectmen attend one of our meetings unless they wanted to offer some input into an issue. They don't come to listen, see how we're doing and offer constructive criticism. Very simply, there is little, if any, oversight.
Another question asked about what we as candidates were looking for in a police chief. Personally, I don't yet what I'm looking for, but I'm gathering a list of issues that will help me decide. There are concerns about how handgun permits are issued and rudeness amongst some of the officers; the officers themselves are concerned about their pay, which is amongst the lowest on Cape Cod (ironic, given that we're the second-largest town on the Cape).
The most startling answer I heard from another candidate was to a question about moving much of the island freight traffic from Woods Hole to New Bedford. I noted that we have a transportation committee that has recommended this, but that the selectmen haven't acted upon those recommendations.
Another candidate answered that Falmouth has but one vote, worth 10-percent, on the Steamship Authority Board of Governors, so we couldn't do this.
That candidate was right about the 10-percent vote, but frankly, I'm tired of hearing about what we can't do. We've heard similar excuses for years about the 40B issue.
Everyone in town hall says that Falmouth is a "can do" town, but it seems like it's only a "can do" town when it fits someone's agenda. If not, there seem to be plenty of excuses why we "can't do."
An obviously planted question about how we could build consensus was asked.
"Listen," I said.
If you want people to work together toward a common goal, you need to listen to all sides and address all concerns. If you don't, well, New Silver Beach is an excellent example of what happens when you leave someone out of the process.
In my closing, I focused on my door to door efforts. I learned so much - and had a lot of fun - by going door to door. Some folks told me that in 20-30 years of living in Falmouth, they've never had anyone knock on their door and introduce themselves. I also heard from people who thought I was a Jehovah's Witness when I knocked, so they didn't answer the door. When they later learned who it was, they called me back - pleased and surprised that I took the time to call on them.
It was during that door to door that I learned what democracy is really about. When you get to talk with the people one on one, you really learn what it is that the people are concerned about. Ironically, every other candidate seems to be talking about sewers and nitrogen, but that's not what's important to the people. They're concerned about 40B, development, taxes and town spending. They're concerned about the police department and the town administration. Sewers and nitrogen are there, but further down on the list.
Indeed, one of the questions posed to the candidates was, "How will you stay in touch with the people after the election?"
Well, I'm going to continue to go door to door.
We CAN do better.
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