Takeaways from the Last Mayoral Debate of 2015

Last night’s final mayoral forum that the FM radio station billed as a debate didn’t reveal much more information on the issues. But there were some memorable moments.
 
KDCD’s Aaron Harris was the most informed and involved person of all media people who have led any of these forums I’ve reported on. And he actually asked some good questions. He wasn’t afraid to call out the candidates when they didn’t answer his question, either.

Above: Debate moderators Monique Ching, Aaron Harris, and KIDY's Bob Brackeen. (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)
 
For example, Harris attempted to trap candidate David Nowlin on the police station with a wide, open-ended question about costs. Nowlin didn’t take the bait.
 
The exchange started with newspaper reporter Monique Ching, who also asked informed questions, including a few about the proposed new police station. Do you think we should demolish the existing building and build a new one, or remodel, Ching inquired.
 
“We haven’t heard any real plan on how much it’s going to cost to remodel the building and have the--get rid of al of that asbestos in it, or how much it will cost to demolish it and build a new one," Nowlin said. "It’s like we’re going into this a little bit ahead of ourselves."
 
Morrison countered that the city has accomplished its due diligence before purchasing the building. Chin followed up, pointing out that the current building does not meet federal homeland security standards. “Do you know how much it will cost to bring the building up to those standards?” she asked.
 
”We’re looking into that now… As far as giving you an exact figure on that now, no I cannot,” Morrison said.
 
In a follow-up, Harris set a trap for Nowlin. He asked Nowlin, “If you were mayor, how much would money, taxpayer money, are you comfortable spending on this [to bring the First Financial Bank building] up to standards?”
 
“That’s not a question for me to answer at this moment,” Nowlin replied.
 
“But if you were mayor?” Harris interjected.
 
“It’s not a question for me to answer until I have the answers [by] getting with the city manager, and I get to go into that executive session, and so forth," Nowlin maintained. "The things that he’s [Morrison] talking about right now were not talked about in open city council meetings. They were talked about in executive session meetings (behind closed doors), and I’m not going to put myself into a trap by answering questions where I’m not privy to all of the information.”
 
I expected Harris to pounce again like a rabid George Stephanopoulos. But he didn’t. Harris nodded. “Next question,” he said as he moved along.
 
The exchange illustrates the greatest contrast between the two candidates. Morrison is the technocrat, with 12 years of experience on council, he has all of the historical knowledge of issues and articulates them in a learned but folksy, casual way.
 
Nowlin, on the other hand, is the thinker and the quick study. He’s been soaking in knowledge of the city issues from a fire hose of information since he declared his candidacy on March 17. But there is no way he will ever soak in all of the information that Morrison has from living and breathing for 12 years in the arena of city politics. Nowlin promised “deliberate” leadership when he declared.
 
In the closing remarks, Nowlin extended his hand in friendship.
 
“When this is over, Dwain and I, we need to be friends, we need to support the winner, whoever that winner is," he said. "And I’d like to extend my hand of friendship right now to Mr. Morrison and invite him to a lunch next week after this election is over. I don’t care who wins. It doesn’t make a difference, as far as our friendship should go. We hit each other hard, we’ve argued, we’ve debated…But when those votes are counted, that needs to be the end of it.”
 
Morrison didn’t respond to Nowlin’s invitation.