One hundred people – many standing – packed the Midlothian Civic Center tonight for a GOP candidate forum that featured five candidates in four races. The candidate no-shows:
Brian Thompson – Pct. 3 Commissioner
Johnny Brown – Sheriff
James Ledbetter – Sheriff
Joe Grubbs – County Attorney
That’s right: 100 people showed up to hear candidates share their vision and platform.
Soon it will start spreading that Joey Dauben helped drive 100 citizens in the Midlothian area to a GOP candidate forum. Can’t take all of the credit though: the Rural Citizens Against Annexation, The Ellis County Press and Councilman Ken Chambers (moderator) and the candidates themselves helped bring in people.
This is what a taxpayer revolt looks like.
Video and photos to come soon.
22 Comments
February 10, 2008 at 12:08 am
looks like Ledbetter gave up
February 10, 2008 at 4:31 am
I don’ think so Jsy, your Brownie wasn’t there either….we still have a race….he’ll be where he needs to be…100 people?
February 10, 2008 at 4:37 am
BTW, this was in Midlothian right? Well are we going to get some feedback then…Isn’t this where all of the voters are supposedly located and we only had 100 or so? Well shoot that doesn’t sound that great then, when is the next one?
February 10, 2008 at 7:57 am
Joey,
If 100 people showed that means that they thought someone really was going to be threr to whip your ass.
February 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
I was there and 100 seems generous to me. I could be wrong, though.
February 10, 2008 at 9:43 am
Just FYI, Ledbetter and Thompson had prior engagements. They had booths set up for the kiddos at the Ervin elementary school in Midlothian for their annual winter carnival. (and there was well over 100 there)
February 10, 2008 at 10:01 am
I didn’t count, but the place was packed.
The Hon. Ken Chambers did a wonderful job of moderating and keeping the meeting positive, at one point removing 1/2 of a written question because it was too personal.
A few questions were taken from the floor, but Councilman Chambers made it very clear no personal attacks would be tolerated.
The missing candidates stuck out like a sore thumb. They hurt themselves tremendously, and there was a lot of after-meeting talk about them.
The rumor was they didn’t want to face Joey, and with this meeting running so professionally, it made anyone who didn’t show up look like a wimp.
The rumor was that Heath Sims was advised not to come, but he did, anway, and it was a very smart move. I’m not in his precinct, but I admire Commissioner Sims for his courage. As it turned out, the biggest threat to any candidate was a microphone that sometimes didn’t work well.
The biggest news of the night was the “new” Joey. If he continues with his new direction — and I think he will — he will become a formidable force in any election.
His only “attack” was to lament that the missing candidates didn’t show up.
February 10, 2008 at 10:24 am
I bet Ledbetter was having a cold one and forgot.
February 10, 2008 at 10:32 am
Maybe he was, maybe he and Brown were in the parking lot enjoying one since Midlothian is now wet, who knows??? Does it matter Jsy?
So Veteran, did anything positive come out of the forum?
February 10, 2008 at 11:02 am
The final count that I had — and I had three counts coming to me during the night — was 98. Round up and it was 100.
100 people for a Saturday night to come hear GOP candidates in the most conservative area of the county – I would say – is pretty damn good.
Spin it all you want guys, but I kept hearing over and over again how disgusted people were that several candidates refused to show up.
I heard a lot of, “well [so and so] had my vote but he doesn’t even want to show up and meet the voters.” That was *very* common last night.
The forum was the result of a very calculated marketing strategy by two citizen groups and the newspaper. Hell, we were in Floyd Ingram’s backyard.
And the candidates really liked the format. At least the ones I talked to. They didn’t feel “ambushed” or “blindsided” (mainly because the format I put together prevented it).
February 10, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hah, you’re probably right Shepard, you’re probably right.
I think for the Feb. 16 forum we’ll have a dunking booth.
$1 per chance to submerge me in water. Now that should draw out people just for that reason alone.
February 10, 2008 at 12:16 pm
NOW that is great strategy Joey…money goes to ??? One thing to keep in mind guys is that all of these candidates have things going on and I’m sure that it is not a direct insult to the people who attended the forum.
February 10, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Joey… a dunking booth?? S__it floats!! ha ha
February 10, 2008 at 12:56 pm
The candidates and the public were given several weeks notice of the event. We announced the plans on the 17th of January and finalized everything on the 24th.
I knew about the J.R. Irvin event but was told it lasted until 7:30.
If anything, this was a PR blunder for the ones who didn’t show up. This is just from an observational standpoint, not a personal attack (so please don’t take more into what I’m saying than necessary).
February 10, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Not that it’s a bad thing, considering how many folks actually vote, but but 100 doesn’t sound like many…How many family members/supporters is that per hopeful that was there? 12?
February 10, 2008 at 9:01 pm
If you took 2,000 GOP primary voters — of which we mailed out 2,000 (non-duplicate households) ECP papers — and then you attracted 100 people….
Do the math. No, it wasn’t Barack Obama, but 100 voters showing up to this thing is what, a 5% turnout — voting population-wise?
5% could make or break a candidate.
Unless I’m not doing the math correctly.
February 11, 2008 at 5:42 am
No, your math is correct. As I stated, “considering how many folks actually vote”.
Especially if they were all GOP.
But, just for giggles, let’s finish the math. Divide 100 by the total amount of candidates. We know who didn’t show, how many did show?
My Dad taught me years ago that there are lies, dang lies, and statistics. lol
BTW- there is a yahoo posting on the WDL site called FedUp- this person is an imposter. As EVERYBODY can tell, I am better looking. Just an FYI.
February 11, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hey FedUp,
I didn’t think that was you on WDL.I didn’t figure you to tolerate that type of behavior.
February 11, 2008 at 1:17 pm
i was there… performed a count 65///
and 20 persons were sponsers and invited guests for moderation
you can verify via sign in sheet.
February 11, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Thanks Shep- always thought you were the best of the stooges (it’s a joke).
So visitor, how many candidates were there? Did they sign in?
February 11, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I dont know if they signed in.. however RCAA kept the sign- in sheet.. maybe someone one can give an official count
February 15, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I had the opportunity to attend this forum. It was expertly moderated by Ken Chambers and looked to be around 100 to me. It was really nice to meet the candidates and listen to their points of views.
There was also quite a spread of food. But Joey, is right, that is a great turnout for the area! Also, it is very promising to hear of the young adults now starting to participate in the political process.
Now, we need a major voter drive and perhaps a bill to require our government to notify registered voters via USPS of the election times and poll locations. Many areas already do this and well as provide brief statements from each candidate. It would definitely help the voter turnout and keep citizens from being left in the dark.