[Green] I have sent the questions to the candidates

Sat Sep 8 15:26:05 CDT 2018

Dawn, Rebecca, and Adeline and all,
I'll plan to be at the 12:30 meeting , too..
I'm also wondering about co-sponsors and any guidelines for their
participation ( tabling outside, etc)
I agree eliminating the green/red cards if good- and kept the focus on what
the candidates say  and is less confontational to not use them.   . so we
can use them for something else in the future! Will we be collecting
questions from the audience at the event? If so do we need paper/pencil or
something for that?

Thanks for the additional reference, it is helpful. I did quick search and
also found this
Wisconsin LWV document which has extensive explanations and comments which
I found interesting to read.
https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/about/candidate-forum-guidelines

In that document I found the FEC definition of debate t interesting:
 "*2.  The Regulatory Framework*

Key elements of the regulatory framework include the following:

The *Federal Election Commission* (FEC) regulates the conduct of corporate,
labor and nonprofit organizations — including both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)
organizations — in *federal* elections.  FEC regulations define a debate as
an event that

   - -includes at least two candidates;
   - -is staged in a way that does not promote or advance one candidate
   over another; and
   - -allows the candidates to appear concurrently, in face-to-face
   confrontations, with opportunities to respond to each other.
   -
   - I know we'll be asking candidates to give a statement and to respond
   to questions.. but I don't think we'll be asking them to respond to each
   other..( and we could guide our event so that doesn't happen).. If so,
    maybe our educational event wouldn't qualify by their definition.
   -
   - I, too, am glad we're doing this educational forum and I'm eager to
   see the questions that Dave and Andrew have come up with. I'll plan to be
   there for the meeting tomorrow.
   -
   - Other things to think about: display of literature.( candidates and/or
   co-sponsors) investing that this WI guidelines suggests: Candidate
   literature may not be displayed or distributed in the room of the debate.
   Literature may be displayed or distributed outside the debate room

Regarding Marietta college:
Their document says:

   * FEC rules do allow educational institutions (e.g., a university) to
   sponsor "candidate appearances" that also involve members of the public.
   The rules are not clear as to whether cosponsorship with an educational
   institution would give the League more latitude in dealing with an empty
   chair situation. *

   - I found some more info, too, in my web search it might be helpful.:
   -
   https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements-ssf-or-connected-organization/public-debates/
   - Following the links to one of their legal citations. this info is
   given:
   https://www.fec.gov/regulations/114-4/2018-annual-114#114-4-c-7-ii-A
   - in  FEC  regulations:
   - 7.CANDIDATE APPEARANCES ON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION PREMISES—
   - i.Rental of facilities at usual and normal chargeAny incorporated
   nonprofit educational institution exempt from federal taxation under 26
   U.S.C. 501
   <http://api.fdsys.gov/link?collection=uscode&section=501&title=26&year=mostrecent>(c)(3),
   such as a school, college or university, may make its facilities available
   to any candidate or political committee in the ordinary course of business
   and at the usual and normal charge. In this event, the requirements of
   paragraph (c)(7)(ii)
   <https://www.fec.gov/regulations/114-4/2018-annual-114#114-4-c-7-ii> of
   this section are not applicable.
   - ii.Use of facilities at no charge or at less than the usual and normal
   charge.An incorporated nonprofit educational institution exempt from
   federal taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501
   <http://api.fdsys.gov/link?collection=uscode&section=501&title=26&year=mostrecent>(c)(3),
   such as a school, college or university, may sponsor appearances by
   candidates, candidates' representatives or representatives of political
   parties at which such individuals address or meet the institution's
   academic community or the general public (whichever is invited) on the
   educational institution's premises at no charge or at less than the usual
   and normal charge, if:A.The educational institution makes reasonable
   efforts to ensure that the appearances constitute speeches, question and
   answer sessions, or similar communications in an academic setting, and
   makes reasonable efforts to ensure that the appearances are not conducted
   as campaign rallies or events; and B.The educational institution does
   not, in conjunction with the appearance, expressly advocate the election or
   defeat of any clearly identified candidate(s) or candidates of a clearly
   identified political party, and does not favor any one candidate or
   political party over any other in allowing such appearances.
   -
   - Yes it's a learning experience .. See you tomorrow.. and I'm available
   to help on Thursday in whatever ways are needed.
   - Cindy

On Fri, Sep 7, 2018 at 9:33 PM Dawn Hewitt via Green <green at fuusm.org>
wrote:

> Dear Green friends,
>
> I have sent the questions David and Andrew prepared to all six of the
> candidates who have agreed to participate in the Candidate Forum on Energy
> and the Environment. Four candidates will be present; Sherrod Brown will
> send a statement, and Connor Murphy will stand in for Bill Johnson.
>
> In my time-constrained searches on “empty-chair” regulations, I am unable
> to find anything directly from the FEC—only guidelines from the League of
> Women Voters.
>
> But I did find this to be interesting and useful, and we should use it to
> shape Rebecca’s opening comments:
>
>
> https://lwvchaffeecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/EmptyChairPolicyBooted-1.pdf
>
> It is possible that we might not be able to read Sherrod Brown’s
> statement, since Renacci never even acknowledged receipt of our invitation.
>
> However, Bill Johnson’s representative, Connor Murphy will be there, so,
> rather than taking questions, I hope he will be able to read Congressman
> Johnson’s answers to our questions, or at least a prepared statement from
> Mr. Johnson. I infer that he is not allowed to answer questions himself,
> but only to read what Johnson (or his aids, including Mr. Murphy) have
> prepared.
>
> The state and local candidates —I infer that the open chair rule does not
> apply to them, only to federal candidates.  So, let’s get on with the show!
>
> I hope to see a big chunk of you after services Sunday so we can hammer
> those devils out of the details, and make his forum as educational, useful,
> and well organized as possible.
>
> Hugs to you all,
>
> —dawn
> _______________________________________________
> Green mailing list
> Green at fuusm.org
> http://fuusm.org/mailman/listinfo/green_fuusm.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://fuusm.org/pipermail/green_fuusm.org/attachments/20180908/6f383a3c/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Candidate Forum Guidelines | MyLO.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 103081 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://fuusm.org/pipermail/green_fuusm.org/attachments/20180908/6f383a3c/attachment.pdf>