Debates give voters the advantage

Editorial
Fort Collins Coloradoan, 20 September 2004

Four years ago, a majority of the local electorate trusted Glenn Gibson enough to place him in the position of Larimer County commissioner. Now he has failed in an opportunity to return that trust to voters by refusing to participate in election debates .

Gibson has rejected two debates , one sponsored by the Coloradoan this Wednesday, the other by the Loveland Reporter-Herald. Instead, he chooses to run on "his record of 35 years" of public service. His direct District 3 opponent, Roger Hoffmann , will participate, as will the other two candidates, Tom Bender and Karen Wagner. All commissioners are elected countywide.

Gibson claims there isn't much for him to gain from debates and says he will participate in candidate forums while promoting his campaign through brochures and advertisements.

This is a thin argument. Gibson has spoken in public for years. The fact is, he is a sitting commissioner with a record to defend or tout. Voters deserve to hear what he has to say. That the commissioner does not consider himself a polished debater doesn't matter, but limiting his access to voters is an egregious error. Maybe Gibson doesn't believe he has anything to gain by debating, but voters do.

Perhaps Gibson doesn't like the idea of participating in newspaper-sponsored debates . Well, his supporters should work with nonprofit groups, such as political science groups at Colorado State University or elsewhere, to host their own event. Debates are the heart of an election because they allow votersthe rare opportunity to see candidates side by side, and the questions are not controlled by party faithful. The public should have the chance to compare and contrast their candidates, who could be responsible for a budget worth more than $200 million, as well as issues such as public safety and spraying against West Nile virus. The process of informing voters not just about Gibson, but about issues affecting Larimer County residents, must be respected.

The commissioners are full-time employees of the county. They are paid $63,203 a year. The electorate deserves to know who they are hiring. Gibson should rise above his personal concerns and place thevoters first by participating in an election debate .