Answering to the Public

Question

Unusually this year we will be having a contested election and now a resident is organising a Q & A event for candidates, For those newbies not used to playing politics or being in the spotlight have you any tips please?

TIA

Answer 1

Don'r make statements, anything that starts "this more a statement than a question" isn't helpful to anyone.

Pay attention to previous questions, just because you didn't like the answer, rephrase or expand, don't just ask the same again.

Accept these people (candidates) are mostly enthusiastic amateurs they will not have much expert knowledge on your pet topic (the history of the local band stand) as you will, don't make this about point scoring. Ask genuine questions that can either be answered or an opinion given.

Comments

I forgot to add, ensure the chairman is fair, and everyone follows their direction.
Passions do get raised at these types events, do it is important for the person chairing to have authority over the meeting.

Don't let the meeting be flooded by members of one party (at general election hustings, this is quite common so as to support their candidate and try to shout down the other).

Try to limit access to parishioners and if they want to come, the press.