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Published on: 8/11/2007
Last Visited: 8/11/2007
"It's going to be a 'Chicago style' forum," said Avi Poster, Community Relations Chairman for the Jewish Federation."It will be more open, giving the audience a chance to really sort the candidates out and allow them to make their final choices."
The forum will be run in the style of Chicago's famous "Bughouse Square Debate" format, Poster said."Bughouse Square" is the nickname for Chicago's Washington Square Park, one of the most celebrated outdoor free-speech centers in the United States and a popular tourist attraction, according to the Chicago Parks website.In it's heyday before the 1950's, speakers and hecklers were encouraged to comment on important topics of the day.
Each candidate will be given a fixed amount of time to convince the audience to vote for them, Poster said.Mayoral candidates will receive more time than Council-At-Large candidates to make their case for electing them to office.Following the individual presentations, the candidates will remain available for an extended period of time to answer individual questions and talk with audience members.
Candidates at this forum should expect a tough, friendly crowd who are looking for solutions, not problems, Poster said.
"The candidates have been told to stand up and hit us with everything they've got during their speaking time," Poster said.
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"It's their time, they pretty much can do whatever they want," Poster said.
Welcome to Nashville's "Bughouse Square."