Rules for Nipomo Chamber of Commerce Sponsored NCSD Candidates Forum on October 20, 2004, Nipomo High School, beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m.
A copy of these rules will be given to each member of the audience as they enter, so that both the candidates and the members of the audience are abiding by the same rules.
1. People entering the auditorium will be asked to check in and will be given a copy of the rules and the handout about the candidates. If they want to ask a question, they must get a numbered ticket. A duplicate of that number will be placed in a basket for later drawing. Numbers will be available throughout the first part of the forum so that anyone who thinks of a question during that time may have a chance to enter the question drawing later.
2. The candidates should not bring any charts, notes, or other material with them. Since they will not know the questions ahead of time, these should not be necessary. They may bring a sheet of paper with the questions they want to ask written on it and they may use pencil and paper for taking notes during the forum, but may not use notes or charts while answering questions.
3. Each candidate will have 90 seconds (the same amount of time as in the Presidential debates) to respond to each question. A candidate does not have to use the full 90 seconds. A candidate may choose not to answer or pass if he wants. When there is 15 seconds left, a yellow card will be held up by the timer to warn the candidate. When the time is up a red card will be held up and the candidate must stop.
4. No similar or duplicate questions may be asked at any time during the forum due to time limitations.
5. For the first part of the forum, each candidate will have the opportunity to ask two questions of his fellow candidates and then answer those same questions himself. This will be in alphabetical order. Bob Blair will ask the first question, Ed Eby will ask the second question, Mike Smith will ask the 3rd question, Mike Winn will ask the 4th question. When Bob Blair asks a question, each of the other candidates will give their answer beginning with the candidate on his left and moving left down the table, then, finally, Bob will have an opportunity to answer his own question. When Ed Eby asks a question, the other three candidates will answer beginning with the candidate on his left and then he will have the final opportunity to speak, and so on. Questions and answers will continue to roll through the candidates in this manner. After each candidate has asked and answered one question, the 2nd question from each candidate will be asked in the same order and with the same format.
6. Questions must be on the issues and may not be specifically directed at any one candidate, but must pertain to subjects that should concern all members or future members of the NCSD board. Since duplicate questions are not allowed, it is suggested that each candidate prepare four to six questions in order of their importance that he might ask. If the candidate does not have a question to ask that is not a duplicate when it is his turn, he will forfeit his turn for that round.
7. Once the eight questions are completed (two for each of the four candidates), the moderator will take questions on an open mike from members of the audience who have put a number ticket in the basket.
8. No further number tickets will be given out once the candidates have completed their eight questions. The Numbers will be drawn from a basket by the timer, much like a raffle, so that every person wishing to ask a question has the same chance of getting to ask their question as any other person.
9. Each person who asks a question must ask a question that applies to all of the candidates---that is, a question may not be directed to just one candidate. All candidates will have 90 seconds each to answer each question.
10. The moderator will determine if a question follows the rules or not. His will be the final say.
11. At 8:25 p.m. the moderator will stop the forum and the questions.
12. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. each candidate will be given 2 minutes at the end to make a closing statement. The timer will once again display a yellow card when there is 15 seconds left and a red card when the candidate must stop.
13. There will be a table or two at the back for each candidate to place literature and pamphlets.
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