SMAAC to hold Issues Forum online

BY DICK SAUNDERS

The South Metro Airport Action Council (SMAAC) is engaging Minnesota gubernatorial candidates in a brisk and ongoing dialog about current plans and problems at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

But instead of its traditional Issues Forum, SMAAC is implementing the 2010 SMAAC Virtual Forum: Future Use and Governance of Minneap-olis-St. Paul International Airport.

SSP asked SMAAC President Jim Spensley to compare and contrast the virtual format with past SMAAC forums.

“First, a candidates’ forum is a format we’ve used often—the latest one was in 2006—involving candidates for Congress in Minnesota’s Fifth District,” Spensley said. “The participants address topics suggested by us in an opening statement, and the audience asks follow-up questions. Participants also can pose questions to each other.

“Now, we’re using a Web application to replace the Meeting Hall with cyberspace and extend the duration from a couple of hours to a month or so,” he added.
SSP is familiar with on-line “forums” such as Minnesota e-democracy, but SMAAC’s idea to weave several candidate threads into a common design may be unique.

How is it set up?

“We invited all 13 candidates for governor as filed for primary elections this August. The main candidates accepted, five enthusiastically, and some with reservations about the issues and rules. In the virtual forum, the ‘opening statements’ will be made ahead of time, centered on four topics we wanted them to address.

“The forum opened July 12 at www.quiettheskies.org. Visitors can read the rules, the questions, and the candidates’ opening statements answering the questions. Immediately, visitors can log-in to comment or question, and participants can reply. It should be fun and informative,” Spensley said.

SMAAC has acceptances from candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher (D), Mark
Dayton (D), Tom Emmer (R), Matt Entenza (D), Farheed Hakeem (I), Tom Horner
(I) and Ole Savior (R).

SSP: Does SMAAC plan to grade the candidates’ answers?

Spensley said, “Oh no! Our role is to set the stage with a topic theme and a few facts. It is up to the candidates from there—may the best candidate win over some voters. We just want the next governor to enhance their understanding of the important things about a governor’s role and responsibilities for air transportation services in the state.”

The topics are:
** Appointing the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Chair and
Commissioners.
** MAC plans to dedicate the Lindbergh Terminal for the Delta
Airlines hub.
** What to do when the small size and urban location of MSP becomes
a problem.
** The long-term plan for MSP expansion through 2030.