Election frenzy approaching

On Good Friday, I should post about my religion, which teaches me hope; my family, which teaches me love; my work, which gives me satisfaction; and my friends, who give me joy.  Nonetheless, I'll post about next week's election activities which are of less pertinent, but perhaps more general, interest.

The week of April 9 is a key to the May 12 city election.  Monday, April 9, the Exchange Club and the Killeen Daily Herald will host a candidate forum at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.  It will begin at 1800 and run to 2100.  The Exchange Club is hopelessly clueless when it comes to publicizing their events.  Here's the KDH blurb:


A "Meet the Candidates" forum will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. The forum will feature the 16 at-large Killeen council candidates, the five district council candidates and the five mayoral candidates. 

Questions for the candidates can be submitted by email to news@kdhnews.com, or filled out on a card at the forum. Moderators will read the questions to the candidates. The forum is sponsored by the Killeen Daily Herald and the Killeen Exchange Club.

Later in the week, on Friday, April 13,  LULAC and the NAACP will sponsor a forum at the Community Center  at the intersection of W.S. Young and Veterans Memorial Drive.

I strongly encourage anyone with even a passing interest in Killeen city government to attend both forums.  Here are things I think you will get in return for your effort:

1. Face time with candidates.  You should look a man or woman in the eye before you vote for or against him or her.
2. Some lively exchanges.  This is not your grandfather's election.  Or, rather, it's more like your grandfather's election than it is like more recent ones.  There are real issues in this election.  The candidates have not been eager to discuss these issues so far, but real discussion is likely to break out at any moment.
3. A chance to ask questions.  If you don't have questions for the 26 candidates, you are not paying attention.  Every candidate has left open countless questions about his or her views on city government, finance, ethics, growth, urban renewal and a host of other issues.  You get two chances to get their answers.  I certainly plan to pester them.

Please take time to show up Monday, April 9 and Friday, April 13.  Your city needs you there.