Sumner Shortcuts

Okay, well maybe not a cage match.  But definitely a debate.  All the candidates for the various open Hendersonville Alderman wards squared off last Friday in an open forum that probably next to no one attended.

My spy was there, so I have the inside scoop (translation:  I read this Tennessean article).  Seems there were some spicy exchanges and some pleasant ones.  Which do you want to hear about first?

Why do I even ask… of course we want the spicy first.

In Ward 2, we have incumbent Scott Sprouse running against CPA Pamela Tidwell.  And the paper says it got saucy in a hurry and stayed that way, only they don’t give us any quotes.  Here’s what the article says:

Sprouse went after Tidwell, claiming that she opposed several road projects within the city and that Tidwell issued an ultimatum to both Sprouse and the mayor to see things her way or she would run for one of their jobs, both charges Tidwell denied.

Ooooh, burn!!  Man, that had to be entertaining for the three people who were there.  Sprouse totally blasted her with the “opposing road projects” slam (that old standby of a political grenade), but Tidwell totally had the perfect come back with the whole “I’m gonna take your job if you don’t start agreeing with me” rejoinder.

Over in Ward 3, the only race without an incumbent, all three candidates said some stuff that may or may not have bored people to death.  I can’t tell, because there aren’t many details… but it’s the most boring section of the article, so I can only assume…

Over in Ward 5, only one of the two candidates was able to show up.  Boom… instant victory.  Can you imagine if McCain didn’t show up to tonight’s final debate and Obama just had an hour and a half to talk about this policies?

Ward 6 is where things got really strange, with the two candidates inciting a love fest.  Check out their saucy exchange:

Some of the discourse between Ward 6 candidates was as jovial as the discussion between Ward 2 aldermen was icy.

“I have not one bad thing to say about Mr. Belcher,” Jim Hoback, Ward 6 candidate, said. “I just want his job.”

“Well, you can’t have it,” Brian Belcher, the Ward 6 incumbent, replied in an exchange drawing chuckles throughout the room.

Man, someone needs to explain politics to Mr. Hoback.  9 our of 10 political strategists recommend you don’t endorse your opponent during a public event.

Anyway, the paper says 40 people were there, including family, event organizers, and other elected officials.  So, in other words, not a single regular voter showed up.  It’s kind of sad when you think about it, since these elections will directly impact our lives (in Hendersonville) far more noticeably than the outcome of the presidential race will.

Oh well.