Columbia Opportunity Resource

The Mayor’s Showdown 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010 | 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. | 701 Whaley

Presented By:
Columbia Opportunity Resource | The Free Times | Columbia Young Republicans

Partners:
Columbia Young Democrats | Midlands Young Professionals Alliance Partners | College Democrats at USC | College Republicans at USC | USC Student Governement

2010 will be a dynamic year in politics with changes at the national, state, and local level.  Columbia is entering a new era with the retirement of Mayor Bob Coble, a challenging economy, one of the worst state unemployment rates in the country, and a host of social, political, and economic issues facing our community.  This could potentially be the most important election in our city’s recent history and a chance to start anew.  Addressing the issues relevant to the next generation of Columbians will be critical to creating a sustainable and prosperous community agenda in the years to come. 

The Showdown 2010 will be a high energy, “rock the vote” style mayoral debate addressing the issues facing the next generation in the community. 

Impact:
The mayoral debate will address issues affecting our community from homelessness, to transportation, to crime, quality of life, job creation, and other key issues affecting the next generation.  The goal is to expose Columbia’s young voters to the serious candidates for mayor in a fun, energetic, topically relevant setting; while providing a venue for young people to be heard, ask questions, and provide direction to the mayoral candidates. 

What to Expect Before and During the Event:
• Free Times Readers Poll – The Free times will conduct a readers poll to identify what the key issues are in the eyes of citizens and will use those issues as some of the topics for the debate
• Mayoral Debate – A moderated, topically focused session that addresses key issues the city is facing and taking pre-submitted questions from audience members.  The issues to be addressed will be provide through a reader’s poll,
• Meet the Candidates Event – A networking event pre/post-debate will focus on creating an opportunity for “the next generation” to meet the candidates one on one, network with other professionals, and provide a social element to the event.  This event will be held AFTER the mayoral debate.
• Rock The Vote Campaign – A Rock the Vote booth will be set up to encourage those Columbians not registered to do so before/after the debate in an effort to increase young voter turnout at the polls.

• Candidate Selection – The Top Five candidates will be selected and invited based on one of the two following criteria:
o If available, top five polling numbers (threshold of 5%)
o If unavailable, Free Times will do an online poll with the top five vote getters invited to participate

• Moderators – A dual moderator arrangement will be made with two fun, respected, and engaging leaders in the community:
o Dan Cook – Editor, The Free Times
o Cynthia Hardy – Host, Onpoint (invited)

Schedule of Events:
6:30-7:00 – Pre-event Networking
7:00-8:30 – The Showdown (Debate)
8:30-9:30 – Meet The Candidates Social Networking