EXCELLENT DEBATE/FORUM! Minnie Knych’s ‘Group With No Name’ Hosts Balanced, Informative Forum

Saturday, June 29, 2024
by Jeff Noedel

A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

All six candidates for both Residency Districts in the San Juan County Council primary gathered in front of an overflow crowd for a balanced, fair, calm, rational, and informative forum today. The organizer was Minnie Knych. The moderator was Dan Schwartz. Kathleen Commins was the timekeeper. The event was held on the lower level of the American Legion Post 163 in Friday Harbor. All seats were filled, people stood around the perimeter of the room, and up to 10 more people listened from the patio.

In remarks at the end of the event, Minnie said her group — which also hosts political potlucks — decided to forgo a name because “if you have a name, you are a target.” She said, instead, she simply calls her group “a neighborhood activist group,” and then pointed out the acronym for the group is “NAG.” She said the main rule of the group is “to agree to disagree agreeably.” She said people in the group have, remarkably, been known to sometimes change their minds.

This afternoon’s gathering was a “safe place” for all candidates to be honest and frank with their stands, opinions, and explanations.

Based on audience applause and observations made by candidates, the audience had a balance of ideologically conservative and progressive citizens.

That’s not to say all candidates agreed on all issues. There were unique and sometimes strongly opposing views on a range of subjects. But the event was — happily — brimming with civility among the competing candidates, as well as the audience with its diverse opinions.

The three candidates from Orcas (District 2) were especially cordial with one another. All three candidates from District 2 are running energetic campaigns aimed at winning. But they often nodded in agreement with one another, and at the end, they exchanged manly bear hugs.

The event was as refreshing as it was informative. In the eyes of this reporter, it was two hours of civilized discussion in an otherwise polarized time.

Civility in energetically contested campaigns in San Juan County, Washington is alive and well.

CNL2 was proud to televise this forum/debate live. Dozens of citizens watched live!

This CNL2 video is approximately two hours in duration.