by John Beagle

Miami University Middletown held a candidates' forum on Thursday October, 18, 2007.

Mayoral Candidates Nick Kidd, 2nd Ward Councilman Lawrence P. Mulligan Jr., Paul Nagy, Fred Sennet and Merrell Wood III answered a number of questions from Kelly Cowan, dean of Miami University Middletown, was the forum moderator. Mel Cohen, an MUM political science professor, and Jim Ewers, a Journal columnist and MUM's associate dean for student affairs, asked the candidates questions.

Other candidates participating in the forum included: city council candidates Christopher Amburgey, Gary Barge, Bill Becker, Anita Scott Jones, Lalisa Lawrence, Geri Lynn Maples and Leslie Ford; and school board candidates Katie McNeil, John Sauter, A.J. Smith and the Rev. Greg Tyus.

The candidate forum question were drafted in part from Miami University of Middletown (MUM) political science students. Candidates had 90 seconds to respond to the questions.

Here are some highlights from the mayoral candidates:

Kidd said that the mayor needs to say "you're welcome here, Mr. Businessman."

Mulligan said "We need to work together, establish trust with all parts of the city."

Nagy said, "We need to re-establish trust and confidence."

Sennet said it will take consensus to get things done.

Wood said, "this will be the first citizens' mayor, a mayor that represents the community."