Fwd: Debate Proposal

[Jens Sutmoller]

Team,

Please see the below email from Cranley calling for a parking debate. I went ahead and drafted a release. Please give any and all feedback.

Celinda, Daniel & Stephanie, What campaign responses have you seen work in other election?

 

Thank you,

Jens

--
Jens Sutmoller
Campaign Manager
Roxanne Qualls for Mayor
je...@roxannequalls.com
Follow me on twitter @jsutmoller

(513) 266-7810 cell

Consider contributing online at RoxanneQualls.com or checks can be made out to 'Qualls for Citizens'.

2 Garfield Place, Suite 330C

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Follow the campaign on twitter @Qualls2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jens Sutmöller <jsutm...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: Debate Proposal
To: Roxanne Qualls <roxanne...@gmail.com>

Vice Mayor,

This is obviously an attempt to get on the same stage as you because of the imbalance he has to fight. I imagine his polling came back that his name recommendation is behind yours, so he has to drum up antics like this on unpopular issues to you.

This hasn't been picked up by any media outlets, which surprises me. I think we should get out ahead of it, which means moving fast.

My recommendations:

1. not debate him
2. not to respond directly, but let this be campaign v. campaign. Debate negotiations are insider baseball.
3. deflect by upping the ante

Attached is a draft response. If you agree with my line of thinking, then I would just email John and Jay back early in the AM and send out a release.

We should also circulate to the wider group.

Lastly, I'm reminding myself not to put out statements on Thursday evening because it only gets swept up in Friday news.

Thanks,

Jens

On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 6:28 PM, <jo...@johncranley.com> wrote:

Dear Vice Mayor Qualls,

 

At a public meeting earlier this week, City Manager Milton Dohoney announced that he expects to bring the parking meter privatization proposal to City Council for a vote in late February or early March.

 

In light of the fact that this is an irrevocable deal that will significantly impact the City for years to come and the next mayor’s ability to move the city forward, the voters deserve a full airing of this issue by the mayoral candidates.

 

Accordingly, I’m inviting you to join me for a public debate on the wisdom of the proposal no sooner than 48 hours after the release of the final parking meter privatization proposal (to give us time to review the proposal) but before the final vote of council. 

 

We will be contacting local network affiliates to host this debate.  We would appreciate it if you would make a joint request in this matter.

 

Please have your campaign representative contact my campaign manager Jay Kincaid by phone at (513) 505-4047 or by email at j...@johncranley.com to coordinate the logistics.  Also, please find a signed version of this letter attached.

 

I look forward to a great public discussion on an important public policy matter, which I’m sure you agree will have a profound impact on the future of our City.

 

Sincerely,

John Cranley

[Linnea Lose]

Agree to avoid.

I like your approach that we are not debating item by item ad nauseum. However, I think our response can be sharper and wiser.  I suggest elevating your response to a higher more visionary level.  Position RQ as THE candidate with the comprehensive economic/safety vision to generate vitality of Cincinnati and its neighborhoods for future generations, not just a few years.  This campaign should not be about piecemeal issues because the future of this city depends on somebody who can understand the interconnectivity of complex issues.  For this city to move from good to great, we need a discussion (and a mayor) that comprehensively aligns many complex larger forces rather than deconstructs the engine bolt by bolt.

Also, I think John's motivation is to leverage Roxanne to defuse David Mann's steam.   Mann likely can "out-budget" John, i.e., expose John's flawed budget numbers.  John can't risk this. He wants to dupe Roxanne into a debate that is essentially a David-Mann-battering-ram for John.

Linnea

Linnea Lose APR

Communications That Connect LLC

O: 513-351-6530    C: 513-207-5673

linne...@gmail.com (Note new e-address)

<Release-Debate-020713.doc>

[Mooney, Donald]

I guess one issue is whether you include all the potential candidates in a debate, or you should limit it to Roxanne vs. Cranley if there are any. But I agree that there is no point in doing one issue debates.

 

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[Jennifer O'Donnell]

Additional points to consider:

• Vice Mayor Qualls is also looking forward to a robust public discussion of the manager's proposal when City Council takes it up and everyone interested in this issue can weigh in before the council vote, she is committed to transparent process. 
• Looking forward to an analysis and discussion of what the manager is recommending based on real numbers and the true impact on neighborhoods, businesses and the city budget, versus (need another description besides hysterical scare tactics...) 
• Roxanne could lay out a few principles she wants to see in the deal, e.g., local control, address concerns of residents in areas with high on-street parking, neighborhood business districts etc.
• Campaign debates will highlight the kind of leadership that Qualls will bring on a wide range of issues besides one proposal by the city manager.

Can we call it the Qualls for Mayor campaign or Qualls campaign instead of the 'campaign of Vice Mayor RQ'?

[Stephanie]

I agree with the one issue stuff. Campaigns are long enough, I don't think voters want them longer. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Jens Sutmoller]

Dear Mr. Cranley,

Vice Mayor Qualls believes the citizens of Cincinnati deserve a robust series of public debates between the two final 2013 Mayoral candidates. She looks forward to articulating her optimistic vision of Cincinnati’s future and the investments we need to make in our neighborhoods and city to achieve a welcoming city of opportunity for all our citizens.

To that end, she has asked me to work with whomever you designate to organize a series of debates after the September primary. She believes our goal should be a minimum of five debates organized by neutral civic organizations and local network affiliates. In addition, at least three should be held in three different regions of the City.  Please contact me directly or have your designee contact me so we can proceed with arrangements.

As for your proposed parking debate, few are served by a debate on a singular issue that you claim to oppose even before the actual proposal, including all the facts and details, are known. Once the City Manager releases his actual recommendation, you may find that you will have wished you had waited on expressing your opposition.

Sincerely,

Jens

--
Jens Sutmoller
Campaign Manager
Roxanne Qualls for Mayor
je...@roxannequalls.com

(513) 266-7810 cell