We're about to listen to the Mayor and City Council candidate forums that happened yesterday. Wish us luck, we'll post interesting tidbits in this thread as we listen:

@RandyDethrow starts out strong with a simple explanation of socialism that makes one wonder why the term is so loathed in the US.

@janehughson brags about allowing more affordable housing and increasing options for density in the development code, but doesn't acknowledge that those half measures won't measurably shrink the housing shortage nor help those currently stuck in substandard housing.

Justin Harris (can't find his handle) gives no policy positions in his opening statement, but wants to "make San Marcos great again." We would bet this man wears new balance sneakers, his personality revolves around firearms, and he regularly rants into a camera inside his truck.

@VoteJMA in his opening statement outlines 3 crises facing SM: COVID, housing affordability, and a general feeling among the populace of feeling left behind by coty government. A bit kitschy on the last point, but cogent and polished.

First Question: What type of mayor do you think San Marcos needs and how would you embody that?

Re: Q1 - @RandyDethrow doesn't provide policy specifics but does direct the focus of the race where it needs to be: help for the mentally ill, the homeless, and the "voiceless."

Re: Q1 @janehughson highlights the need for administrative competence and the ability to listen and compromise as necessary characteristics of a mayor.

We don't like @janehughson's half measure style of governance, but considering that we're in the midst of a pandemic made considerably worse by governmental bungling, her point on administrative competence is well-taken.

This thread is broken so we'll try to figure out how to get this all together.