Fullerton Group to Host Debate for Candidates, Voters

In the continuing debate about candidate debates, a Fullerton group is going one step further.

Tonight the Citizens Research Team will let loose City Council and 39th Congressional District candidates in eight rooms filled with voters. The candidates will rotate through the rooms, spending 20 minutes in each room answering voters’ questions, according to the organization, which is hosting the program.

The event is free and will be at Sunny Hills High School, 1801 Warburton Way.

Vic Victoria, a member of the Citizens Research Team, said he organized candidate forums in Denver using this format, with great success.

“The only people who didn’t like it were those, as candidates, who didn’t want to meet the voters,” Victoria said.

He said monitors will be in each room to introduce candidates and select questioners. People who ask questions will also be allowed follow-up questions, he said.

U.S. presidential candidates argued for weeks over ground rules for their debates. Victoria said his format--which gives voters the opportunity to debate with candidates--is the best way to get a clear picture of platforms and character. So far, nine of 13 council candidates and two of the three congressional candidates have confirmed their appearances.

The research team is a 40-member organization of residents, students and business people that seeks to inform the public about government, Victoria said.