Yesterday I got an email from Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce president Rick Kidder notifying me that the Chamber has cancelled their mayoral forum next week. I’ve copied it below.
It’s not surprising. I have said from the beginning that this event was a sham.
They only scheduled it in order to negate my assertion that the Chamber was not entitled to access to the taxpayer-funded CityCable channel for their council candidate forum because they purposefully did not include all city candidates.
Clearly, the Chamber feels like exposing their candidate (Jim Lane) to public scrutiny works against him. This is why the event was not held at City Hall where it could have been broadcast.
Kidder assured me after the council candidate forum that he would inquire about the availability of City Hall for the mayoral forum, which would have eliminated the cost he cited in his cancellation notice. The deception is so transparent as to be laughable.
I also note that Jim Lane attended fewer than half the mayoral forums that have been held, including the public safety forum sponsored by the Police Officers of Scottsdale Association and the Scottsdale Firefighters Association.
Lane’s campaign team of Jason Rose, Ray Torres, and Mike Manson have specifically told forum hosts that Lane will not attend if the hosts permit video recording of the discussions.
At the DC Ranch forum, Torres intentionally interfered with one of my volunteers who was recording the forum. He even went so far as to intentionally bump her. Amazing, huh?
If the Lane team didn’t tell the Chamber to 86 the mayoral forum to avoid further exposure, I’m sure they were quite relieved the decision was made for them.
Here’s Kidder’s cancellation notice:
From: Rick Kidder <RKidder@scottsdalechamber.com>
Date: August 17, 2012 10:48:23 AM MST
To: “mayorlane@lane4scottsdale2012.com” <mayorlane@lane4scottsdale2012.com>, “washington4scottsdale@gmail.com” <washington4scottsdale@gmail.com>, Drew Bernhardt <bernhardt.drew@gmail.com>
Cc: Staff <Staff@scottsdalechamber.com>, Eric Larson <elarson@scottsdalechamber.com>
Subject: Cancellation of Mayoral Forum on 8/22Dear Candidates:
Due to the overwhelming number of our members who have indicated that they have already voted by early ballot, the attendance at our Forum breakfast is inadequate to support the inconvenience for you to attend or the costs of production. Consequently, we have made the decision to cancel the Mayoral Forum, scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at the Paradise Valley Doubletree Resort by Hilton at 7:30. Should there be a run-off election, we will be back in touch earlier in the process.
Thank you for your willingness to serve our great Community.
Sincerely,
Rick Kidder
Rick Kidder
President/CEO
Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce4725 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 210
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Direct Line: 480-949-2175
Main Number: 480-355-2700