A successful event; Many to thank

Three days on from Tuesday’s candidate forum, the work continues. There is still writing to finish over the weekend, but it is worth pausing to offer a few words of thanks. Though there are elements that may be refined before the general election, the event was, by any measure, a success.

First, it was a pleasure to see the event return to the McCook Senior Center, where it was held through the 1990s. The center is something of a jewel among the community’s public facilities, but more importantly, it remains a steady presence in the daily lives of many McCook residents.

It is a space that invites respect.

Being allowed to use it is not the same as renting a hall. It feels closer to being welcomed into someone’s living room, a setting that carries both comfort and expectation. That privilege is not one to be taken lightly. We are grateful to Beth Siegfried, her staff and the daily users of the facility for their generosity in accommodating us.

I also need to thank Ronda Graff for serving as timer. Her participation is particularly meaningful, as it was her mother-in-law, Dolores Graff, who was so helpful to us many years ago. I came to know Dolores through the 6:00 a.m. Toastmasters group in the late 1990s, and she became our reliable hand for timekeeping. It is fitting that Ronda has taken up that role, continuing a function that is vital to the event.

Ronda tells us that she enjoyed having a front-row seat, so we hope to have her back in that chair for a general election event in the fall.

I should also mention that having 26 candidates in attendance was a privilege. It speaks to a willingness among these citizen candidates to engage directly with the electorate and field a few unscripted questions. That requires a measure of courage, and each acquitted themselves respectably.

That all five candidates for the Nebraska Legislature were present also says something about McCook’s place in the upcoming election. It reflects more than electoral math. It suggests a recognition that McCook is where things are happening in the district.

Thanks also go to Bryan Loker and the staff at High Plains Radio. Bryan served as moderator, keeping the program moving, while his team handled the sound, recording and broadcast.

Most of all, the importance of the panel cannot be overstated. They did the heavy lifting. We invited several stakeholder organizations and four of the five accepted. Each selected a representative to formulate questions, not only on behalf of their institution, but also as citizen-voters.

Our thanks go to Community Hospital President Troy Bruntz, representing the McCook Economic Development Corporation; Jeremy LaBrie of Memorial Methodist Church, representing the Red Willow County Ministerial Association; Mayor Linda Taylor, representing the McCook Community Foundation; and Jessica Armstrong, representing the McCook Parent Teacher Organization.

Each brought thoughtful, pertinent questions to a challenging setting and deserves credit for stepping forward in much the same spirit as the candidates themselves.

The true stars of the event were the many hundreds who took an interest as attendees, listeners and viewers. Estimates place the in-person crowd between 75 and more than 100. By mid-day Thursday, the KICX YouTube broadcast had surpassed 1,000 views, and the reach of the live radio broadcasts is undoubtedly substantial. That level of engagement speaks well of the community and the seriousness with which voters are approaching the decisions ahead.

Now, it becomes our job at the Gazette to carry that conversation forward in print—and, of course, to organize it, preserve it and place it in context for the days, weeks and years to come.