Andra Sparks and Patrick Packer, members of the new civic group One Birmingham, watched the real-time reaction of audience members to nine mayoral candidates who answered questions at the One Birmingham/Fox 6 Town Hall E-Forum last night.
What they saw, they said, was “very interesting.”
Sparks and Packer didn’t see the monitored reactions during the entire 1-1/2 hour forum. But from what they did see, the focus group generally reacted more positively to statements by political newcomer Patrick Cooper and long-time politician William Bell.
The 22 people from the audience of about 100 people were part of the focus group — old and young, men and women, all African American. Using a tracking system set up by Birmingham-Southern College Political Science Professor Natalie Davis, they turned the knob on a hand-held device up or down in reaction to what the candidates said. Their reactions – in red, blue, green, yellow and pink lines — were projected on a wall during the forum at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Sparks and Packer wouldn’t say which candidates didn’t do so well. But, Packer said, “they (candidates) can learn a lot about what to say and what not to say” based on the group members’ reactions.
“You wanted to hold up a sign that said “STOP! Don’t say that anymore!” when the lines dipped down drastically to some candidates’ responses, Sparks said.
Another clear result from last night’s forum? “Larry Langford hurt himself by not being here,” Sparks said.
Steve Crocker, Fox 6 anchor and the forum’s moderator, said Langford called in saying he wouldn’t be able to make the event. He was the only one of the 10 mayoral candidates not in attendance.
For more analysis of the responses and to see the forum online, visit Fox 6 News’ website.
One Birmingham and Fox 6 will host another forum at the Civil Rights Institute on October 4.·
