Perhaps I have been jaded by the national debates. Maybe I expect too much. In the local "debates", the formats are designed to exclude almost all one-on-one interaction between the candidates. The questioners ask very standard questions to the candidates, and then each candidate gives their answer. Only at the very end are the candidates then allowed to ask one question of the other candidate. If there are issues, they are not vetted because there is no time for the back and forth to which I have become accustomed while watching the national debates.
Locally, it's only a beauty contest with no opportunity to scratch below the surface. I believe we need to improve on that.
