I was going to skip this debate and all forums this election cycle, but a friend wanted to watch the televised debate and I believe in using the buddy system for dicey situations.

The candidates: Mayor Luke Bronin, and challengers Eddie Perez, Brandon McGee, and J. Stan McCauley.

Having had a few hours to process and reflect, here are my lingering post-debate thoughts:

1. From now on, Hartford should only do its candidate forums/debates like this.

  • No live audience. I did not know it was possible, in Hartford, for there to be such an event without heckling from at least one candidate’s hype men/women. How refreshing, to be able to hear both the questions and responses!
  • A strong moderator. She did not play. Time limits were time limits.
  • Coherent, vetted questions.
  • Organized by the media, not by someone with seemingly no experience organizing events, or by a group with a conflicts of interest or an axe to grind.
  • To the point. I appreciate not having a half hour of my time wasted by endless introductions and opening remarks by moderators.

2. With such a stink made over Bronin’s initial uncertainty about attending the debate (when it was in its prior iteration), I wondered if the things I had been reading on social media were true — was he going to get his ass handed to him by his competitors? Was he scared? As it turns out, most of what you read in grumpy Facebook groups continues to be false. None of the other candidates even came close to challenging Bronin in this particular debate. McGee, who should have offered something of an intellectual fight, came up nearly as short as Perez and McCauley. If I’m a multi-term State Rep, I’m going to talk specifically about what I’ve been doing at the Capitol all these years. I’m going to talk about the relationships I built that I could leverage for Hartford’s benefit. I’m going to show off my resume. He merely mentioned how long he has been in his position, which raises a few questions: (a) Why run for mayor instead of State Senator or something higher? (b) Does this mean he’s a career politician? ( c ) How can I not be concerned about all of this when the only relationship of his I even know about is an endorsement by State Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, who inspires the opposite of trust? As a friend said, he gets 5,000 demerits for that endorsement.

But back to my awe over the lack of preparation from the challengers — they mangled their opening statements, which they all knew they needed to come in prepared to give. That’s the elevator speech that one would expect they have practiced thoroughly from meeting members of the community already. Perhaps it would have been more beneficial to the challengers to keep quiet about that previously canceled debate, and heed the old adage: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

3. The body language was fascinating. If you missed it, go watch for this alone. Put it on mute, even. Perez, wringing his hands and hunching over, appeared sad and lost. McCauley, spacey, but with some intense eye contact with the camera. McGee looked bitter, barely cracking a smile the entire time. Not that I expect a mayor to be all grins and unicorns and sparkles, but there is such a thing as too far in a particular direction. Bronin — again, watching on mute — seemed friendly, which contradicts one of the criticisms I frequently hear made about him — that he does not inspire the warm fuzzies. I’m not suggesting anyone vote based on body language alone, but it sure is interesting to observe.

4. Perez had the opportunity to open with an apology for resigning as mayor and making a “mistake” (his words) while previously in office. This is what he should have opened with, addressed, made a sincere apology, and then used to launch a hope-filled statement of what he would specifically do with the public’s trust when he re-earned it. He blew that opportunity, only mentioning the elephant in his room later when asked a question where that whole scene would have been hard to dodge.

5. The McCauley for Mayor people can stop the charade now. His final statement made it clear that he is “running” to have nothing more than a platform for his ideas. Some folks are into that tactic. I’m not. There are many other opportunities in the digital age for folks to have a voice, and J. Stan of all people knows this. If you want to see this segment for yourself, check out the final five minutes of the debate. A friend’s immediate response to that: “Wait…what?!” . . . which is really the only response to have to this.

6. Had McCauley’s ideas been hashed out, maybe I would feel less irritated. Instead, we’re offered up mention of a mysterious “five point plan,” which perhaps is expounded on in one of his many videos, but (a) I don’t have unlimited data and (b) details are exactly what one should be sharing when put in front of a camera with a microphone. Occasionally — as in, a sentence here or there — he had an intriguing idea, but frankly, it was like listening to someone who smoked a joint and believed they unlocked all the answers. Everyone sober around them is entertained, but not taking them seriously. I’d love to go to the bar and philosophize with McCauley, but that’s it. He was tremendously out of his element.

7. I could not figure out why two of the four candidates were running.

Like I said, McCauley obviously wanted people to hear his ideas. Bronin articulated his motivation well, which would have been surprising if he didn’t because the incumbent has the motivation pretty much scripted: finish what one starts.

But McGee and Perez? It was hard for me to get beyond how bitter and sad both seemed. There was no enthusiasm. No civic pride. Even McCauley managed to quote a piece of Bed, Bath & Beyond wall decor by saying that he lives, laughs, and loves in Hartford. Did someone back Perez into a corner to make him run? Or is this how he acts without a live audience? And again, why would McGee go from State-level to Municipal-level leadership?

Instead, Perez and McGee took shots at Bronin, but could not convey what it was they were going to do for Hartford. I’m also left  wondering why McGee verbally slapped Bronin over his brief gubernatorial ticket run, but said nothing about Perez actually resigning from the post. Strange that potentially quitting was an issue but going through with it was not discussed. I can’t be the only person who remembers that Perez resigned and that’s how we initially got Segarra. Then, there’s the small detail: if McGee wins this contest in November, he will have to step down from his role at the Capitol. It’s not an unfair thing to critique Bronin on, but consistency of logic would go a long way with me.

8. Okay, to modify what I just wrote, Perez did say he was going to fix potholes.

Potholes.

Where do I even start? Have we had an administration in the last decade or so that did not fix potholes? The only thing that consistently gets repaired are potholes!

9. Full of gratitude that I did not foolishly take part in a drinking game involving any of the following phrases: “If you would,” “if you will,” and “have a conversation.” Can’t live, laugh, love with a three-day hangover.

10. The questions posed were, with one exception, predictable. That’s not a negative. But it does confuse me as to how rarely candidates had solid responses. Of course the casino and/or XL Center would come up. Of course candidates will be asked how a mayor should be reducing gun violence. Of course the question of trust will come up, in some form, when at least one candidate has significantly bruised the public’s trust. There was so little substance coming out of this debate. Oh, and the one wildcard question — candidates were asked to say something nice about the person beside them — was easy enough to wing, even if nobody expected it.

Who will I be voting for in the primary?

Nobody.

I’m not a Democrat.

Instead of offering up an endorsement, I give you this: 26 Ways to Improve Hartford, Now.