Conference 7.286::dcu

	Find out as much as you can. In addition to the candidate statements 
	that were supplied with the ballot, the following files are available
	which contain somewhat more extensive statements by candidates:

Directory GONAVY::DISK$2:[DCU]

                                        ELECTION_STATEMENT_DAWKINS.TXT;2	
ELECTION_STATEMENT_GILLETT.PS;1         ELECTION_STATEMENT_GILLETT.TXT;1
ELECTION_STATEMENT_GRANSEWICZ.PS;1      ELECTION_STATEMENT_GRANSEWICZ.TXT;2
ELECTION_STATEMENT_GUPTA.PS;1           
ELECTION_STATEMENT_HOM.PS;1             ELECTION_STATEMENT_HOM.TXT;1
ELECTION_STATEMENT_KINZELMAN.PS;1       ELECTION_STATEMENT_KINZELMAN.TXT;1
                                        ELECTION_STATEMENT_LUCIANO.TXT;1
ELECTION_STATEMENT_ROSS.PS;1            ELECTION_STATEMENT_ROSS.TXT;1
ELECTION_STATEMENT_THOMPSON.PS;1        ELECTION_STATEMENT_THOMPSON.TXT;1

That same directory contains some other files which you may find useful 
reading. This file contains statements of candidates as well:
Topics 489, 430, 435, 437, 438, 443, 444, and 458 all pertain to the election.
And there are lots of other discussions in this conference as well that
will give you a good feel about what some candidates are all about. Also,
some candidates are visiting various sites at lunch time. DEMON is in CTS,
Chelmsford, right? Maybe a candidate will reply if they will be visiting
that site. Unfortunately, you may not be able to get a lot of information
on all of the candidates, but maybe that fact should be considered as well.
Perhaps you will not want to support a candidate who has made little effort
to let you know their positions.

Whatever your final choices, you are to be congratulated for your desire 
to be an informed voter. Don't forget to sign your ballot, to pick no more
than seven candidates, mail it so it will reach the DCU before April 17th,
and to follow the other directions on the ballot. After making your informed
ballot, you want to make sure it will count! Good luck!


					Tom_K

	RE: .0 There are the write-ups that come with the ballots. There are
	also the statements and what not Tom pointed to in .1. Also a number
	of candidates have larger write-ups here in this conference. And of
	course if you have particular questions you can call or write to
	candidates. Speaking for myself, and I suspect other REAL CHOICES
	candidates, I welcome questions.

			Alfred

This is exactly why I opened discussion 489.x.  I believe all the statements
listed in .1 are in 489.2+, and is why when you open the DCU notes file the
opening statement refers you to that one collection point.

It also includes unlimited length statements from those who submitted them to
me or posted them themselves, as well as some financial statements.

It would seem to me to be a lot of work having to go through all the topics
listed in .1, hence my starting 489.

When I don't know the people or issues and don't have the time or interest
to pursue them, I find someone I respect and ask them how they are voting.
I prefer to find things out for myself, but I just don't always have time.

I consider it quite appropriate and democratic to rely on the opinions of
third parties I consider reliable.  I judge reliability mostly based on my
impressions of integrity, logical reasoning and forthright communication.

For the DCU issues, I have made my decisions based entirely on my own
experience and observations.  I have observed the incumbent Board members
in action, and I have spoken with all of the petition candidates.  I
also sent mail to the nominees, and received replies from some of them,
as well as reading the statements contained in the ballot.  Finally, I
have spent a huge amount of time studying the situation at the DCU and
evaluating various people's responses to it.

I felt it was worthwhile spending this much time on this issue, but I don't 
expect everyone to feel the same way.  I encourage everyone to find out as
much as you have time to, and factor in the opinions of people you consider
reliable if you don't have time to find out enough for yourself.

	Enjoy,
	Larry

    Thanks to everyone for their advice/help.  Special thanks to the "REAL
    CHOICE" candidates who sent off-line messages.  After reading all your
    mail and this file, I feel I was able to make intellegent, educated
    choices - "Real Choices" if you catch my drift.....!
    
    Gail
    

Are there any longer statements for the following candidates?

Gail Mann, Tom McEachin, Paul Milbury, Rick Sample, Susan Shapiro,
Abbott Weiss, Jay Tredwell

    
    RE: .6
    
    No.  If there were, they would be in 489.*.  
    

    
    ...if I might be so bold as to paraphrase a figure of some historic
    import...
    
       "Many were called, but few have chosen."