What citizens want to know

Here are the audience questions that were submitted for the mayoral and Council candidates during Wednesday's forum at UW Oshkosh.

As it turns out, not all of them were actually posed. Candidates are invited to answer the unasked questions (such as the one about restaurant smoking) by posting comments below.

What steps would you support to make university students think of Oshkosh as their home?

How can you do this, legally change the form of government?

To Mr. Esslinger: You have written that you oppose rules that encourage diversity--saying you think Chancellor Kerrigan (sic) is wrong to encourage minority enrollment via Affirmative Action. How will these attitudes translate in how you deal with the university and minority business in Oshkosh.

With the loss of the veto power the mayor had as a result of the referendum, what authority will you have to enforce your vision for the city of Oshkosh?

To Mr. Esslinger, how will you be able to shake your reputation as a council member that refuses to take economic risk?

Mr. Esslinger--Your PAC has supported several candidates--many of these candidates have criticized other candidates that accept special interest money. However the community knows where the Chamber, unions nad Progress Oshkosh money comes from, but your PAC effectively shields its sources of revenue--what are they?

Why would you build a concert venue without bathrooms? Does that make any sense?

Should the Oshkosh Common Council be directly involved in promoting downtown special events? If so, what projects would you like to sponsor?

What role will the City Manager play with you as the Mayor? One Mayor candidate writes the city manager position may be eliminated? Please define your position as mayor and how you see it evolving.

Given our city's tight budget, what creative approaches would you offer to help the most marginalized members of our community--the homeless, children living in poverty, and the hungry?

For Paul Esslinger. 1. You believe the mayor should be elected by the people. If you are elected, it is likely that your council seat will be appointed (not elected). How do you feel about that? 2. If you really believe in electing all positions, why don't you resign your council seat to run for mayor.

Bill Castle has given up his seat on the council to run for mayor; Paul Esslinger,if elected for mayor, will leave an empty seat to be filled by an appointed, unelected citizen. Many difficult decisions are made by the City Council. How comfortable are you with only six elected councilors instead of seven representatives of the people?

What advantage would veto power be in a council-manager government? Would you want to get rid of the manager? If so, why are you more qualified to run the city than the city manager?

How will you represent us as UWO students fairly? And how do you feel about the current unfair treatment of UWO students by the city, rather it be the police/parking enforcements focussing most of their efforts by the campus & the revocation of the block party permit to Amherst Ave?

Will you support a restaurant smoking ban?