Why can't the big televised debates be run this way?
"We want your responses to these questions, not your critiques of each other," the Rev. Nancy Ladd warned the three gubernatorial hopefuls seated in the front pew of a packed St. Matthew Catholic Church.
The Maryland Industrial Areas Foundation promoted its May 14 candidates forum in Baltimore as being geared toward "jobs, not jabs." For the most part, the umbrella organization — which includes People Acting Together in Howard, or PATH — succeeded in keeping Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler and Del. Heather Mizeur talking about their own plans for improving the state's employment picture, stemming gun violence, fomenting affordable housing and boosting funding for after-school programs.