Live Blogging Dan McElhatton's Video Web Chat

This has been going on for almost an hour...I'm going to stop watching now but overall, I would say that the theme or thread I picked up after an hour is that McElhatton has some new ideas, but I can't pinpoint one that will fundamentally change the way the DA's office operates. I see many platforms that will rearrange the deck chairs (so to speak) but can't determine what platform will specifically reduce crime. Seth is proactive on crime and is focused not only on prosecuting criminals, but on preventing crime and repeat offenses all together.

Seth wants to prevent crime by assigning prosecutors to specific neighborhoods, making it easier to identify local crime patterns. In addition, he wants to get the most dangerous criminals off the streets by focusing on the criminal rather than the crime. He will concentrate resources on repeat offenders who have previous weapons offenses.

For more info on his platforms you can view his Where Seth Stands page.

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9:01. What sets you apart from your candidates? Pretty much says he has the most experience...everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it's pretty widely believed that Seth has the most relevant experience. Check out the Phila Inquirer endorsement for more on that.

9:00. The campaign manager just said there are several dozen people watching...chat room list reports 16 people watching.

8:56. He's answering a question from a UPenn Student. What will be the first issue he tackles? People should expect a vigorous leader advocating for gun control and for the ability of the city to control its future.

8:48. Someone asks question about an opponent's platform to call out and publicly shame lazy judges. This is McCaffery's platform. The idea was specifically criticized in the Inquirer's endorsement of Seth. DM has a point...if people are dissatisfied, they should not re-elect the judge.

8:46. "Deb" asks what community can do to assist DA's office. He's now taking Q's directly from the chat feed. He wants to set up a hotline for folks to call in and provide information.

8:44. Refers to exec loan program from Rendell era, recruiting city execs to DA office on rotating basis to try to get ideas from private industry. I'm all for innovative ideas but want to hear him speak more about how he will stop crime.

8:39. DM says he'll do these webchats on a "regular basis." Nothing revolutionary has really been said yet, in my opinion. I haven't been able to find a clear theme through his proposals yet.

8:26. Campaign manager asks question about how DM will increase effectiveness of DA's office. He wants community groups to come and talk to city gov. "We need to listen to them in a much more aggressive way, and if we do this we'll be able to get as much information as possible." How will this stop crime?

8:21. The campaign manager is reading questions submitted before the debate. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a candid interview (yet).

8:19. Open for questions. Maybe not -- his campaign manager chimes in with first question. How did he first get involved in politics? Questions are being submitted via a chat box on the side of the page.

Tuesday April 28, 8:13 PM. It starts a few minutes early, about 9 people watching. He's sitting next to a man I assume is his campaign manager. A Dan McElhatton backdrop.