The NG  recent editorial considered both candidates, Stephanie Holderfield and Eric Thorsland as qualifed independent thinkers.

This is inaccurate.   On the halfwayinteresting.com blog,  both candidates posted a brief statement,  In response to her post,   Ms Holderfield was asked, by Keith Hays (10/25/2010 11:03 PM) and by  'Concerned District 1 Resident' (10/25/2010 8:22 AM), some very relevant  issue-oriented questions, including.   Although the whole text is on the above link,   a summary of the thread follows.

In  response to ms Holderfield's statement,  'Concerned District 1 Resident' (10/25/2010 8:22 AM) wrote Ms Holderfield.

You devote a paragraph lamenting about a breakdown of the relation between the county board and the townships but provide no details. What is wrong with the current relationship? Because of this alleged defective relationship, (a) what services do you believe are not effectively delivered (b) what, if any, unneeded services are provided?

How and to what extent do you believe the nursing home can be improved by facilitating a relationship with Parkland or the U of I? What are the legal implications and certification issues of having interns work at the Nursing home? You suggest that the nursing home has trouble attracting staff. Why do you think this is true? Is this because CCNA pays less than competing opportunities?

You mention zero-based-budgeting--a common buzzword for those running for office. Please cite examples where this concept has been used effectively in a county or municipal government.

In what ways do suspect that private property rights might be threatened by the Land Resource Management Plan? What will you do to ensure violations do not occur?

How has the federal government attempted to redefine county waterways? What, if any, problems do you conceive this has caused?

Please cite three examples of political posturing in the past three years which has limited the effectiveness of the County Board? How would your membership on the County.

Board decrease such posturing?

Her reply (10/25 1:01pm)

Concerned Citizen, bring your questions to the next debate! I am out in the community and will continue to do so until Election Day! Thank you for your questions!   ....   I hope to see you at the debate on October 31 hosted by the Tea Party.

To this Concerned District 1 Resident  (10/25   4:20pm) responded

You wrote in response to my questions: "Concerned Citizen, bring your questions to the next debate! I am out in the community and will continue to do so until Election Day! Thank you for your questions!"

Your non-answer to my questions reflects poorly on your candidacy. The questions I asked could not possibly be covered in a moderated debate. Each of my questions require a thoughtful answer of 1-3 sentences. As a County Board member you will be required to synthesize documents and testimony when voting. Your indisposition to answer questions in writing indicates an inability to contemplate and assimilate such information necessary to vote knowledgeably as a Board member.

My concern has nothing to do with liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. David Tomlinson, president of the Champaign School Board, unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for state representative 2 or 3 years ago. Mr Tomlinson had regularly succinctly expressed his views on various local political blogs. Although his political philosophy differs from mine, not having a person with his contemplative and analytic skill in our legislature is a loss to Illinois. One cannot say anything analogous about your County Board candidacy.

Champaign County needs board members who can think cogently. Excessive time being "out in the community" does not compensate for an indisposition to cogent thought.

I and your other potential constituents hope you can provide response to my previous questions.

And another poster noted (10/25 8:59pm)

District 1 Residents and all of Champaign County are disappointed in your answers to Concerned Resident and Mr Stemle. Concerned Resident's questions are very valid and each can only be answered by one or more well-pondered sentences. Your indisposition or inability to think through and write good answers makes evryone doubt whether you have the the ability to sort through complex documents and testimony before casting votes on the County Board.

Your invitation to Concerned Resident and Mr Stemle to bring questions to a "debate" sponsored by the Tea Party for two reasons is specious and evasive:

1) A debate sponsored by the Tea Party (or by the Democratic Party) is not a debate, because the moderator has some bias. Mr. Stemle noted that the moderator at a previous "debate" truncated Mr. Stemle's question and assisted you in answering.
2) A debate format produces brief answers using generalities, rather than the details that Concerned Resident's questions require.

Keith Hays in this thread wrote to Ms Holderfield

How do you proposed to "Ensure(sic)that private property rights remain in tact (sic) and are not threatened or jeopardized by the Land Resource Management Plan"?

How are private property rights threatened or jeopardized by the Land Resource Management Plan?

How do you propose to "Keep the federal government out of redefining water ways in Champaign County"?

How is the Federal Government redefining waterways in Champaign County?

How does "redefining waterways" detrimentally impact citizens of Champaign County?

Ms Holderfield has not responded to Keith Hays.

Ms Holderfield's inability/indisposition to answer these questions cast serious doubt on her fitness to serve on the County Board.