Title: Development, Education Issues Top Low-Key Mayoral Debate

" This is that WBUR news podcast or Tuesday October 20 the service of WBUR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob -- coming up a new medical study that says many doctors in training haven't yet been trained to spot skin cancer. And first. With Election Day just two weeks away in Boston the man who wants to topple Boston's fourth term incumbent mayor. And one last big chance last night before a large audience to change the dynamics of the contest. Boston city councilor Michael clarity faced off against Boston mayor Thomas Menino last night. In the final broadcast debate of the campaign with the incumbent leaving the challenger by twenty points in the latest poll. WBUR. As Fred -- as this roundup of their debate last night which was cosponsored by WBUR. And other media organizations."

" The debate brought out some differences between candidates on how they would cut the city spiraling costs to cover retired city workers for example. Michael Flaherty said he would talk to retirees about putting them on Medicare. Tom Menino questioned whether that would be fair to people who have already retired. At one point there was some question about who had the right figures W viewers Bob folks reminded the mayor that in his first inaugural address. Menino promised to make the schools great again."

" And the high school dropout rate in 1994. With seven point 5% when you came in last year it was seven point 6%. Up slightly from when you came man if you failed. In making the schools great again or have you failed in convincing Boston residents that they are."

" It took out there -- numbers. Show us via. Dropout rate decrease factory because those are state numbers and I'm certainly expect the statement. Clarity turn the debate how much the schools are spending. Were also operating in the most expensive school district in the country. We're spending close to 20000 dollars per student. The latest state figures showed that two years ago Boston was tied for fifth most expensive school district in the state. Boston spent 17000. Dollars per pupil. As much as Waltham and western but row in Wellfleet spent 18000 dollars Nantucket 20000 and Cambridge 25000. Menino brought the debate back to the dropout rate and that led to the strangest moment of the night. -- long pause by the mayor after someone in the audience either -- or scoffed at when he was saying it's hard to tell."

" We every -- senate now with kids who go who dropped out of school. Get back in the system we have programs now for the we have programs that city now of those kids. Who come from other countries to don't want us --"

" Development was another big issue last night. Clarity try to present Menino as a mayor who favors those with political connections -- do is gonna end the pay to play system. That governs the way that people get permits in the city of Boston. People are friendly with this administration are given a certain set of rules that they have to abide by. And someone walking in the street that isn't connected it doesn't have the right lawyer consultant they have to follow another set of rules."

" It was another question about development that the mayor admitted that he is stumped by one problem. He was asked what's going to happen in downtown crossing where there's a big hole where Filene's used to be."

" It's difficult -- that right now we're met with some pundits. From. Asia whoever it originally addressed and that. They're still trying to work with them but the -- right now is now we can't investors for the company's that was investment that they'll probably is near bankruptcy. We're staying focused and on the redevelopment authority myself to teach Arkansas the folks -- might be interest income into what went fractured. As we move forward."

" This debate was not as lively as earlier awards. Menino mostly smiled none of flared these attacks unnerved him. This is the most contested mayoral race since Menino won the office. -- he has tried to change the dynamics of the race before taking his former rival San unions his running mate for instance. But last night which flared these last chance to reshape the race in front of a large audience. It's now behind him in Election Day is rushing year for WBUR I'm Fred Tice."

" And had to help us analyze the debate look at where the candidates stand the morning after the debate it'll look ahead we turn to Larry to Colorado former mayoral candidate and one time city councilor Larry good morning and good to see you again good morning -- so let's pick it up right from where Fred left off if it was parties last chance last night to reshape the race did he succeed."

" I do not think he did there was no wow moment there was no war. Our conversation which people will be talking about today at the water cooler he certainly was crisp. The mayor was like the old prize fighter he kept bobbing and weaving but he didn't get knocked out. Did clarity gain any ground in the debate last night perhaps a bit but. Probably not enough to make up the difference. No incumbent mayor of Boston has been defeated that since 1949. There is a coalition of people who elect most every mayor. They tend to be the folks who are surrounding Tom Menino. They include the city's minority community. Public employees. I'm not so sure if by any of clarity comments last night. He would be able to peel away portions of that constituency so did many know lose any ground. He may have lost a bit but I think he held his own. And when you are ahead is independent polls suggest by more than 50%. Holding on his only need to do."

" Let's talk about an issue Mayor Menino stumbled a bit as he answered questions about Boston school CE spent at the Helm. For sixteen years."

" I think the schools are very tough issue. Every spring and summer young families who run the city because they choose not to educate their children in the Boston schools. The great majority of children in the schools are children of immigrant families often. From non English speaking households. It's a very expensive. And very difficult system. Which also was handling most of the city's social problems as well. I think he's made some bold initiatives but it's an almost impossible problem to --"

" On the school's issue it was almost as if clarity had to be coaxed last night by one of the moderator is a WGBH is Emily Rooney to give. Mayor Menino a grade on running Boston schools eventually he didn't give America. But -- asked did it -- like clarity was holding back in was that a mistake."

" It was a bit of an awkward section of the debate. I'm not exactly sure when he oust the mayor degrade himself why he didn't attack at that point in time. I'm giving grades is always difficult I've been a teacher I know that from personal experience. I don't think the mayor gets an -- may -- B pluses of DeGeneres as he suggested."

" Bigger picture campaign tactic picture has clarity not done a good job during this campaign -- holding. Many -- feet to the fire considering he's a sixteen year incumbent on issues across the board schools crime housing."

" I think it's been very difficult for clarity to get the attention of the general public. Until recently the Red Sox were in the playoffs. We have the Senate campaign which is taking a lot of the air out of the political system. There's lots else on people's minds I think he's trying hard but it's very very difficult. And for better or worse local campaigns do not generate as much publicity as they did a generation ago."

" So look ahead Election Day is two weeks from today what do Menino and clarity both need to do. -- to hold onto his lead clarity to eat into it."

" I think the mayor has to pull out of people supporter of his campaign especially in the minority community. His best precincts in the city. Were in the core of the minority community I think will be pulling voters out that'll also helped to council candidates I think clarity has to. Get to turn -- up well over a 100000 people if the turnout is as high as a 125000. He could be along night on election night."

" The problem for clarity after the debate last night in the debate hall clarity folks conceded to me that they don't have the money to compete with many you know especially when it comes to. Advertising so they're gonna rely on the traditional get out the vote effort and the old style phone banks are trying to talk to individual voters. Will that work in a race like this with a lead that -- apparently has."

" If found they have their good voter lists it might. I challengers usually do not have as much money is incumbent. What is needed the next two weeks to get a lot of folks excited about the election if people are excited new people come out to vote and that's when he gets very interest."

" Our political analyst Larry to -- is a former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate in Boston. He's currently a partner in the Boston law firm of Nixon Peabody Larry thank you very much my pleasurable. And."

" You may or may not realize that there's one type of cancer usually visible to the naked -- It's skin cancer and that's why it's important for doctors to recognize. Which type of -- might actually be melanoma is and which ones are just plain moles. But a new study by researchers at Harvard and Boston University. Finds that most doctors in training say they don't have the skills necessary to perform even a basics and cancer exam. WBUR. His health and science reporter Sacha Pfeiffer as detail."

" There's a singing by an Australian surgeon that gets quoted a lot but skin cancer doctors includes Linksys. Malignant melanoma writes it's message in the skin with its own ink and it is there for all of Ecstasy. In other words if you had a cancerous mole you can probably spot with your own -- unlike other tumors. That's why Allen gallery so troubled by the results of the survey he conducted the vast medical residents about their training and skin cancer exams."

" We're very very surprised. Three quarters of them were never trained in the skin cancer exam and more than I have never once practiced examination during their primary care residence."

" Geller who's a research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health says those high levels of inexperience are really worrisome. Many of those medical residents surveyed are going to become primary care doctors who should be able to identify malignant melanoma when they see one without that skill set."

" Patients have high risk in the United States aren't big time travel."

" So -- says a head to toe skin cancer exams should be basic part of every doctor's training. A full exam means the patient wears nothing but a -- while a doctor checks for -- usual moles in every nook and cranny of their body from the scalp to their feet."

" The good news is that among physicians who do look at this can carefully and it's not that many. They do tend to -- earlier melanoma then when the patient to text and around."

" And the earlier a melanoma is diagnosed the more likely the patient's cancer can be cured. But not every doctor thinks it makes sense to teach all medical residents to youthful skin exams especially considering how much else they have to learn. Doctor Peter Cohen helps run a residency program at Cambridge hospital which was one of the hospitals whose doctors in training were surveyed."

" It's important to keep in mind that just because we can't screen for something it doesn't it certainly means that it'll improve health. And that we need to look at -- that Peta to decide where we should -- energy."

" Cohen says there is no solid data showing that screening for skin cancer ultimately reduces death rates. He also says skin exams can lead to false positives that result in unnecessary biopsies. And he says in the limited time doctors have to spend with their patients they should do procedures that have been proven to reduce deaths such as screened for colon cancer and cervical cancer. "

" Now I'm not saying that completes an intent never or so from -- risks but say they personally happened melanoma they have for sure Rollins melanoma. There fair skin and that significant sunburned when they're younger and -- people that we deserve basic."

" Even though Cambridge hospital doesn't teach all its residents to do full skin cancer exams. Cohen says it does train them to distinguish between a normal mall and a suspicious looking one that might need to be biopsy. But -- Ellen Geller says even if all patients don't need a full -- exam their doctors should at least know how to do one."

" If for talking about a three minute examination where that mole can get -- to try it. At a really early point and taken out we've saved many many lives were very very non invasive procedure."

" And that -- says is well worth the time. For WBUR. I'm Sasha --"

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