ORIGINAL: mongo
the reason for him asking for ama number and name, is,
why waste time and effort in an election forum answering questions for folks that are not allowed to vote in the election.
If the questions were being asked through private correspondence, I could certainly see that as being a rational reason. They aren't private, however, because Horrace obviously wants to make his positions available to the general membership on a wider scale. If the question is reasonable and potentially of interest to the general membership, there is no reason to vet the source of the question.
and i would say that he becomes something other than a private citizen upon the moment of election.
I disagree. It is not a public office. It is not an office that widely exposes him the general public. It is a position within an organization.