Behind the Headlines

By DOUG DONNELLY, City Editor, doug@monroenews.com
The Monroe Evening News has started its annual process of interviewing candidates for state and county offices to help in making endorsements before the November election.
The Editorial Board invites candidates to the office for a sit-down interview. We ask a series of questions to each candidate in the same race. The meetings usually last about an hour. It’s not really a debate, but candidates may speak to each other or even ask each other a question – it’s up to the candidate whether or not they want to respond.
Our first interviews were this week.
55th District State Rep. Kathy Angerer, D-Dundee, came to the office Monday. Her opponent, Frank Moynihan did not accept the invitation. In fact, we never heard back from him. (He also chose not to send in a candidate biographical form that we will print in our upcoming election tab.)
Some of the things Rep. Angerer had to say:
On the state’s financial troubles: “We have to get our people back to work.”
On the way roads are funded in the state: “I think we need a big change in Michigan.”
On raising the gas tax: “I don’t think the people in Michigan can pay a penny more at the pump.”
On the proposed smoking ban: “I would vote for the smoking ban. … I think Michigan will decide to do some kind of smoking ban for its citizens.”
In the 56th District, Rep. Kate Ebli, D-Monroe, is facing Republican Jeanmarie Dahm and U.S. Taxpayer’s party candidate John Eleniewski. All three candidates came in Monday afternoon for a spirited discussion and debate. Here are some excerpts from our interview:
Rep. Ebli:
On the state’s economy: “I thought two years ago we had a broken system. Now I know we have a broken system.”
Believes state should pass complete smoking ban: “That’s what I supported.”
On the Reform Michigan Government proposal recently thrown out by the courts: She said she supported elements of the proposals. “We need to push forward, getting the reforms.”
On herself: She said she was “an independent voice for Monroe.”
Ms. Dahm:
On the state’s economy: Said the state was going in “the wrong direction. … We cannot continue to spend at a rate they are spending.”
On the smoking ban: “I support a complete ban on smoking everywhere.”
On the Reform Michigan Government proposal: “I opposed it. … It’s not good legislation.”
Mr. Eleniewski:
On why he is running: “There is a lot of angst about government – it doesn’t matter what level.”
On the state’s economy: “The government needs to leave the small businesses and entrepreneurs alone.”
On the state’s potential deficit: “The cost of government is going to skyrocket and most of that is fuel.”
On prison system reform: “I support the death penalty.”
On smoking ban: Does not support the smoking ban.
On his platform: “Nothing matters more than getting people to work” and added that he wants to fight for “factually-accurate textbooks.”
The three did get into a somewhat heated discussion regarding a vote Rep. Ebli made in the House regarding partial-birth abortions. Both Mr. Eleniewski and Ms. Dahm criticized Rep. Ebli’s to allow the procedure in certain cases. The measure ultimately failed. (Rep. Angerer, incidentally, voted against it.) Rep. Ebli said she “made a mistake” on the vote. Mr. Eleniewski harshly criticized her for that. “If you can’t get pro-life issue right, you can’t get anything right,” he said. Rep Ebli responded by saying she stands on her voting record in the House. There was also a brief debate between Rep. Dahm and Rep. Ebli on how much money Rep. Ebli has received from political action committees. Again, Rep. Ebli said s he stands on her record.
You can hear more from each of the candidates in these two state races on Monday when The Evening News hosts a candidate forum at Monroe County Community College. Read about it here: http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080929/NEWS01/109299988/-1/NEWS
A special section previewing the November general election will be printed in The Evening News Oct. 14. Endorsements by our editorial board will start appearing after that.