BERRIEN SPRINGS – People got the chance to get a closer look at the candidates who want to represent them in Lansing next year. The candidates running for the 78th and 79th state house seats met last week in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties.
Incumbent Republican State Rep. Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs is being challenged by Democrat Dean Hill of Niles in the 78th district race, while Democratic Berrien County Commissioner Marletta Seats of Benton Harbor and Republican Kim LaSata of Millberg are vying to succeed Al Pscholka in representing the 79th district.
Last week’s candidate forum gave candidates the chance to present their views on a variety of topics ranging from education to the environment, from roads to the possibility of a passing a religious freedom restoration act in Michigan. Candidates agreed on some issues and disagreed on others during the 90 minute forum.
Hill asked people to consider voting Democratic as he stressed the problems Michigan has faced in the last quarter century during which time Republicans have been in control of at least part of the government for 18 years. He noted that the state has lost population and manufacturing jobs at the same time it has cut education spending.
For his part, Pagel said he was glad to be a Republican and said that the state has improved under Republican leadership including lowering unemployment rates and leading the nation in new manufacturing jobs. He said that while cuts have been made to balance the budget, schools have had more stable funding than they’ve had in the past.
LaSata spoke about her experiences as a teacher, saying she’s loved being a teacher and gained invaluable experience from it. She said this year’s campaign has helped her better get to know area residents as she’s knocked on thousands of doors. She noted that she’s been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce and Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey.
Seats cited her long history of public service and fighting for people’s rights. She noted that she’s the daughter of a World War II veteran and has a son who is also a veteran. She is retired from Bosch and also worked for a Niles company as a quality control manager. She has also worked as a diversity trainer and volunteers to help women in the Berrien County Jail.
The four candidates took turns answering a dozen questions from the league and the public. Questions where all four were pretty much in agreement included straight ticket voting-all favored keeping it and a religious freedom restoration act which all said was unnecessary. Candidates also agreed on the need to spend more on indigent defense.
Candidates were asked about their views on fracking and reducing the use of fossil fuels as well as new rules on residential solar panels. All but Seats said they don’t like new rules that require homeowners to have meters and sell excess energy back to the power company.
Pagel said fracking made him “nervous.” “As a farmer, I value the environment,” he said. “I don’t like regulations but we need to keep the fracking regulations. There are many blessings from fracking, but let’s keep an eye on it.”
Hill called for a complete ban on fracking, citing the dangers from earthquakes, methane gas and the toxic sludge left from the water pumped into the ground. Both Pagel and Hill spoke in favor of encouraging the use of more renewable forms of energy with Pagel talking about giving incentives and Hill mentioning conservation.
Seats said she was against fracking and believes the state should do more to protect the environment. As for fossil fuels, she said it’s a “prime time” to make the transition to renewable forms of energy.
LaSata said that while she is a Republican, she also cares about the environment. She said fracking is a concern to her and she would like work toward ending the use of fossil fuels by making renewable forms of energy more affordable.
The next topic the candidates addressed concerned what to do about roads and infrastructure including the Flint water crisis.
LaSata said more money should be spent on roads but she does not favor taxing people more. She thinks local communities should be setting aside funds to pay for infrastructure improvements. Seats said funds raised from fuel taxes and other fees should go toward fixing roads and infrastructures and not for other parts of the budget. She thinks governments have to be proactive in addressing infrastructure concerns.
Hill said he would like to see technological advances made so that roads last longer as well as more money spent on road and infrastructure improvements. Pagel said he supported legislative efforts to raise more money for roads and noted that the legislature has started spending general fund monies on road repairs.
Education was the subject of a number of questions with candidates asked to express their views of charter schools, emergency financial managers for school districts, preschool funding and the recent third grade literacy legislation signed into law.
On charters, Hill doesn’t like them while the others see them as filling a need in the community. Seats was against using emergency financial managers for school districts. Candidates all favored spending more on preschool funding and said students should be handled on an individual basis when it comes to the new third grade literacy law.
In closing statements, Hill said he had enjoyed the experience and knew all four candidates were working hard to be elected. Pagel said he was glad that all candidates were civil to each other. He said he sees himself as a public servant and not a career politician.
LaSata stressed that she is more than a judge’s wife (her husband, Charles, is a Berrien County Trial Judge) and has worked hard in her life for everything she’s achieved. Seats said she has a wide variety of government experience already and is not afraid of a challenge.
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