Week

Racing To Stay The Same

HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer

rofessional politicians say
they already know how the
Nov. 3 state senate elec-
tions will turn out in
southeastern Oakland County, but
the candi-
dates in the
13th, 14th
and 15th
districts are
discussing
the issues as - - _
though they
still have a
chance of
winning.
Karl Kling, executive director of
the Republican Committee of
Oakland County, said county
Republicans are confidant in the re-
election of incumbents Michael

ED

Bouchard of the 13th District, and
Bill Bullard Jr. of the 15th District.
He predicts that the 14th District
will remain under Democratic con-
trol and that Republican Mike
Christie, Jr. poses "no serious threat"
to Democratic incumbent Gary
Peters. Christie could not be reached
for corn-
ment.
The issues
deemed by
the candi-
dates as
most
•
important
to the vot-
ers in their
districts
varied from increasing health care
for seniors and the mentally ill, to
increasing the quality of education,
road repair and cutting taxes.
Another issue facing the candi-

Oakland's state senate
races lumber toward
foregone conclusions.

dates was whether the Michigan
Constitution should be amended to
allow the use of state education
money to pay for private school
tuition in the form of vouchers.
That issue is of particular concern to
area Jewish schools, which stand to
benefit from a voucher program.
Following is a list — taken from
interviews and from the League of
Women Voters of Michigan guide —
of what state Senate candidates feel
is the most important issue facing
their district, and how they feel
about school vouchers:

13th District

Michael Bouchard, Republican
incumbent from Birmingham, said
the most important issue, besides
education, crime and taxes, were the
roads. He wants to see the state con-
tinue to make "great strides in
roads."

The issue of school vouchers is
not in the control of the Legislature,
he said. Only a constitutional
amendment by the people can
change that.
Jeffrey Jenks, Democratic chal-
lenger from Huntington Woods, said
the state must do more to meet the
health needs of seniors, the mentally
ill and those without health or pre-
scription coverage through an
increased health and safety net, an
expanded prescription program and
effective strategies for managing the
chronically mentally ill.
Jenks opposes vouchers, tax cred -
its and charter schools, because it
conflicts with the separation of
church and state. Use the state's $1.1
billion surplus to modernize public
schools and reduce class sizes.

14th District

Gary Peters, Democratic incum-

House of Representatives

3' Issues,

•

Little Change

Parties are likely to keep the status
quo in Oakland state house contests.

35th District: Berkley

Ferndale, Oak Park, Southfield.

36th District: Southfield.

37th District: Farmington,

Farmington Hills.

39th District: Commerce,

Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield.

40th District: Birmingham,

Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills.

41st District: Royal Oak, Troy.

HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer

T

he candidates for six
southeastern Oakland
County seats in the State
House of Representatives
are beating the drums for themselves
in the last week before the Nov. 3
elections, but it may be to little
effect.
Only one race is really in doubt,
according to Karl Kling, executive

director of the Republican
Committee of Oakland County.
Kling said while most of the six dis-
tricts will stay with previous party
alignment, the contest for the 39th
District seat of Keego Harbor,
Orchard Lake Village and West
Bloomfield is "an interesting race."
The position is open because
Michigan's term-limit law forced
Republican Barbara Dobb to give it
up.
Although poll results are not avail-
able, Kling said the race seems close
enough to put added resources into
the hands of Marc Shulman, of West
Bloomfield — the Republican candi-

date who won a bitter primary race
from Debbie Schlussel in August. He
faces Democratic challenger Maxine
Brickner, also of West Bloomfield,
who ran unopposed.
Gary Kohut, chairman of the
Oakland County Democratic Party,
declined comment on any of the
races.
The major issues confronting the
candidates in all six districts range
from education, roads, traffic and
aging infrastructures to the impacts
of development, crime and the 12
Town Drainage system.
Amending the Michigan
Constitution to allow parents to

cJ

10/30
1998

8 Detroit Jewish News