State House District
The Jewish News asked
Kaner and Godchaux
o respand to these ques-
tions; only God c - haux
aric,se to participate:
Q : If the electorate passes
Incumbent Godchaux faces off against non-campaigning challenger.
*Proposal 1, the Legislature will
have to provide rules for its
implementation. Are you for or
against school vouchers? Why?
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Godchaux: I do not support
vouchers. I agree with the prohibi-
tion of the use of public funds for
non public education.
been a lifelong Democrat despite regis-
State sent a letter to make sure all of the
tering as a Republican in the primary.
guidelines were being followed.
Kaner joined an attempt to stifle Texas
According to election law, candidates
avid Kaner will not answer
Gov. George W. Bush's victory by plan-
are required to file an affidavit of identi-
any of the Jewish News'
ning to cast his Michigan primary ballot
ty and to either pay a $100 filing fee or
questions. But don't be
for Arizona Sen. John McCain. On the
gather a certain number of petitions to
offended, he said. He is
day of the primary, Kaner said he was
place their names on the ballot.
not answering anyone's questions.
swamped at work and didn't
Additionally, candidates
That is because Kaner, a Birmingham
get a chance to go to the
must agree per the
resident, is not doing a shred of cam-
polls.
Secretary of State regula-
paigning for the state representative post
Although Kaner has fol-
tions to file a campaign-
for which he is the Democratic candi-
lowed politics relatively
finance disclosure form if
date. "I am the non-candidate candi-
closely, he never considered
expenditures exceed
date," he said.
running for a position
$1,000, said Mary Jo
Kaner said he entered the race as the
before and really didn't
Hammond, director of
challenger to Republican incumbent
know what to expect by
Oakland County's
Patricia "Pan" Godchaux after a friend in
doing so. But what the
Department of Elections.
Lansing urged him to do so. In the past
heck, he thought.
"Besides that, there are
three elections, the strongly Republican
"I thought it would be
no requirements of the
district containing Birmingham,
cool. I wanted to have my
candidates," she said.
Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township,
name on the ballot," Kaner
So Kaner decided not
Sylvan Lake, Beverly Hills, Bingham
said. "It is kind of historic,
to do any campaigning
Farms and Franklin has had a
the 2000 election."
for the position. He has
Democratic candidate but not one that
The job of state represen-
Patricia Godchaux
not paid a dime for cam-
has drawn enough votes for a win.
tative is a two-year position
paign literature and has
"I have this friend who said, 'You
with a $57,000 annual
not formed a stance on
want to just run and see what hap-
salary, providing a $10,000 expense
any of the issues. He will not fill out any
pens?"' Kaner recalled.
account for job-related travel and hous-
of the candidates' questionnaires or
The 34-year-old political neophyte has
ing.
march in any parade.
Godchaux said she is not sur-
And the result has been a little illumi-
prised by her opponent's lack of
nating.
•
campaign oomph. Being in a
"I got 3,000 votes in the primary,
strongly
Republican district, she
.41V
4'
without trying," he said.
can pull upwards of 30,000 votes
But Godchaux is going ahead with her
on
election day without expend-
plans to hold her seat by actively carn-
can'
ing a lot of effort. "This is the
paigning. Her signs can be seen in her
fourth, if not the third, strongest
home city of Birmingham. She answered
Republican district in the state,"
the Jewish News questionnaire and has
she said.
been seen actively campaigning against
The Incumbent: Patricia "Pan" Godchaux, a
Because of that, the state GOP
the voucher proposal, Proposal 1.
Birmingham resident, is the mother of two
is
sending
money to do battle for
college students and a high school student.
Although she is not feeling challenged
Republican candidates in tighter
in the election, Godchaux said she
Godc.haux earned a bachelor's degree in
races, she said. "We are concen-
respects what Kaner has done.
American gacrernment from American
trating on the areas where we
"I have a lot of respect for him in that
University in 'Washington, D.C., and a mas-
know we have a chance and I am
ter's degree in teaching from 'Wayne State
he is willing to step up and let the party
sure [the Democrats] are doing
University. She was a Birmingham Board of
use his name. This is a long shot and he
the same," she said. "But you
is willing to step in and be the candi-
Education member for 10 years, serving as
don't want to have a seat go
date. A lot of people wouldn't do that,"
president, vice president and treasurer during
unchallenged."
she said.
that time. She was also an elementary
After paying the required $100
schoolteacher in Detroit, a journalist and a
As for Kaner, he does plan to badger
filing fee, Kaner started to receive
Peace Corps volunteer.
some relatives who live in the district
mail and lots of it, all related to
to vote for him on Nov. 7, and he
Godchaux is an advisory board member of
his candidacy. Sign makers called
hopes to corner the Jewish vote
the Oakland County Coordinating Council
to see if he would need their
Against Domestic Violence, the Wayne State
because of his name. He probably will
products.
Newspapers and the
go to the polls to vote for himself as
Board of Education, the Birmingham Junior
makers of voting guides sent
well, if only for the thrill of seeing his
League, the Community Advisory Council
questionnaires
to gauge his stand
name on the same side of the ballot as
and the Birmingham Historical Museum.
on the issues. The Secretary of
Vice President Al Gore. ❑
The Challenger: The Democratic Party can-
didate, David Kaner, did not return a ques-
tionnaire.
Special to the Jewish News
D
s are ciiimuni,
civic involvement.
-
Q : An issue that crops up with
relative frequency is the imple-
mentation of organized-school
prayer. Are you for or against the
implementation of such action?
Why?
Godchaux: I do not believe that
organized prayers have a place in
our public schools. Separation of
church and state is a main tenet of
American democracy.
Q : The booming economy has
caused a shortage in direct care
staff in the health-care field. How
would you propose solving the
issue of staffing in this crucial
area of health care?
-
Godchaux: A facilitation of
improved compensation while
encouraging non-traditional work-
er to select the occupation.
Q : The Legislature is hammer-
ing out long-term care and men-
tal-health plans. When in place,
they will provide protection to
those with chronic or serious
physical ailments, as well as to
those who are mentally ill, when
their insurance will not cover
quality care or access to care.
How do you suggest protecting
consumer rights during the
implementation of one or both of
these plans?
Godchaux: We must work to
ensure an open process that
respects individual privacy but
works to ensure the support sys-
tems needed to live.
Q
: The growing body of senior
citizens has transportation needs
that social-service agencies have
not been able to meet. What
would you do as a state represen-
tative to solve this situation?
Godchaux: We must work for a
comprehensive public-transporta-
tion system. ❑
10/13
2000
21