The Michigan Daily - Campaign '92 Special Pullout Section - Friday, October 30, 1992 e, as students, know how difficult it is to keep up with the rapidly changing political cam- paigns in an election year. Therefore, it is the goal of this Election '92 issue is to provide you with detailed information on the candidates and the issues. We urge you to vote - and to be an informed voter. Not only the future of the White House is in your hands. It is up to you to will serve in our state legislature and in our local community. Tuesday is your chance to make your voice heard. Vote. ii The righ are eightei be denied o State on aci choose the officials that 26t1 North Campus and much of northern Ann Arbor is located in the 52nd District. Legislative aide faces off against former City Council member C- Students living on North Campus could cast the deciding votes in the highly contested 52nd District state representative race between Republi- can Mark Ouimetand Democrat Mary Schroer. Ouimet, first vice presidenrat Great Lakes Bancorp and former Ann Ar- bor City Council member, said he wants to make state government more inclusive by working with groups that have traditionally been considered ad- versaries - businesses, labor unions and environmentalists. "I really do feel there is a time for a change in government and the way government is dealt with," he said. "I've been in the working business world. My base is from the comnu- nity, not from Lansing top-down." Schroer, who also unsuccessfully sought the Statehouse seat in 1988, said she was motivated to run again by people protesting cuts in the state social services budget. "What struck me was that we were playing hard core political games with people's lives," she said, referring to the Republican budget which cut off 82,000 Michigan adults from General Assistance last year. She said the state must invest in its infrastructure to attract businesses and skilled workers. Schroer and Ouimet both advo- cate reducing property taxes to entice businesses that may otherwise relo- cate to nearby states. The candidates said they would compensate for rev- enue loss by raising income and sales taxes. Ouimet said the state should not abandon projects and force cities to cope with the consequences. He pointed to the closing of an Ypsilanti mental health facility, which added to the problem of homelessness in the area. Both candidates support abortion rights. NAME: Mark Ouimet PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: First vice president of Great Lakes Bancorp EXPERIENCE: Served on Ann Arbor City Council from 1988-92, first vice president of Great Lakes. Bancorp, Washtenaw County Development Board president, past chair of Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Ouimet favors adult notification legislation requiring aminor to obtain permission before having an abor- tion. Schroer said adult notification should apply only to younger women seeking abortions. The candidates also addressed the preservation of Michgan's natural resources. "We have to use the highest tech- nology possible to make sure we don't have landfills that leak into the ground," Schroer said. Ouimet said, "Politicians have pit- ted environmentalists against busi- NAME: Mary Schroer PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Legislative aide to state Sen. Lana Pollack (D-Ann Arbor) EXPERIENCE: Has worked on issues before state Senate Finance Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, member of Washtenaw County Area Auto Plant Coalition nesses. We can't afford to do that anymore." The candidates also stressed the need for quality education. Schroer said she would review the missions of state colleges and univer- sities to eliminate overlapping pro- grams such as teacher certification in order to increase specialization and decrease costs. Ouimet in calling education state government's first priority said he would propose giving need-based tax credits to students. - Hope Calati Central Campus and surrounding neighborhoods are located in the 53rd District. Party lines blurred; candidates share views on taxes, education in ir, . Voters choosing between Repub- lican Terrence Bertram and Demo- crat Lynn Rivers for the Michigan House of Representatives may have a difficult time differentiating the can- didates' stances. Bertram and Rivers, competing for the 53rd District seat, agree on a variety of prominent issues. Both advocate: SEDecreasing property tax to en- tice businesses into Michigan and compensating with increased income tax; Strengthening Michigan's in- frastructureby investing inroads, sew- *erg and bridges; Re-evaluating public colleges and universities to minimize overlap- ping specialized programsat smaller schools; and, Increasing links between busi- nesses and universities to extract vital resources - such as research and technology -that would attract busi- ness to the state. But Bertram and Rivers disagree on their distinguishing qualifications for office. Bertram, focusing on leadership, said he would be a stronger leader because of his broad-based experi- ence in education and job retraining. He criticized Rivers for having a "confrontational style." "If we are trying to move the agenda forward, confrontational poli-. Supports a balanced- Favors a capital-gains tax Supports family budget amendment and cut and opposes all tax among public, pm presidential line-item increases. Wants to enact religious school veto. Would reduce Michigan's welfare- teacher compete foreign-aid spending reform program on a testing. Says stu and use the savings to national level, applying for gi reduce federal deficit. meet academi Would eliminate waste, qualifications. fraud and abuse in government. >URCE: published statements, campaign literature, interviews, debates The County Board of Commissioners operates many state-mandated programs, such as ment Department; the environmental health department, which inspects restaurants and pools; the jai Eiit candidates eyeing fow District Nine: Area District Ten: North Campus, NAME: Terrence Bertram PARTY: Republican OCCUPATION: Self- employed attorney EXPERIENCE: Directed job- training and education programs for 10 years, past president of the Michigan Association for Retarded Citizens, member of county Planning Commission NAME: Lynn Rivers PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Campaigning full-time EXPERIENCE: Trustee of Ann Arbor Board of Education from 1984-92 (served as president three times), Board of Directors for Family Support Services and Community Action Network northwest of railroad tracks Although incumbent County Commissioner Grace Shackman seems secured of gaining a third two-year term, she is still bringing her message door-to-door in the Ninth District. "I see that you can use the county resources for the good of the community especially in the environment and human services," Shackman said. Shackman, a Democrat, is running against Republi- can attorney Jack McCormick. McCormick could not be reached for comment. The county will be facing a shrinking budget in the coming year. Shackman said the county has already begun streamlining seven human service organizations into one. The county was pressured to increase low-income Hill area residence halls Travel expenses and spending priorites lead the is- sues facing voters in the 10th District race. Republican candidate Michael Dudzik has stron criticized his opponent, incumbent Democrat Christina Montague, for spending more than $7,000 on travel costs. - one-third of the commission's travel budget. Dudzik called this is an example of faulty priorities. "Talk about fiscal responsibility - it starts with the individual," Dusdik said. Montague, who could not be reached for comment, told The Ann Arbor News that her travel to meetings to the Michigan National Association of Counties and the Congressional Black Caucus benefited the county. She has advocated polices to expand the base of o and moderate-income housing, health opportunities for i abortion "have been misconstrued." He said that although he opposes abortion in theory, he does not think government should prohibit it through legislation. focused on their personal agendas and short-term political advantages. "There is a middle ground that we seem to have lost," he said. "We need to reset our nriorities and redirect our