The Michigan Daily - Sunday, August 5, 1984 - Page 3
UNITED STATES SENATE
Debates make GOP race visible
By NEIL CHASE
Until last week, few people other than
politicians and the press knew about the
Republican's race for the chance to
meet Sen. Carl Levin in the November
election.
But former Rep. Jim Dunn and
retired astronaut Jack Lousma have
brought attention to the Republican
Senate primary race recently through
televised debates and exchange of ac-
cusations.
AS THEY approach Tuesday's
primary, both claim to have won the
debates and say they are confident fo
victory in the primary. Arecent poll
showed Dunn holding a small lead over
Lousma, but the large percentage of
undecided voters made the results in-
conclusive.
"I think free and open debate is a
great way for the American public to'
get to know tow candidates, and I think
the debates will make the difference for
the undecided voters," Dunn said after
last weekend's televised debate.
Dunn, a self-made millionaire
homebuilder from East Lansing, en-
tered the race in September and was
unopposed until Lousma entered in
December. State GOP leaders convin-
ced Lousma to retire from the Marine
Corps and return to Michigan to join the
race.
DUNN ORIGINALLY challenged the
retired Colonel to a debate in a January
10 letter, but Lousma declined the
challenge and said he was still studying
the issues.
Lousma stumbled several times in
the winter as he studied the issues, ap-
parently changing several positions
while honestly admitting often that he
did not yet know enough to comment on
While Dunn continued to call for a
debate, his staff and supporters started
attacking Lousma asa "carpetbagger"
because he had spent much of his life in
Houston while in the space program.
Dunn stayed clear of the charges, but
his backers were effective in casting
doubt on Lousma's qualifications.
DUNN HAS tried to fuel'that doubt by
listing his qualifications. In two years
in Congress, Dunn specialized in defen-
se and financial issues and fell into line
behind President Ronald Reagan on
most issues. He enjoys citing his suc-
cess at bringing federal research and
education dollars home to the Lansing
district he represented.
Dunn and Lousma have nearly iden-
tical positions on most issues, and they
agree that the biggest difference bet-
ween them is experience. While Dunn
touts his political resume, Lousma says
he has another type of more valuable
experience.
As a well-known astronaut, Lousma
says he was active in national
diplomatic missions and space policy
decisions. He says that expericen com-
bined with the fact that he is not a
Washington insider makes him the
more attractive candidate.
Dunn was raised in East Lansing, and
while attending Michigan State Univer-
sity he started a painting business
which has developed into a lucrative
Dunn
... cites Washington experience
development firm.
Born in Grand Rapids, Lousma grew
up in Ann Arbor, attending the Univer-
sity and entering the Marines upon
graduation. He was selected from a
pool of thousands to enter the space
program, and as an astronaut he was on
several Skylab missions and comman-
ded one mission of the -space shuttle,
Columbia.
Lous'm~a
an issue.
- -U[I IluIdy Ui1I~~.~~
... outers priar, mipaomatic experience
,County primaries marked b-y small-town politics
Both parties to vote
on sheriff nominees
By PETE WILLIAMS
There's only room for one sheriff in this county.
And with three Republicans and four Democratic
candidates running for that office, the race has the
potential for as much excitement as a Dodge City
shoot out.
None of the candidates are strangers to policework.
Two of them now hold the office of police chief of their
communities, three have experience in the
Washtenaw sheriff's department, and all have a long
standing background in many areas of law enfor-
cement.
THE INCUMBENT in the race is Sheriff Ronald
Schebil. Schebil, a Republican who took office in
April after Sheriff Thomas Minick resigned, has
taken on primarily a fiscal platform. Because of his
college education in business administration, Schebil
believes he can most cost-effectively manage the
resources available in the sheriff's office.
Leo Heatley, who is also running on the Republican
ticket, said his credentials surpass those of anyone
else running for the office. In 23 years with the
Michigan State Police, Heatley worked his way up
the ranks to become commanding officer of the 11-
county Southeastern Michigan district. He now ser-
ves as assistant director in the University's Public
Safety office.
HEATLEY criticized Schebil's management ap-
proach to the job, saying the sheriff needs to be a
policeman rather than an accountant.
"Above all, the Sheriff's Department is a law en-
forcement agency," he said. "And the head of that
department has to make day to day decisions in law
enforcement."
The third Republican running for office, like most
of his competitors, also believes he has the strongest
background for a prospective sheriff.
CALVIN HICKS has retired after serving 28 years
with the Ann Arbor Police department, including 17
years with the detective bvureau. Hicks said the pro-
motional system within the sheriff's department is
The Candidates
Washenaw County Sheriff
Democrat:
James Douglas
William Gilless
James Spickard
William Zsenyuk
Republican
Leo Heatley
Clavin Hicks
Ronald Schebil
Probate Judge
(non-partisan)
Shirley Burgoyne
Pamela Byrnes
Richard Conlin
Donald Kenney
John Minock
John Stanowski
Judith Wood
Seven compete for
probate judgeship
By ERIC MATTSON
Next Tuesday's primary for probate judge may not
be a highly visible race, but for many people, it's the
one that hits closest to home.
The two top vote-getters in the primary will square
off for the non-partisan post in the November elec-
tions while the other five candidates will return to
their law practices.
WASHTENAW County's juvenile judge is respon-
sible for handling all cases relating to child abuse and
juvenile crime, but cannot assign prison sentences to
offenders. The main power the judge has is to deter-
mine with whom a child will stay: the mother, the
father, both parents, a foster home, or a youth deten-
tion center.
If the prosecuting attorney's office decides to push
for criminal charges in a case involving a juvenile or
child abuse, it must be handled through the county or
city courts.
There is a large number of candidates, partly
because incumbent Loren Campbell is retiring after
six years on the bench. None of the candidates
espouse radically different views, but there are im-
portant differences in their backgrounds.
There are three women in the race, and if one wins
she will be the first female judge in Washtenaw
County history.
IN FACT, the leading contender right now is Judith
Wood, a 37-year-old attorney who received over-
whelming support from most members of the
Washtenaw County Bar Association.
In an Ypsilanti candidates' forum last week, Wood
said a child's testimony about alleged abuse should
be videotaped as soon as authorities are aware of it so
that "the child doesn't forget it."
Ypsilanti attorney Richard Conlin admitted that "I
have much to learn about the area of child abuse,"
but insisted that his court experience and concern for
children is enough to qualify him for the $65,000-per-
year post.
one of its major faults - he proposes "getting the
politics out of the process' of promotion. He also calls
for better deployment of the resources available to
the department.
"We have to evaluate every program on a day-to-
day basis," he said. "And if a program is not cost-
effective, it will be cut."
James Douglas who is running on the Democratic
ticket, is now Saline's police chief. Douglas also ad-
vocates cuts in programs that are not cost effective
and greater communication between law law enfor-
cement agencies. And emphasized cooperation- with
public service agencies.
William Gilless, also a Democrat, has 18 years with
the sheriff's department under his belt. Gilless said
he has worked "in the streets" of Washtenaw County
and therefore knows how a law enforcement agency
in this area should be run.
"I know the concerns of the people and I know how
to deal with them," he said.