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.