THE COMMUNITY CRIER: October 23,1996 Page 9 Nesbit, W hyman fight to represent Canton BY ROB KIRKBRIDE Democrat Deborah Nesbit, the challenger in the race for the 21st Michigan House District, is facing a tough battle against State Rep. Deborah Whyman to represent Canton in Lansing. more concerned about the issues rather than about race or sex,” she said. Nesbit said the candidates’ stand on issues is more important than race. “Race has nothing to do with quality education,” she said, “nothing to do with providing accessible health care, nothing to do with a clean environment. Nesbit said she’s not concerned because her focus is on the community.
“I feel I have a very good handle on what the issues are in terms of education, fair and accessible health care, concerns about the environment, and I will bring a fresh face into Lansing,” she said. “I would represent the community and not the special interest groups. My interest is only the community.” “I think that is what she (Whyman) would have preferred, yes, to divert the issue away from the issues of education, health care and our roads. I think a lot of politicians use that, unfortunately, in both parties.” WSDP News Director Erin Waiterscheid and Community Crier Editor Rob Kirkbride interviewed Deborah Nesbit (center) for broadcast and use by The Crier in its endorsement process.
Whyman cancelled plans to attend the meeting at the last minute because of the format (Crier photo by Janet Armstrong) Nesbit said her goal is simple: to serve the community she loves. “I’m somebody who’s gotten a lot from Canton and now I want to give something back.” Although it’s Nesbit’s first run at an elected office, she has been involved in the Canton community since moving there with her husband 10 years ago.
Her grassroots campaign arose from her work with the Canton Business and Professional Women, her participation with the Plymouth Symphony as a boardmember, graduation from Leadership Canton in 1996, work with Canton’s First Step, counseling battered women and volunteer work on the Canton Playscape. funding from the district stay in the district. accountability at the state and county level in regard to road funding. D e b o r a h W h y m a n ’s a n s w e r s to th e a b o v e E D I T O R ’ S N O T E : S t a t e R e p . “My first concern is our kids and we need to make sure that an education is there,” she said.
“One thing I’d want to do...is to amend Proposal A and get some of those funds in our district. I would certainly lobby to keep those funds in our district, to make sure the money goes to students and smaller classrooms.” “What happened to the funding that was supposed to be used for our roads?” she asked. t o p i c s a r e c o n s p i c u o u s l y m i s s in g . W h y m a n w a s i n v i t e d t o T h e C r i e r Nesbit said an increase in the gas tax is an option she would examine to fix the roads in the community.
e n d o r s e m e n t in te r v ie w , w h ic h w a s h e ld in c o n ju n c tio n w it h th e P C E P s tu d e n t r a d io s t a t io n , W S D P , i n a n a t t e m p t t o r e a c h Race has played a part in the campaign since a fundraising letter was sent by Deborah Whyman saying, “...The Detroit NAACP has recruited a very serious candidate to run against me. I have worked diligently fighting Affirmative Action programs...” m o r e v o t e r s . T h e m e e t in g t i m e w a s c o n f ir m e d n e a r ly a m o n th in a d v a n c e b y A social worker, Nesbit said education is her first priority.
“One of my concerns is education and the fact that we have at least 640 new students to the Plymouth-Canton School District,” she said: “We’re not going to have the funding we’re going to need to buy the equipment and maintain the school district.” The upkeep Of Canton’s roads is another of NesbiCs top priorities, “...they’re in poor condition and Canton has grown so much, there’s no way we can continue to use the same roads in the same condition without making some kind of plan to improve our roads,” she said. in t e r v ie w w a s s c h e d u le d , W h y m a n c a lle d W h y m a n a n d h e r c a m p a ig n .
T h e d a y th e w a s s o m e h o w s ta c k e d a g a in s t h e r th a t T h e C r ie r w it h c o n c e r n s t h a t th e m e e tin g o r c h e s t r a t e d b y f o r m e r W a y n e C o u n ty t h e s t u d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n w a s Nesbit blows off all the race charges. “We’ve tried to stay away from the race issues because we don’t feel it has a place in this campaign and we think people are C o m m i s s i o n e r B i l l J o y n e r , w h o i s r u n n in g N e s b i t ’s c a m p a ig n . S h e c h o s e Nesbit said there has been a lack of f i r s t f a c e - t o - f a c e m e e t in g W h y m a n n o t t o a tt e n d th e m e e tin g .
I t is n o t th e s k ip p e d th is e le c tio n s e a s o n . Nesbit said it’s important to her that McCotter, Burnett slug it out again for Wayne County Commission BY BRIAN CORBETT The race for the 10th district seat in the Wayne County Commission includes no surprises. obviously, I think the Republican Party is the best party that represents the greater number of people in this country. And I think on the County Commission, where we have; three Republicans, that’s been shown. When you look at Wayne County government there’s a monolithic mindset that’s pro-taxes, and pro-spending taxes and pro-squandering the money of the people of Wayne County.
I think that when you talk about problems in county government, they are Democratic problems. All five county-wide elected officials are Democrats. Twelve of the 15 commissioners are Democrats. This is not really a partisan issue, but it does cut across. I think there are even Democrats who are even upset with the way Democrats have run Wayne County.” resources and jobs in the 10th district. “They (the County Commission) treat our area as a piggy bank that they can raid,” he said. R. Karl Burnett ahd Commissioner Thaddeus McCotter are the same candidates as two years ago.
He is against a gasoline tax, the Willow Run Tradeport, the secession of western Wayne County and Proposal S for a sports stadium complex downtown. “You cannot justify providing a tax for what are two private entities. I would urge people of Plymouth, Canton, Northville, to vote no against it... I don’t have a problem with Detroit getting two stadiums. I have a problem with the way they want to get it,” said McCotter, a Livonia resident. Burnett, also a Livonia resident, says McCotter opposes the use of public funds for Proposal S, but supported the construction of OIS facility at Beck and Five Mile roads.
That’s a conflict of ideology, said Burnett, a General Motors employee and recording secretary for Local 22, United Auto Workers. Democrat Burnett supports Proposal S for stadiums in downtown Detroit. Republican McCotter does not. McCotter opposes any type of gasoline tax. Burnett said he could support it. Burnett said he believes the Democratic Party would best represent 10th district residents. McCotter says the same about his Republican Party. But don’t let party lines lead your way to ballot box.
“I’m a member of the Democratic Party and as I’ve said and stated in other forums — and will continue to state I think that the Democratic Party and Democratic principles by which it’s based serve better the cross- section of American citizens and voters in this country, than does the Republican Party...But I think that the issue of partisanship is not what the issue is, it’s candidate and content. The ability to do the job; not suggesting Thad doesn’t have the ability to do the job. But partisanship or party affiliation doesn’t have as much to do with it.” Meanwhile, McCotter said he is solving and trying to prevent problems for residents in the 10th District.
He’s began demolition of the deserted Wayne County Boys home property in Northville Township that has been an eyesore to drivers along Sheldon Road for decades. He’s against the Tradeport, and the suggestions of secession of western Wayne County because it would create more bureaucracy and use more money, from taxpayers, whom Burnett will not overburden. “As commisioner, I will pay close attention to the level of taxation, and the level of services provided,” he said. The OIS building and other possible developments in the southern part of Northville Township will help develop an alternative tax-base residential developments, according to McCotter.
“It’s the first start of a productive tax base in Northville Township,” he said. However, he favors the stadium proposal. “The county around will benefit from it,” Burnett said. “When the Silverdome went up, it wasn’t just people from Oakland County who went to the games.” McCotter concurs from one aspect. “Well, I would agree with Karl to the extent that I believe he could do the job, but we would do it differently. I differ, McCotter said he’ll work to protect other money