Speaking style aside, the four Democrats and two Republicans who participated in Thursday's League of Women Voters Candidate Forum at the Royal Oak Library are (a) equally impressive in terms of familiarity with state issues and (b) not far apart in philosophical approach to most of those issues. The Democrats are Frank Houston, Bob Klotz, Kevin McLogan, Jim Townsend. The Republicans are Ken Rosen and Bill Shaw. The auditorium was filled, probably more than a hundred in attendance. Here is a flow-of-conversation summary of that 90-minute forum.

• Five of the six maintain this is not the right time to hold a state constitutional convention. Houston said necessary amendments can be presented to the electorate without spending the $20-30 million needed to go through the convention process, and "Will the voters ratify?"  Shaw voted Yes, his thought being that substantive changes are needed to get the state out of its bureaucratic "quagmire." Townsend said regional collaboration can accomplish much of any reform needed. Rosen stressed that "we can reform government with our votes," pointing our that there are many open seats in the legislature and other elective posts.
• Five of the six said, "yes, yes, yes" about supporting the three millage proposals on the August 3 ballot. Rosen: "But no new taxes. Is the money being well spent? Shaw said that unfortunately, the problem "won't be solved in Lansing," apparently agreeing that regional collaboration may be t he way to address such matters.
• Maintain Public Benefits for that "one-quarter of Michigan's population that currently requires them? Klotz and McLogan, both emphasizing mental health as well as Medicare and Medicaid, agree the safety net must be maintained. Townsend says maintain it, but reprioritize the spending. Rosen thinks a safety net is essential but should not be a "butterfly net," from which there is no escape. He offers that non-profit groups are more effect than government in rendering such services. Shaw: "This is a conundrum." If the choice is between using government's "limited resources" to help create jobs or to provide these services . . .
• Stopping home foreclosures? McLogan: All those "foreclosed" houses are not on the market. Communities should cooperate in addressing the problem regionally.  Townsend: People lose homes when  they have no jobs. Work across community lines to create jobs. Rosen: Put people to work. Get government out of the way. Shaw: The answer will not come from Lansing. Madison Heights and Royal Oak must address the problems of their empty houses. Houston. Don't blame only those who unwisely bought home beyond their means. Address the fact that "predators" were part of the problem. Klotz: "Are people getting what they deserve?"
• Immigration? Townsend: We need to be welcoming and open. Rosen: It's not that hard for employers to verify a worker's status about everything from driver's license to citizenship. Shaw: This is a no-brainer. Don't break the law. "I'm a believer in States' rights, and the Feds are not living up to their responsibilities." Houston: Uphold the laws. Klotz: There's a difference between discrimination and prejudice. Hire Michigan first. McLogan: Employers simply make routine checks. Go after employers who take advantage of the immigrant situation.
• Unfunded mandates from Lansing? Rosen: "Irresponsible." Government should work from the bottom, up. Unfunded mandates are government from the top, down. Shaw: Demand that no legislation be passed without, first, determining the cost of implementing that legislation and, second, identifying the source of funding. Houston: Some of these come from the Feds, not from the State. Citizens have to determine what kind of Michigan we want. Klotz: "Ridiculous." McLogan: Feds pass a lot of unfunded mandates to the states. Townsend: It is the job of each State Rep to fight unfunded mandates. We'll have to make tough choices.
• Cost-savings by community collaboration: Shaw: Lansing has laws which discourage collaboration. Amend or repeal those laws. Houston: The State needs to participate, to encourage. Klotz: Collaboration can be done, but too often "pride or empire" gets in the way. It's been done in schools, although it may take a couple of graduating classes before it become accepted. McLogan: Government can learn from schools. Townsend: Reward communities for working together. Rosen: Try everything. Keep an open mind -- but "let's not create new bureaucracies to eliminate bureaucracy."
• Use a Credit Score to establish rates for home or car insurance? Houston: This was a bad decision from the State Supreme Court. Klotz: Unfair. Correlation is not cause-and-effect. McLogan: It's hard to conceive of a correlation between driving skill and credit rating. Townsend: Unfortunately, the Court's decision will preempt any proposed legislation to change the situation. Rosen: Not fair, but  the Supreme Court rules. Let's open up to other insurance companies. Shaw: Fairness? Track down who in Lansing gets Insurance Money.
• Tax Professional Services? Klotz: No. the need is to reduce taxes. McLogan: That approach to taxing was unfair. Townsend: We need tax reform, to lighten the burden on business. A progressive income tax would help accomplish reform. Rosen: No new taxes -- at this time. Shaw: I've read that the tax on tanning spas has been declared discriminatory because it is a "tax on Caucasians." Houston: This came out at the eleventh hour, reflecting anti-business attitudes.
• Another, publicly funded, Bridge to Canada? McLogan: Yes, but Windsor might suffer from a traffic overload. Townsend: Yes, especially since Canada will pay most of the cost. Rosen: A second bridge, yes, but not publicly funded. If Canada puts up most of the money, they'd want most of the control. Shaw: What has this to do with Madison Heights and Royal Oak? Houston: I prefer going with public funding. Klotz: This would be an unfunded mandate.
• Incarceration versus Education? Townsend: Reform sentencing guidelines to help reduce our prison system costs. Rosen: The issue isn't incarceration versus education. Education will reduce incarceration. Find out why Michigan's prison system is more costly than that of other states. Shaw: Officers in the prison system want Act 312 coverage which applies to Police and Fire. Watch costs grow. Houston: We have to wonder why the Department of Corrections has grown at the same time as most other departments have downsized. Klotz: Probation works. Use probation as one tool  to reduce incarceration costs. McLogan: Review the wisdom of mandatory minimums. Most people in prison will be coming out. Educate them.

Based on their performance at this LWV forum, all of the candidates would fall between Center-Left and Center-Right on VersagiVoice's Left-to-Right tabulation, a performance which will please many but certainly