At the Library Forum
Retail politics gives voters a look at candidates
Attending a League of Women Voters candidate forum is a bit like attending a school play. Not in content, but in the fact that most people in the audience are supporters of the candidates, just as most people in the school audience are friends and families of members of the cast. Issues aside, watching each candidate for an hour -- answering questions, reacting to other candidates, relating to the audience, interacting with individuals when mingling, or not, before and after the formal meeting -- provides a "take" on the candidate which no amount of literature, or press coverage, or sound bites can deliver.

As one editorial writer for left-of-center The New Republic wrote, "I have not yet been asked for my vote by a candidate who represents the entirety of my convictions." Said another way, unless one is a single-issue voter, the choice has to be made either by party or by persona.

The first hour of this 2-hour forum was with candidates for County Commissioner. The second hour was with candidates for State Representative.

County Commissioner
Attending candidates were Republican Jean Chamberlain and Democrat Dave Woodward, incumbent, running for the District 18 spot (Royal Oak), and Democrat Gary McGillivray running in District 24 (Madison Heights), his opponent didn't show.

The candidates' answers to questions from the audience pretty much reflected the themes they submitted for the Voter Guide published by the League of Women Voters Oakland Area, fiscal responsibility being the dominant theme as they agreed and disagreed about everything from mass transit to urban sprawl and from water fees to health care. They differed more in demeanor: Chamberlain, running for her first public office, overcame her initial nervousness while reading her opening statement and became direct and forceful answering questions. Woodward, drawing on his experience as an incumbent, was confident with a tendency to dwell in details. He and Jean agreed with each other several times, disagreed on two or three matters. McGillivray's tone was remarkably tentative for one who has been councilman and mayor of Madison Heights, but his command of substance came through anyway. All three candidates seem to agree that South Oakland County remains relatively neglected by Pontiac-based government. While answering questions, Chamberlain and McGillivray many times gave brief answers, once or twice a simple yes or no. Woodward used up his entire minute every time.

Michigan State Representative (District 26)
At the table were Democrat Marie Donigan, incumbent; Republican Michael Goodman; and Libertarian James Young. The audience for this hour was half that for the County Commissioner forum.

On substance: Donigan hit hard on establishing a "world class public transportation system." Goodman sees the need for "creating good-paying jobs," largely by reducing taxes. Young was not reluctant to say "no" several times, in keeping with his libertarian principle of "good, but small" government. As is true for the candidates for county commissioner, their philosophical premises are described in the LWVOA Voter Guide. The audience perked up when the candidates were asked a triple question -- about abortion, stem cell amendment, and legalizing medical marijuana. Goodman and Young are pro-life, anti-stem cell amendment, and pro-legalizing medical marijuana. Donigan is pro-choice, pro-stem cell amendment, and pro-legalizing medical marijuana.

Incumbent Donigan's opening statement was strong, and her replies to questions were assertive. Twice she answered a question before it had been completely voiced by the forum moderator. Goodman exhibited the tentativeness of a newcomer while reading his opening statement, but he was quietly confident in answering questions, even when once or twice his answer was that he didn't have an answer. Young was emotional both in his opening statement and in his replies. He was gut-level demonstrative, whether his answer was affirmative, negative, or agnostic.