Chapman hopes to draw more attention to tri-community area
By Anne Sullivan, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2008
FORREST CHAPMAN; 48; Sumpter Township; owns tree service and saw mill; Democrat; seeking 23rd District state House of Representatives seat; state certified auto and heavy trucks mechanic; attended Eastern Michigan University and Jackson Community College; single; no children.
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Eight candidates — five Democrats and three Republicans — are vying to win a two-year term to the 23rd District seat in the state House of Representatives.
After six years in the state House, Rep. Kathleen Law (D-Gibraltar) is term limited out of office at the end of this year.
Under state law, a representative can serve only three two-year terms.
The 23rd District encompasses the communities of Brownstown Township, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Huron Township, Rockwood and Woodhaven.
Democrats on the ballot for the open seat are Burl Adkins, Jim Beaubien, Forrest Chapman, John Cronin, and Deborah Kennedy.
Republicans on the ballot are Neil DeBlois, Jesus Garza and Linda Harmon.
What is your No. 1 campaign issue this year?
Adkins: Jobs and the economy. We need to lessen the influence of lobbyists and special interests and crack down on benefits to illegal immigrants.
Beaubien: Jobs, jobs, jobs.
Chapman: The economy and tax relief.
Cronin: Promoting an atmosphere conducive to business growth and job creation by restructuring taxes, ensuring local energy sources, maintaining transportation corridors and rethinking job-sector establishment. Upper education would be an integral part of the environmental atmosphere creation. ... Some developing sectors are expanding health care, computerized data information and robotics.
Kennedy: Increase efforts to diversify Michigan's economy and attract good-paying jobs to Michigan.
DeBlois: The economy.
Garza: The biggest issue is jobs. The governor has been disastrous for jobs in Michigan. Delphi, VW, Comerica, Pfizer, these are just a few of the businesses that have left Michigan and have taken their jobs with them. She has created a climate that is chasing jobs out of the state.
Harmon: Energy independence.
How will you address it?
Adkins: As founder of Global Technology Associates, I have created thousands of jobs in Michigan. As state representative, I will work to focus state government on making Michigan more competitive in the global economy. I support Michigan's Fair Tax because it would tax consumption rather than income. It is progressive and protects the poor through a tax rebate on the necessities of life.
Beaubien: By creating an infrastructure that will attract new businesses to Michigan and give them the opportunity to prosper. This will bring new jobs to our skilled and productive work force. What we are doing now is not working. We need policy that gives Michigan the upper hand in attracting jobs from around the world.
Chapman: Property tax relief for seniors on their primary residence. If the general fund can be reduced, the Legislature will have to make cuts, which I believe should be across the board. Tons of standing ash trees affected by the emerald ash borer are on state land, marketing them internationally would provide a valuable commodity and put thousands to work.
Cronin: Create synergy between government, business and education, in which business is enticed to offer co-ops to students, while receiving state tax credits, engaging in ongoing curriculum sharing with upper education. Business gains chosen workers, dove-tailed into real jobs. Education gains meaningful curriculum and employed students. Students gain real jobs and education. Government gains business attraction, graduate retention and tax base increase.
Kennedy: To be competitive in today's global economy, we must diversify our economy and provide a 21st century job- training program for our displaced workers. Capitalizing on Michigan's universities and their research and innovation will play an integral part in positioning our state to attract businesses and retain our top-notch graduates.
DeBlois: I am a fiscal conservative and a business owner for 23 years. The simple fact is our government spends too much. I intend to have the Michigan auditor general conduct a top-to-bottom review of all departments of government. Recently, the auditor general has determined that the small step of privatizing the correction's system food service would save up to $38 million annually.
Garza: I plan on bringing jobs back to the Downriver communities. By creating a business and taxpayer friendly climate, I will work to bring energy-related jobs to the area and capitalize on the expanding alternative-energy sector. By limiting government spending to items the government is adequate at doing, we can provide better roads and transportation services without tax increases.
Harmon: Drill here; drill now with the effect of resultant jobs.
What plans do you have to improve public education in the state?
Adkins: I have a daughter who is a public educator. I would bring an entrepreneurial mindset to public education and give our children the tools they need to compete in the global economy. I have funded college scholarships to high school students that show the ability to succeed in business. I would look to expand that as state representative.
Beaubien: We need to strengthen our schools from prekindergarten through high school, which is necessary to get the high-tech, high-skills jobs of the 21st century. We need to block efforts to raid money for K-12 students, strengthen the Michigan Merit Scholarship, and create zero-interest college loans for graduates who work in Michigan.
Chapman: I propose that monies collected by the state be returned to, or never leave, the school districts. Return control to the school districts over their own tax bases, without state political interference. I support higher achievement standards and stricter disciplinary codes. Let the Legislature apportion only the lottery money for education.
Cronin: I applaud the recent high school curriculum improvement changes. We must challenge our students so they can compete in the very real worldwide competition. Trade school options must be developed for those not college-bound. All students need to be educated for gainful employment in society. Parents are effecting changes to public education without legislators by taking vouchers to charter schools.
Kennedy: It's critical to provide affordable, equitable and quality education for our children, starting from an early age. Providing early education to everyone allows for a great start for students to succeed in school and pursue higher education and attain a good-paying job. Funding for education needs to be efficiently managed so more dollars reach each student.
DeBlois: Good teachers must be encouraged and rewarded. The charter school system should be expanded.
Garza: By lifting the cap on charter schools we can allow parents to make choices with their children's enrollment. Increasing specialty schools, such as vocational and technical schools, this will allow nontraditional students a higher likelihood of success in society and greater involvement of parents.
Harmon: Choice ... from schools, programs within schools to even the last two years of high school, which will have the option of attaining an associate's degree at a junior college. I taught for 38 years and, therefore, do intuitively understand the problems.
What plans do you have to improve the business atmosphere and the economy in the state?
Adkins: As businessman and job creator, I know what it takes to be successful in business. The best way to improve the economy is to scrap the income tax and Michigan business tax and move to the Michigan fair tax that is based on consumption of goods and services rather than income.
Beaubien: Our entire tax policy needs to be revamped. There are opportunities to attract expanding businesses to our area. We have an industrial manufacturing infrastructure in place, skilled workers, and locations with water, rail and road transportation available and we are still losing jobs. Our tax policy must take this into consideration. A small sacrifice now could pay dividends well into the future.
Chapman: I would discontinue the small business tax, and put thousands of dollars to work marketing the ash trees killed by the emerald ash borer, returning Michigan to her No. 1 status as a wood products manufacturing state in the union as she was before the days when the economy switched from wood to iron.
Cronin: I believe that I have answered the direction which I believe the state should follow in my answers to the first two questions. There is an integral connection between government, business and education. One element cannot be corrected without the others; they are interdependent. Searching for similar thinking legislators to cooperatively resolve the economy will be my first quest.
Kennedy: Michigan must provide an educated work force for today's global economy. As a small-business owner, I understand the need to cultivate and promote entrepreneurship by attracting investments and implementing a fair and equitable business tax. Many of our small businesses depend on our beautiful natural resources to attract tourism and stimulate our local economy.
DeBlois: Cut taxes across the board to stimulate the economy and restore confidence. I am skeptical of targeted tax cuts where government picks winners and losers. I would eliminate the recent cash rebates for Hollywood millionaires and find a way to give all Michigan businesses tax relief.
Garza: I am a certified public accountant and have taught budgeting and personal finance. Also, as I have done for the city of Gibraltar and in my church, I have shown servant leadership capabilities. Throughout my career, I have taught and lived by the axiom of living within one's means. Prioritize spending decisions and stick to a budget.
Harmon: Tax rates must be lowered on both individuals and businesses.
What can you do to improve the Downriver area?
Adkins: The first thing I can do to improve the Downriver area is to focus attention on our region. We have a world-class work force here and we need to do everything we can to get them back to work. I think the Lansing insiders and lobbyists take Downriver for granted. That will end when I become state representative.
Beaubien: The Detroit River is the crown jewel of the Downriver area. We need to protect it from sewage overflows at our wastewater treatment plants and create jobs in the process. We need to put funding into our roads and water/sewer infrastructure, creating jobs. We have many areas that are in need of railroad bridges. To attract new businesses, we must have good roads, schools and recreation opportunities.
Chapman: The 23rd District has been controlled by political machines to the east, and Huron and Sumpter have suffered. I intend to change this. Redistricting is set for the 2010 census and is an important issue that must be addressed. Sumpter and Huron need two bridges built across the Huron River. I suggest building one connecting South Huron and West roads, and Pennsylvania and Bemis roads.
Cronin: The Downriver area can be improved by encouraging residents and politicians to think of it as a whole, rather than a string of parts. Working together on common goals, such as energy and transportation, will ensure success for all. Eventually, our constituent services may fall into a similar flowing universal continuum, based upon cooperative economic realities.
Kennedy: Promoting Downriver's natural resources and businesses is imperative to stimulating our local economy. I will continue to fight for Downriver to be a tourist destination and not a dumping ground for Canadian trash. For the past 30 years, I have worked to protect Downriver's environment by organizing efforts to prevent the installation of a medical waste incinerator in Brownstown.
DeBlois: I would fight to protect and improve our waterfront. Also, the high home foreclosure rate is damaging stable neighborhoods. Banks should be required to secure and maintain properties they are foreclosing upon to reduce the effect on surrounding homes. The state must tighten enforcement against fraudulent mortgage practices that led to the current crisis.
Garza: Bringing jobs back to the area will be my No. 1 goal. Opening the lines of communication between the cities and townships and the representative's office, I will get to know every member of city councils and boards of trustees to know the concerns of the citizens. For too long, the representative's office has not been in tune to the needs of the citizens.
Harmon: There should be an established organization to coordinate Canada and the United States to visitors and prospective businesses to us. We are the path to international markets.
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