On the Democratic primary ballot are five candidates: John Graziani, John Harris, Bill Jarosz, Andrew Kandrevas and Bo Schimers.
The News-Herald Newspapers asked the candidates to discuss their plans if they are elected. Their responses appear below.
What is your No. 1 campaign issue this year?
Graziani: The economy. We have to do everything possible to rebuild confidence in this region. The key element in the short run is to maintain purchasing power within this region while we seek long-term solutions. Business, labor and government will have to make compromises in the short term while seeking long-term solutions.
Harris: The economy and jobs.
Jarosz: Jobs.
Kandrevas: The economy. We need new energy and new ideas to jumpstart our economy and get our families working again. We need to do more to attract businesses to Michigan and create new businesses. This will require partnerships between government and business. The old ways of doing things are not working; we need a change in Lansing.
Schimers: The pain that all citizens are now feeling due to Michigan's current economic malaise — job uncertainty, home foreclosures, bankruptcy, shrinking or non-existent health care benefits. Obviously, some of the pain is structural — such as the Big Three downsizing. Bickering politicians that just can't seem to cooperate to get things done haven't helped us.
How will you address it?
Graziani: We need federal legislation that declares Michigan an economically distressed region, which would qualify it for significant federal assistance such as greater periods of unemployment benefits. We must work with community colleges to retrain displaced workers, while leveraging state dollars to get the maximum return on our investment. Otherwise, our younger workers will leave the state never to come back.
Harris: I would suggest development of "green" jobs like those developed by Kulick Enterprises Inc. in Wyandotte involving solar heating, or those to be developed through wind power under consideration and study by the Wyandotte municipal services. It's the new economy, it means jobs, it is good for the environment and a win/win. But we need to also develop and educate the work force required.
Jarosz: Through small business incentives to hire more people with a good wage, to address the Michigan Business Tax.
Kandrevas: As a state representative, I will fight for legislation that creates an economic climate where jobs can be created and businesses are investing in local workers. I support the Buy Michigan First legislation that helps Michigan businesses compete in the global economy. I think we need to offer low-cost loans so that workers currently in the work force have the ability to upgrade their skills.
Schimers: In the short term, we need to redouble our efforts at economic development and tourism. Examples include Michigan's recent movie-making explosion and the ESPN bass fishing tournament that brought significant dollars to our region. Try harder to have companies such as Boeing Aircraft relocate here when they were looking to leave Seattle. In the long term, we need a greater emphasis on education.
What plans do you have to improve public education in the state?
Graziani: To improve public education we must put more money toward the student. To help save costs, we should offer more health care options to teachers and school personnel and establish health savings accounts. This will create a substantial savings in the cost of public education. If we do not take these steps, many school districts will cease to exist.
Harris: I believe that, after jobs and the economy, education has to be our highest priority. I would look to improve the system by asking the educators and administrators what needs to be done — they are the experts in the system. In many cases, it's no secret — class size is often too big, for example. Make education a priority and fund it as such and always look for innovative ways to reach our goals.
Jarosz: I feel that every student needs to graduate high school and have a chance to get a college education and succeed in life. Raising the age that a student can quit school to 18 is a start.
Kandrevas: Improving public education is the key to improving our economy. If we cannot give our children a world-class education, how can our children compete within the global economy? We need to train our children to be innovators and critical thinkers Those are the skills that are valuable in a global economy and those are the skills we need to teach today's students.
Schimers: We need all- day kindergarten, more children in pre-kindergarten programs, vocational training for 16- to 18-year-olds that are not planning to go to college. We are 28th in percentage of the population who are college graduates — we should at least match Illinois, who is 17th. We need to do this efficiently — but we need to do it.
What plans do you have to improve the business atmosphere and the economy in the state?
Graziani: First, we must initiate programs that allow people to stay in their homes, otherwise housing values will continue to decline. Secondly, we must retrain displaced workers for future jobs. Thirdly, we must do everything possible to keep our young college students and workers in this state. By doing so, we will maintain purchasing power to work through this difficult economic period.
Harris: We need to develop jobs that are not dependent on the auto sector. Tourism is another area to develop. We have the Detroit River, Elizabeth Park, street fairs and art exhibits. Let's work together as a region and market what we have to offer. Also, taxes are too burdensome. They must be examined and lowered if possible.
Jarosz: I think that we really need to look at lowering the business taxes and count on small business.
Kandrevas: The best thing we can do to improve the economy is to improve public education and offer job retraining for older workers hit hard by job losses. Downriver has proven itself to have the best work force in the world. By offering job retraining classes at local community colleges and universities Downriver can have the best work force in the world well into the 21st century.
Schimers: Economic development should be a priority. Businesses can always be given greater encouragement to expand or relocate here. We might try regional ombudsmen to cut through local red tape. However, the fast pace in the building of Pinnacle Race Course in Huron Township shows that maybe such fears are overblown. We need diversification in the long-run.
What can you do to improve the Downriver area?
Graziani: The aerotropolis proposal by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano offers the best shot to stimulate this area with the most possible jobs. We will be leveraging local, state and federal dollars along with substantial private investment to be able to create over 20,000 jobs. Our geographic presence, along with increased trade with Canada, will save this area's economy if everyone works together.
Harris: I can be an effective voice in the Legislature for our region. I have the experience and strong desire to represent our interests in Lansing and I will do that every day. I can help bring people and organizations together to address problems and bring forth effective/cooperative solutions.
Jarosz: Listen to people to find out what their concerns are and work to resolve them, because I feel that makes a difference as a candidate.
Kandrevas: The best thing I can do to improve Downriver is to help get this economy going again. We need to manage the transition from a manufacturing economy to the new global economy and not leave anyone behind in the process.
Schimers: Encourage the growth of our Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. We are making the slow transition from an industrialized waterfront to one which is predominantly used for recreation/tourism and housing. We have a waterfront that is underutilized for these purposes. Just think of the tragedy of the Riverview-Trenton Railroad locking up this resource on the pipe dream of barging garbage here.