The Great Debates continue for those candidates flying solo

With just two weeks before the historic General Election, The Center for Michigan and Detroit Public TV are winding down their inaugural series of televised debates between Michigan House candidates dubbed "The Great Debates."

The series began last month with candidates squaring off in 30-minute, fixed-format debates taped at DPTV’s Detroit studios with a panel of state journalists moderating and asking the questions. The debates are being aired on PBS and available on line at the sponsor's web sites. It was hoped to feature all of the 110 contested House seats. They fell short of that goal, but the concept is a good one and can be called a success.

As the election approaches, the format has changed as some candidates declined to appear for various reasons, and the format has evolved into a panel discussion for those candidates whose opponent has decline for whatever reason.

The current debate airing features Livingston County Democrat Donna Anderson running for the open 66th District House seat. As you may know her opponent, Republican Bill Rogers, backed out of an earlier commitment. Anderson is accusing Rogers of ignoring voters and coasting on the fact that Livingston County is predominantly Republican and on his family name. His excuse is that that work commitments caused him to cancel, but that seems flimsily.

I understand that often the front runner prefers not to debate in order not to give their opponents any free publicity at their expense, but this does not seem to fit that bill. If U.S. Sen. Carl Levin can agree to debate a nobody like Jack Hoogendyk, then Rogers can surely carve out 30 minutes of his busy schedule to speak to voters. Plus, it's a public service.

Regardless, you can watch Anderson on line now appearing in a panel with Republican Sandra Eggers and Democrat Robert Murphy running for the open 36th District 36 seat that covers Romeo and Shelby Township.

Also on tap is a separate forum featuring Republican Neil DeBlois, Republican Edith Floyd, Republican Eric Lielbriedis and Democrat Mark Venie running for the open 44th District seat that covers parts of Highland, White Lake and Clarkston.

Next week will feature Democrat Rep. Tim Melton, D-Pontiac, Republican David MiCola and Republican Jason Balaska. That will air from 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 26 and online.

Debate shows Livingston County House candidate is a leader

For those looking to send a leader to the Michigan House of Representatives in Lansing; instead of voting for a career bureaucrat/bookkeeper you need to take a look at Scott Lucas.

The Hamburg Township Democrat is running against Cindy Denby in the open seat in Livingston County’s 47th District. I watched Lucas square off in one of the Great Debates sponsored by the Center for Michigan and Detroit Public TV, and he clearly is a leader. The unfortunate thing is this is the first time I have seen him.

The candidate’s positions are not radically different, but Lucas, an assistant fire chief, has true leadership abilities. This is not necessarily a knock against Denby. I like and respect her, but she simply does not inspire leadership. I have been reporting on Handy Township in the Fowlerville area where she is the township supervisor for seven years, so I have seen her in action.

The televised debates, called the Great Debates, are 30-minute, fixed-format debates being taped at DPTV’s Detroit studios with a panel of journalists consisting of reporters and editors from the Detroit News and Free Press. The plan is for all of the 110 contested races to be televised, and 3-4 debates are taped weekly. They air from 3-5 p.m. every Sunday on PBS, as well as online.

This week’s debates feature Rep. Marc Corriveau and Republican Jerry Vorva in the 20th District that covers Plymouth, Northville, Canton and Wayne.
Democrat Doug Geiss and Republican Darrell McNeill square off in the open 22nd District that covers Romulus and Taylor.
Democrat Sarah Roberts and Republican Bryan Brandenburg debate in the open 24th District that covers Harrison Township, Lake Township and St. Clair Shores.
Democrat Jon Switalski and Republican Michael Wiecek battle in the open 25th District that covers Warren and Sterling Heights
Democrat Andrew Prasilowski and Republican Kim Meltzer debate in the 33rd District that covers Clinton, Macomb and Ray Townships.

We’re still waiting for the Republican challenger in Livingston County’s other House district to reschedule his debate. Republican Bill Rogers is challenging Democrat Donna Anderson in the open 66th District. The debate was to be taped and aired along with the Scott Lucas debate, but Rogers canceled the day before the debate was to be tapped.

He has not rescheduled. So far, 12 races and 24 candidates have managed to carve out the 30 minutes out of their schedule, but not Rogers.

GOP House front runner cancels debate at the last minute

Apparently Bill Rogers, GOP candidate for the 66th District Michigan House seat, can't find 30 minutes in his busy schedule for the voters.

Rogers and Donna Anderson, his Democratic challenger for the open seat that covers Livingston County, were set to tape a 30-minute televised debate sponsored by the Center for Michigan and Detroit Public TV. In what is being called the Great Debates, 30-minute, fixed-format debates are being taped at DPTV’s Detroit studios with a panel of journalists consisting off Nolan Finley of The Detroit News, and Ron Dzwonkowski and Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press. The plan is for all of the 110 contested races to be televised.

Last week saw three debates televised on Sunday afternoon and on the two sponsor's web sites, and four more are set this week. They are Livingston County's open 47th District featuring GOP candidate Cindy Denby and Democrat Scott Lucas, Oakland County's 37th District featuring GOP candidate Paul Welday and Democrat Vicki Barnett, Oakland County's 45th District featuring ultraconservative right-winger Tom McMillan and Democrat Randy Young and Washtenaw County's 54th District featuring perennial GOP candidate Tom Banks and Incumbent Alma Wheeler Smith.

Those debates can already be viewed online, and they will air from 3-5 p.m. Sunday on Detroit PBS.

Rogers and Anderson's debate was also supposed to air this Sunday, but Rogers apparently canceled at the last minute, according to the local newspaper. Anderson is accusing Rogers of ignoring voters and coasting on the fact that Livingston County is predominantly Republican and on his family name; he is the older brother of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and his mother was the director of the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce for many years. According to the article, Dave Manney, director of program development with Detroit Public Television, is still hopeful the debate can be rescheduled.

The Great House Debates are ready to be viewed

The Center for Michigan and Detroit Public TV is airing the first of a series of televised debates between Michigan House candidates.

The first installment features six candidates squaring off in 30-minute, fixed-format debates taped at DPTV’s Detroit studios with a panel of journalists consisting off Nolan Finley of The Detroit News, and Ron Dzwonkowski and Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press.

Those ready to air online and on TV are:
DISTRICT 19 (Livonia) -- John Walsh (R) vs. Steve King (D)
DISTRICT 31 (Mount Clemens) – Fred Miller (D) vs. Daniel Tollis (R)
DISTRICT 40 (Birmingham) -- Chuck Moss (R) vs. Julie Chandler (D)

As part of The Great Debates, DPTV and the Center for Michigan have extended debate offers to the candidates in 47 contested State House races. While candidate negotiations continue, another 11 debates are set to tape on Sept. 22-23. Scheduled debates include candidates for House Districts 20, 22, 24, 33, 36, 37, 45, 47, 56 and 66.

You can view the debates now and anytime at DPTV's site at TheGreatDebatesDownload.org and at MI Vote.

They will also air on Channel 56 DPTV from 3-4:30 P.M. every Sunday afternoons beginning this Sunday. Each debate is also being given on tape or DVD to local cable access stations in each district, as well as to other PBS stations.