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-------------~~ Bodem and Long share their views of the issues Election day is fast approaching and incumbent Beverly Bodem and challenger G.T. Long are once again battling for our 106th District state representative position in a race that has been called the hottest in Michigan. Two years ago, in a race characterized by negative ad campaigns, Bodem was re-elected by less than 110 votes, although Long carried Alpena. To help provide a little insight into the confusing process of determining who the candidates are and who to vote for, The Polemic has met with both candidates. Beverly Bodem Incumbent Beverly Bodem has been our state representative for the past two terms, and says, "We have accomplished more in the past two y;ears than any other legislature. " Michigan was $1 .4 billion in debt four years ago - more than $2 ~il- lion has been cut in the past 2 years. Her sponsoring of ten passing bills this term has won her one of the best records in the Michigan House. Alpena, Charlevoix, and Cheboygan counties have the low- est unemployment rate in four years, she points out. Taxes have been lowered to encourage business. "We (the legislature) are dealing with education and health care. These is- sues are all interrelated - certainly improvements in these areas will im- prove the way Northern Michigan does business." She says there are no single answers for our problems, especially crime, but this year numerous bills have been signed by the governor. She co-sponsored a bill toughening laws against minor drunk drivers, and inquiries have come from out of state about the legislation she authored dealing with Presque Isle County's Thompson Park. Bodem says Long's plan is what the legislature has done and points to the Sunrise Side' s tourism council, the passing of the core cur- riculum, and the lowering of the small business tax. "Small business is what we're all made of in Northern Michigan," she says and is working in the leg- islature to business more profitable in Michigan. She believes educa- tion needs to be used to bring high technology to this area so there are people up here to hold jobs, and an increased job climate will improve tourism in this area. "I want the [tourism] dollars up here, " says Bodem. U.S.-23 will start construction to four lanes in 1997 from Standish to M-55. "We need transportation to bring in,jobs - they just can't get here. It is a direct cause of unem- ployment." Health care access is very im- portant, says Bodem. Since there has been a breakdown in reform at the national level, it needs to be worked on at .the state level. The costs are too high - there is abuse in · these overly high costs - these abuses must be controlled. A hot topic in Presque Isle County is the proposed pulp mill. Bodem wants to check into the en- vironmental impact and proceed with caution since the company doesn't yet own the land and noth- ing is on paper. She is in communication with her constituents constantly, through her 800 number or through the regu- lar office hours she keeps throughout the district. Usually she holds private meetings with people to discuss their particular problems or to discuss particular issues. Posen, however, is a little pleas- antly different ~ they often have group meetings. People bring food, discuss issues and ask questions, and Bodem fills them in on what she's been doing in Lansing. She trie~ hard to be nonparti- san once elected because, she says, h's important to look at the bill be- cause you represent the people - Democrats and Republicans. Long has the advantage when it come to campaigning, Bodem ex- plains. She is in Lansing working and when she returns to the dis- trict, she is working hard at home attending meetings and functions. Bodem explains that Long is misrepresenting her record. As an example, he claims she cut senior's medication costs two years ago. Un- true, she says. At a time when everyone's budgets were being cut, the pharmaceuticals program's bud- get was $2 million, $4 million was proposed and $2.5 million was dis- tributed. In another example, Long claims Bodem voted against send- ing tourism dollars to Northern Michigan. Bodem explains that she did vote no on that proposal be- cause most of the money was to be sent to the Detroit area. "We need reputable people to go down there - people who will not mislead you on an issue. " To Long's belief that she is laid-back, she responds simply, "My record shows I go out and make things happen. I'm proud of my record and my endorsements. " UR Celebrating 125 Years Of Service ALL FORMS SINCE 1867 SKI~INC. 127 W. RIVER STREET • ALPENA, Ml 49707 EPHONE (517) 356-9058 FAX (517) 356-1694 __: !! THOMAS L SKIBA -~ARTIS . BOOKS ■ ANTIQUES ■ COFFEE BAR Used Out-of Print &Rare OBJETS D'ART Espresso Cappuccino Tea, Italian Soda &MORE 201 N SECOND ALPENA,{ MI 354-34ul "FIVE STAR" [.JUALITY SERVICE AWARD DEALER. (]WUJ4W. f-1~ :J;c,4e 0 Lcu'1s MDTDR SALES, INC. "£e~ ~ bu:z~~ Ul1ce 19-'lf" 832 WEST CHISHOLM STREET PHONE 517-354'-•4'-154 ALPENA, MICHIGAN - 49707 BY SHAWN DEMPSEY POLEMIC EDITOR Challenger G. T. Long is run- ning to change people's misconceptions about government. He has been involved in politics since college when he worked on Mitch Irwin's campaign. He then worked for Irwin, doing case work or fixing people's problems, as he puts it. He has worked for three speakers of the Michigan House and as the Democratic Party liaison in Northern Michigan. He has written a book, The Action Planfor Northern Michigan's Future, based on the community of Tupelo, Mississippi. Its focus is on community development before eco- nomic development. He points out that we have some of the highest unemployment in the state, and he wants to hold an economic summit conference in each county to find out what has to be done to bring in business. says he will visit one at his own expense and share his finding with his constituents and let them tell him what they want him to do. "I'll work as hard for my pay- check as you work for yours ." The last campaign became so hung-up on negatives, Long thinks, that people didn't know who he was - the negatives took over the mes- sage. This time he is concentrating on the issues and he wrote the book to make the message clear, even if the campaign becomes negative. He doesn't care for personal attacks hut thinks that a legislator's record is fair game - as is anything in his book. Some of the legislation Bodem has concentrated on, he says, has been frivolous, wasteful and costly compared to what we need. He con- siders Bodem's license plate idea, for example, to be fluff legislation because the idea that prettier license plates would increase tourism is not G.T. Long realistic when we have the highest unemployment in the state. He does agree, however, with her bill regarding limiting criminals' automatic right to appeal. And he wants to see criminals pay for their stay. Long says he and Bodem mostly differ in style. He classifies her as laid-back and quiet while he is energized. "They'll know G.T. Long represents the 106th district if I'm in the legislature because if I see a piece of legislation that comes down the pike that's going to hurt Northern Michigan, I'm going to get up and yell and stomp and jump on the chair and let them know it' s going to hurt us up here. Not only vote against it, but make everyone aware that this is going to hurt Northern Michigan." Long describes his plan as nonpartisan - he just wants to set the stage, bring the summit together, and then the summit determines where the plan and county go. "We have to do it, don't wait for the state, don't wait for the fed- eral government to bail us out. We're the ones who have to put the plan into place and then we can use the government for help. . . " with things like grants, legislation, and information. The plan, he explains, works and is idealistic, not unreal- istic. "Restructuring" continued from page 1 He plans to use Saturday town meetings to keep people informed and pay for his own 800 number. Community colleges are a big part of the plan since they provide workplace development. He want to see community colleges funded to the degree that other colleges are. He wants to see more satellite schools. Long wants more community involvement in schools and class- rooms. He want to cut what he calls welfare for the rich to help fund education. Although credit hours are on the decrease, the new dean position was worked into the new budget. Both the deans and the president of the college, Dr. Donald Newport, said that more administration will help the col- lege to function better. While the hirings will be finished by Christmas, Lindsay doesn't foresee a tuition increase in the next semester, or even in the next year. "It all depends on what the state gives us." Lind- say pointed out. Davis, who has changed over from dean of instruction to executive dean, now coordinates all of the day-to-day activities for the school. When the changes take place, he'll be moving his office over to the Besser Tech-Long wants more money for community health centers and in- nical Center office complex, and centives for medical schools to the talent search director will go graduate more family practitioners. He advocates the "Northern Expo- sure Plan", in which med school students receive tuition in return for working in rural communities. Snowmobile and cross coun- try ski trails need to be developed in this side of the state, he says, and tourism publicity funding needs to be increased. Long wants to check another pulp mill like the one proposed in Presque Isle County pulp mill. He HELP.KEEP ACC CLEAN Your Total Printmg Professionals MODII PIIINIINCi s111•1c1 829 W. CHISHOLM ALPENA, Ml 497,07 PHONE: (517) 356-0834 FAX: (517) 356-2123 r---------~--------1 I J.·· 11ilob•g aBuu ~bop I I , and Safari Booking I I ~-~~.: I COMPLETE LINE OF NEW & USED GUNS 11 11 * Guns Sighted on premises The largest selection of 11 * Scopes and Installation reloading supplies I 3089 M-32 •Alpena• 356-1777 I I ~~I I il~ I 1------------------J r--------C~oo --------7 ...--::::=-=--.;MORE THAN JUST AN OIL CHANGE Services we perform in 10 minutes • Oil Change up to 5 qts. • New Pennzoil Oil Filter • Lubrication • Check & Fill at no Extra Charge $2oi1 $2.00 off coupon Olffllnlntlal TrBMmlnlon Powvr Slaerlng Brake Fluid . 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