The presidential debates dominate headlines this time of year as prognosticators pick winners and losers and sharp-tongued sound bites take away from the substance of the issues.
Fortunately, the Charlotte High School Social Studies Department is taking a different approach in allowing students and local community members to learn more about a few of their local candidates.
Instead of a debate, on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Charlotte High School lecture room candidates in the Eaton County Sheriff’s race, and Michigan State Representatives race for District 71 and District 65 will answer questions posed by CHS/Ferris State University concurrent enrollment students in political science in an open forum.
The evening will be moderated by Kyle Mellin, Vice President of the Michigan Information and Research Service. Following a five minute opening statement from each candidate, one candidate will be given 15 minutes to answer questions generated by CHS students before their opponent is afforded the same 15 minutes for questions. Candidates will then be given two minutes for closing remarks.
Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich will lead off. His opponent, Fred McPhail, declined an invitation to participate in the forum.
The conversation will shift to the State Representative race in District 65, which represents a portion of Eaton, Jackson and Lenawee counties. Democratic candidate Bonnie Johnson will go first, followed by incumbent Brett Roberts.
The forum will conclude with the State Representative race for District 71, which represents a majority of Eaton County. Democratic candidate and former State Representative Theresa Abed will go first, followed by incumbent Tom Barrett.
Charlotte High School is located at 378 State Street. The forum is free and open to the public.
