Gubernatorial Candidate Forum brings three candidates, various statewide issues to the table

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Three men who will vie for the governorship of Michigan met to share thoughts, air concerns and question each other’s promises Wednesday night.

More than 150 people attended Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Michigan’s Economic and Environmental Future Monday night.

The forum, hosted by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium, was a non-partisan event open to the public.

A two-person panel presented several questions to the three governor candidates in attendance.

The questions focused on the rebuilding of the state economy, the creation of jobs and the safeguarding of Michigan’s natural resources.

The candidates, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, a Democrat, State Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, and Republican businessman Rick Snyder had 90 seconds each to answer every question.

The three candidates agreed Michigan’s economy is linked to its environment.

“I’ve been an active environmentalist for many years,” Snyder said. “We need a vision, plan and action in this state, to rebuild this state.”

Snyder said the revitalization of Michigan’s urban areas is key to the revival of the state economy.

He stressed the importance of updating rail services and public transportation in urban areas.

“If you want those vibrant cities and to keep our young people here, those systems are important,” he said.

Snyder said Michigan is a donor state: it doesn’t get a dollar-for-dollar return on the tax money sent to Washington.

“This is our time of need, let’s at least get our dollar back,” he said.

Bernero agreed with Snyder. He said the current federal administration is inefficient.

“They’re not getting things done, the system is broken at the capital,” he said.

Bernero said if elected he would implement more aggressive environmental protection policies.

“The environment is linked to our health in every way,” he said. “The environmental quality and environmental protection of our Great Lakes and green energy is important.”

Bernero said he is not opposed to the creation of wind turbine farms that could produce renewable energy.

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” he said. “We have necessity.”

Snyder agreed with Bernero.

“There is real substance to alternative energy. It is going to take some time to develop – it is important,” Snyder said.

Nonviable commitments?

However, George did not agree with the two other candidates.

He said an increase of public transportation and wind turbine farms is unrealistic.

“The state is broke. We don’t have the resources to commit to new projects,” he said.

George said many renewable sources of energy, such as solar panels and wind turbine farms, are currently unable to store the power produced if not immediately harnessed.

He said those sources of energy will be of no benefit when weather conditions are not ideal.

He also expressed concern about who will maintain wind turbine and solar panel farms if the companies that own them go bankrupt.

George said as governor he would use untapped funds, such as toll credits, to invest in Michigan’s infrastructure and rebuild its economy.