2004 Candidates' Forum

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastside Republican Club"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><B>  | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B>Eastside Republican Club</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Events</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U><B>ERC Review</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>Congressional District News</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2004 Candidates' Forum</B></div> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_forms.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.RegisterRepublicans.com/vr_fo"><U><I><B>Voter Registration Forms</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><I><B>Congressional District News</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_testimonials.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Theyre Saying About Us"><U><I><B>Read what they've said about us</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="top_of_page"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <I><U>Six Candidates Speak at War Memorial</U></I></div> <div> <B>Federal, State, County Hopefuls</B></div> <div> <B>Address ERC Election Forum in October</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><U><IMG SRC="f945e4e0.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="334" ALT="Six candidates invited to address the forum, from left, Costantino, Lucas, Haroutunian, Cassell, Gaffney and Zahra. >>ERC Endorsements" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></U></I></FONT></div> <div> ERC's Candidates' Forum, Tuesday, October 19, heard from candidates for U.S. Congress, Michigan Supreme Court, Wayne State Board of Governors, Wayne County Commission, Wayne County Sheriff, and State Representative.</div> <div> Ed Joseph, chairman of the Eastside Republican Club introduced the speakers.</div> <div> According to Joseph, “This is one of the broadest forums--in terms of elected offices sought--that we've ever hosted in Grosse Pointe."</div> <div> The six candidates invited to address the forum included Cheryl Costantino running for Wayne County Commission; Bill Lucas, seeking election as Wayne County Sheriff; and Susan Licata Haroutunian, vying for WSU Board of Governors.</div> <div> Also participating were Cynthia Cassell, candidate for U.S. Congress, Representative Ed Gaffney, seeking re-election to the State House of Representatives; and Appeals Judge Brian Zahra, running for the Michigan Supreme Court.</div> <div> The ERC's October forum was held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. >><I>See ERC endorsements for 2004</I><I>.</I><IMG SRC="f9678bf0.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="191" ALT="Bill Lucas" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> <I><B>Bill Lucas is Dedicated, Qualified</B></I></div> <div> “My victory in Wayne County will have a significant effect on the power structure in the County,” said <A HREF="http://www.electbilllucas.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.electbilllucas.com/"><U>Bill Lucas</U></A>, candidate for Wayne County Sheriff.</div> <div> His non-stop countywide campaign has identified support in all areas, and confirmed to him that the Black community is basically conservative. Acknowledging the challenge of enlisting support for a Republican candidate within Detroit, he expressed confidence that Detroiters will benefit from a Lucas victory.</div> <div> Lucas said, “Once I get inside, I can open the door of opportunity. Detroiters will be pleased--they need to take that first step.”</div> <div> He has impressive professional experience and educational credentials. In addition to federal service with the FBI, Lucas has served as judge, Wayne County Executive, and for 13 years as sheriff of Wayne County. >><A HREF="http://www.electbilllucas.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.electbilllucas.com/"><U><I>Lucas web site</I></U></A>.<IMG SRC="bf483a90.jpg" border=0 width="131" height="169" ALT="Ed Gaffney" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> <I><B>Re-elect Ed Gaffney</B></I></div> <div> With gratitude, <A HREF="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm"><U>State Representative Edward J. Gaffney</U></A> addressed the forum saying, “I appreciate your support. There are lots of people involved in my campaign.”</div> <div> Gaffney, representing District 1, is running for re-election to a second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. He said, “I expect an incredible turnout in Grosse Pointe, and passions are higher than ever.”</div> <div> Although the election is less than two weeks away, Gaffney noted, “There are 13 days to keep working, because many have not made up their minds.” He encouraged his audience to offer prospective voters a rides to the polls.</div> <div> Not taking victory for granted in his predominately Republican district, Gaffney said, “The only way to win is to run hard until 8 p.m. election night--just as if someone was chasing you with a hatchet.”</div> <div> “And that's what I intend to do!” he said. >><A HREF="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gophouse.com/gaffney.htm"><U><I>Gaffney web site</I></U></A>.<IMG SRC="f9a76be0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="190" ALT="Judge Brian Keith Zahra" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> <I><B>Judge Zahra for Supreme Court</B></I></div> <div> As he campaigns for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court, <A HREF="http://judgezahra.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://judgezahra.com/"><U>Brian Keith Zahra</U></A>, who currently serves as Judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals, views voter education as one of his most important tasks.</div> <div> Zahra observed, “Thirty percent of voters never get to the nonpartisan portion of their ballot.”</div> <div> As he meets with various <A HREF="http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-1/109811555275640.xml" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf"><U>media editorial boards</U></A> around the State, Zahra said he poses the question, “How do we want to be governed?” Referring to the tension between lawmakers charged with the constitutional duty to make law and a relatively small group of judges, he asks, “Who should govern?”</div> <div> Zahra said, “It is the role of a judge to determine what the law is, not what it should be.” He said the majority on the current Michigan high court share this perspective. “Michigan has a great Supreme Court,” Zahra said.</div> <div> Two justices will be elected for an eight-year term. Joining Zahra on the November 2nd ballot is fellow-conservative, Justice Stephen J. Markman, an incumbent. >><A HREF="http://judgezahra.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://judgezahra.com/"><U><I>Zahra web site</I></U></A>.<IMG SRC="fa078d30.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="211" ALT="Cynthia Cassell" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> <I><B>Cynthia Cassell for U.S. Congress</B></I></div> <div> In her bid for U.S. Congress representing Michigan's 13th District, <A HREF="http://www.ezcampaigns.com/Cassell/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ezcampaigns.com/Cassell/"><U>Cynthia Cassell</U></A> reports she has received enthusiastic support from the faith community in her bid to unseat the incumbent.</div> <div> In light of her own convictions and with moral issues such as same-sex marriage, human cloning, and abortion in the political spotlight, her backers now include 300 City of Detroit ministers. Cassell said that her candidacy offers a clear choice to votes who hold traditional values. She said a surprising number of activists are rallying around her in their effort to make a change.</div> <div> Cassell said that in addition to support in Detroit,<I><B><IMG SRC="f9e78c80.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="200" ALT="Susan Licata Haroutunian" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></B></I> she is finding backers among steel workers, other blue-collar workers, and in the Downriver area of the district. >><A HREF="http://www.ezcampaigns.com/Cassell/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ezcampaigns.com/Cassell/"><U><I>Cassell web site</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <I><B>Susan Licata Haroutunian for WSU Board</B></I></div> <div> In her statewide bid for the Wayne State University Board of Governors, Susan Licata Haroutunian reminds voters that she holds both a B.A. and J.D. from WSU.</div> <div> She views the school's biggest challenge as raising support for unglamorous, yet necessary infrastructure investments.</div> <div> Haroutunian's approach will be to spread word of this need to the thousands of loyal WSU alumni.<IMG SRC="f9c78c20.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="194" ALT="Cheryl Costantino" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="4"></div> <div> <I><B>Cheryl Costantino Campaigns for Commissioner</B></I></div> <div> Addressing the forum, Cheryl Costantino, candidate for Wayne County Commissioner District 1, said, “I keep my promises.” This, she notes, is in contrast to the incumbent who has a reputation for tardiness, and a record of missed meetings.</div> <div> Costantino reported she has been endorsed by mayors of the five Grosse Pointes, and Harper Woods, where she has served for nine years on the City Council. In addition, both the <A HREF="http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0410/04/a10-292329.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/04"><U><I>Detroit News</I></U></A> and <A HREF="http://www.freep.com/voices/editorials/ewcomm14_20041014.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.freep.com/voices/editorials/e"><U><I>Detroit Free Press</I></U></A> have gone on record endorsing her candidacy.</div> <div> “I go to all of his committee meetings to be in tune with the issues,” said Costantino referring to her effort to be prepared to step into the job now held by the incumbent.</div> <div> Costantino said that as Commissioner, she would build on her public record on the Harper Woods council by focusing on law enforcement, and by bringing jobs and businesses into the district.</div> <div> She said, “Voters want an elected official who is educated, does his homework, keeps his promises, and is an advocate for the people, not a career politician.”</div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club Forum is held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome. For more information, contact chairman Ed Joseph at (313) 343-2900, or contact us. >><A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><I>More events</I></U></A>.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="2004 Candidates Forum"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>