Candidates participate in forum

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Candidates participate in forum

Candidates participate in forum

By B. J. Conley

The candidates’ forum on Tuesday at the Boyne District Library was hosted by the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce. The candidates who participated were (from left to right) Barry Anderson, Tim Boyko, Triston Cole, Greg Dean Ken Glasser, Dennis Lennox and Greg McMaster.

BOYNE CITY — Taxes, state regulations and small businesses surfaced to the top as priorities at Tuesday’s candidate forum held at the Boyne District Library and hosted by the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce.

Seven candidates running for state representative for the 105th District participated by answering questions submitted to moderator Jim Baumann from the audience. The candidates were Barry Anderson, Tim Boyko, Triston Cole, Greg Dean, Ken Glasser, Dennis Lennox and Greg McMaster.

Most of the candidates advocated the FAIR tax saying it would lift the burden off small businesses. Most also stated that the state of Michigan was driving small businesses out of doing business in Michigan and instead heading for other states.

“The number one and the number two issues are taxes and regulations, without a doubt. Every business person is struggling, every business person is running as fast as they can to keep their head above water. We failed to create a fair, flat and open tax that everybody could understand and do quickly.” candidate Tim Boyko said. “The number one issue right now is getting out of the way of business and letting them thrive.”

Candidate Triston Cole said that government’s role is not to create jobs, but to create an environment for jobs. “I am a proponent of the Michigan FAIR tax system and that takes the tax burden off of our economic engine. That is the answer to bringing jobs back to Michigan.”

Attitude factors into the situation, candidate Greg McMaster said. “Our businesses are closing up shop and they are moving out of the state because we’re not a business-friendly environment,” he said.

The tourism industry was recognized by the candidates as vital to Michigan’s economy. Most candidates supported the state of Michigan advertising to bring tourists to the state, such as Pure Michigan, although candidate Greg Dean said that while he agrees that Michigan is a tourist-based state, it’s not everything and the state needs to diversify.

On the subject of schools, an audience question prompted a discussion on teaching students who may not desire to go to college, but have a career in the trades.

‘We need the trades,” candidate Ken Glasser said. “If your plumbing breaks in the middle of the night, you want a plumber in the worst way, that’s a noble profession and we need to honor that.”

Responses to the subject of consolidation of public schools brought mixed answers from the candidates. Candidate Barry Anderson, who has an education background, said the county has three high schools and some consolidation in the areas of food and transportation is present within the school districts.

There were a few light and humorous moments during the forum. When candidate Greg McMaster tired of candidate Dennis Lennox’s jabs at him, one of which questioned the careers McMaster talks about, he responded to the 26-year-old Lennox.

“I’m 48 years old, I’ve lived . . . longer, I’ve done a little bit more,” McMaster said to a round of laughter and applause from the audience.