Name: Casandra Ulbrich
Age: 35
Municipality of residence: Rochester Hills
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Education: AA, St. Clair County Community College; BA, University of Michigan; MA, Wayne State University; PhD candidate (ABD), Wayne State University
Occupation: Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Wayne State University
Government-related experience: Member of the State Board of Education
1) Why are you running for state Senate?
I am running because I can no longer watch as leadership is replaced by partisan bickering. As a member of the State Board of Education, I am part of a bi-partisan board that puts party aside for the best interest of our state, a philosophy I will take to Lansing.
2) What is your plan to help improve Michigan’s economic condition (i.e. attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones)? We should continue supporting entrepreneurship opportunities. We have among the best higher education institutions in the country. With 15 public universities, Michigan is in a unique position to capitalize on the cutting-edge research taking place. These innovations can be commercialized into companies that will hire highly skilled workers.
3) Where do you stand on the issue of tax increases versus spending cuts? Which do you favor in order to deal with the state’s budget problems and why? Neither alone will solve our budget problems. Michigan needs to rethink the structure in which we operate. This includes re-prioritizing our spending, reforming state government to create efficiencies and evaluating corporate tax breaks to identify and eliminate waste.
4) What is your plan to help fix the state’s school funding problems? The State Board of Education recently engaged in a six-month process, which included public participation, to identify recommendations that will both enhance and support public education in the state of Michigan. The report, which includes a number of recommendations passed on to the legislature, can viewed at www.michigan.gov/sbe
*****
Name: Jim Marleau
Age: 63
Municipality of residence: Lake Orion
Party Affiliation: Republican
Education: Certified Municipal Finance Administrator (CMFA), C.M.U.; Associates in Business Administration (ABA), University of Toledo.
Occupation: Mid-west Manufacturing Representative and Small Business Owner (Retired)
Government-related experience: Orion Township Treasurer (8 years), Republican State Representative (3 terms)
1) Why are you running for state Senate? I am running for the Michigan Senate because 29 of the 36 members are new due to term limits. Michigan needs the kind of experience I bring. As a business owner, township treasurer, and experience in the legislature…training wheels won’t be necessary.
2) What is your plan to help improve Michigan’s economic condition (i.e. attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones)? Michigan can be a TOP-TEN destination for job-providers. First, over taxation and regulation must go. The 3 largest budgets are schools, prisons, and welfare health care. Quality schools attract jobs. Prison spending should be cut-like Bouchard has done locally-and welfare recipients should NOT have better health care than working families.
3) Where do you stand on the issue of tax increases versus spending cuts? Which do you favor in order to deal with the state’s budget problems and why? Cut Spending–our current tax and spend policies do not work. Michigan is a beautiful place to live, but job-providers and families can’t afford our great state. See what I believe we need to get Michigan working, read my 12 Steps: Cut Spending & Right Size Government at www.jimmarleau.com.
4) What is your plan to help fix the state’s school funding problems?. Proposal A reduced property taxes and assured most sales tax went to schools. But the tax system needs to match the new economy — not by raising taxes, but by closing loopholes and making sure the burden is shared. Finally, public and private employee benefits need to be aligned.