Area candidates discuss family issues

MARQUETTE - Eleven general election candidates got an opportunity to voice their views, especially about children's issues, at a public election forum in Marquette Friday.

The forum, hosted by the Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition, was held at the Women's Federated Clubhouse.

Candidates who spoke included county commissioner candidates for District 3 Scott Bouma and incumbent Democrat Bruce Heikkila, both of Marquette; Dist. 6 incumbent Paul Arsenault, D-Ishpeming; Sheriff Michael Lovelace, D-Ishpeming; 109th State Rep. Steve Lindberg, D-Marquette, and challengers Doreen Takalo, R-West Branch Township and Richard Hendricksen, I-Marquette; Marquette County Prosecutor Gary Walker, D-Marquette, and challenger Cathy Church; and Circuit Court Judge Family Court candidates Jennifer Mazzuchi of Marquette and Kevin Koch of Negaunee.

Koch, a local attorney with his own practice, said he has had a great deal of involvement in cases that would be adjudicated in the family court.

"I have been training for this position for the past three decades," Koch said.

Mazzuchi said she has worked as an assistant prosecutor for the past 11 years, preparing her for family court work as well.

"Pretty much on a daily basis, I'm encountering kids in crisis," Mazzuchi said. "The work I'm doing every day prepares me real well for the family court docket."

Mazzuchi said she also has trial court experience. She said she's always advocating what's right for the child in the cases she works on.

Bouma said he would like to create room in the county budget for family and children's services, by saving money through green practices.

"It is a high priority for me, family and children's issues," Bouma said.

Heikkila supports a wide range of programs the county contributes funding to, ranging from 4-H to anti-gang education programs. But he said not everyone has benefited.

"The county does do a lot of programs for families and children, (but) there's still a lot that slip through the cracks," he said.

Arsenault said voters can help families by electing candidates that will be willing to help the county challenge the state's "shift and shaft" tactics of mandating services, but providing no funding to pay for those services.

Lovelace said he has procured more than $1 million in grant funds over the past year alone and worked on creating more than 34 programs in his 12 years as sheriff and 34 years in local law enforcement.

"I've been involved with children and schools and families my entire career," Lovelace said.

Church, a 14-year former assistant prosecuting attorney, said she supports working in homes to curb societal violence.

"Violence and society's ills are home-grown," Church said. "Family violence has affected, I would dare say, every person in this room."

Walker, Marquette County's prosecuting attorney for the past 35 years, agreed with Church that violence should be dealt with at home where it is learned.

"It is very necessary that we protect our children," Walker said. "I think that is the measure of any civilized society."

Hendricksen said his issue is the economy.

"I believe we're on a precipice, we're in a really bad state," Hendricksen said.

Lindberg said as a grandfather and great-grandfather, he wants to leave a legacy for his family as good as he had growing up.

"I believe with all my heart the children are our future," Lindberg said.

Takalo said she has a great deal of background dealing with children and is currently working on the West Branch community center at Sawyer, as a significant issue important to children.

"What do we have without our kids," Takalo said. "They are our legacy."