WMU News

Office of Government Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5247 USA
(269) 387-2072

Candidate forum for local state House seats set for Oct. 5

Photo of a House chamber.
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Candidates for four Michigan House of Representatives seats will answer questions at a public forum Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Fetzer Center at Western Michigan University.

Andy Robins, news editor for WMUK 102.1 FM, the University's public radio station, will moderate the forum for candidates who will appear on the ballot for the 60th, 61st, 62nd and 63rd House districts. Those districts represent Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties, including the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage and Battle Creek.

Candidates

  • 60th District—Rep. Jon Hoadley, incumbent, Democrat; Alex Ross, Republican; and Logan Fleckenstein, Libertarian. 
  • 61st District—Rep. Brandt Iden, incumbent, Republican; John Fisher, Democrat; and Ryan Winfield, Libertarian.
  • 62nd District—Rep. John Bizon, incumbent, Republican; Jim Haadsma, Democrat; and Michelle Gregoire, Libertarian.
  • 63rd District—Rep. Dave Maturen, incumbent, Republican; Lynn Shiflea, Democrat; John Anthony LaPietra, Green Party.

Event format

Candidates will give short introductory statements and then respond to questions in a roundtable format. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions for consideration to the forum moderator. Each candidate will also give brief closing remarks.

A voter registration table hosted by the Western Student Association will be open before and after the forum in the Fetzer Center lobby. Oct. 11 is the deadline for Michigan citizens to register to vote. Candidate and election information will also be available in the lobby.

Faculty members who are interested in giving students extra credit for attending the forum may request that a sign-in sheet be available at the door. Contact the Office of Government Affairs at @email or (269) 387-2072.

The forum is being hosted by several WMU entities: the Office of Government Affairs, Department of Political Science, Faculty Senate, WMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Western Student Association, Graduate Student Association, and Friends of WMU political action committee.

For more information about the candidate forum, contact the WMU Office of Government Affairs at @email or (269) 387-2072.

For more information about voting, including eligibility and deadlines for voting absentee, visit wmich.edu/vote.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.