Michigan

Michigan task force created to spur political debates beginning with US Senate race

Published

2 weeks ago

April 30, 2024

Michigan task force created to spur political debates beginning with US Senate race

A coalition of Michigan groups, including the Detroit Economic Club, Oakland University and others, have formed a task force working to address a recent decline in the number of political debates by arranging more such events beginning with this year’s campaign for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.

On Monday, the Michigan Debate Task Force sent letters to the seven major party candidates — three Democrats and four Republicans — running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, informing them that whomever wins the Aug. 6 Democratic and Republican primaries will be invited to three debates to be held across the state in September and October ahead of the general election.

Third party candidates or independents appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot would also be invited to participate as long as they meet certain conditions, including polling at 5% or higher in at least two public and independent statewide polls in the month before the first debate, to be held in the Grand Rapids area on Sept. 12.

Other debates would be held in the Traverse City area on Oct. 10 and in metro Detroit on Oct. 22. That schedule, the group said, means the first would occur before absentee ballots are sent, the second before the beginning of Michigan’s early voting period and the third two weeks before Election Day, permitting voters “to hear from the candidates directly no matter how they wish to cast their ballot.”

More: Peter Meijer leaves GOP race for US Senate

Several state media organizations, including the Detroit Free Press, have endorsed the task force and its proposal to hold debates focused on issues of regional and statewide importance, as well as its mission to be an independent and neutral group convening political debates.

“Voters in Michigan are being deprived of important opportunities to hear directly and in an unfiltered settingfrom those who want to serve as the state’s leaders. This is a problem that is escalating across the nation,” the group said in a news release. “By hosting regular debates for statewide offices in Michigan, the task force will increase the opportunities voters have to hear directly from candidates rather than through controlled messages thus improving the quality of information available to voters during the campaign season.”

The group came together over the last couple of years as officials at Oakland University and the Detroit Economic Club began to independently look into ways of generating more debates, especially after the state’s 2022 elections. That year, there were no debates between the state attorney general and secretary of state candidates; two between the gubernatorial candidates were held after absentee ballots went out and less than four weeks before the election.

Eventually, the two groups joined forces and began looking for other partners, with the list growing to include the Economic Club of Traverse City, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Grand Valley State University, the Hispanic Center, the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, Northwestern Michigan College, the Urban League of Detroit and Southeast Michigan and the Urban League of West Michigan.

Dave Dulio, director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University, was one of those instrumental in bringing the task force together. He said the idea is to “change the dynamic that sees candidates control everything” that voters get to see before an election. And while, he said, it’s understandable that candidates wish to exercise such control, “that doesn’t mean it serves the public interest.”

“This is a long-term effort,” he said. “We’re not going to necessarily see the kind of debates that maybe we would all want right away but we can improve things incrementally. For the task force the idea is to do it with more frequency and with a neutral party — that being the task force — involved.”

If successful, he said, over time, candidates will learn to understand that they need to participate in the debates, which, for now, will be limited to statewide races, though Dulio said he could see the task force becoming a resource for regional or more local groups to arrange debates of their own.

As for beginning with the U.S. Senate race, Dulio said it’s a natural place to start: “It might be that in September one of the candidates has a pretty sizable polling lead and has a command on the race but my hunch is it’s going to be a close election,” he said. “It’s a hotly contested open seat race that could be the one that determines majority control of the U.S Senate for the next two years.”

The three Democrats who are expected to appear on the August primary ballot include U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, of Holly; Detroit actor Hill Harper and Dearborn businessman Nasser Beydoun. The Republican field includes former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers, of Brighton, and Justin Amash, of Cascade Township, Grosse Pointe businessman Sandy Pensler and west Michigan physician Sherry O’Donnell.

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler

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Michigan

Michigan’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.9%

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

Michigan’s April unemployment rate remains at 3.9%

Michigan’s jobless rate remained steady in April at 3.9% — the fourth consecutive month the number registered at 4% or less.

The monthly employment report was released Thursday by the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

Manufacturing and finance employment have dipped but that’s being made up in other sectors, said Labor Market Information Director Wayne Rourke.

“The big gains, they’re in industries like health care, they’re in industries like government,” he told Michigan Public Radio. “Construction’s doing very well, where the rest of them are just moving up and down a little every month and kind of staying flat.”

Overall, the report said non-farm employment in Michigan rose by about 37,000 jobs since the beginning of the year.

Rourke said Michigan’s jobs report is similar to what is happening in other states.

“Most of them are under 4 percent,” he said. “The U.S. actually matches Michigan this month. So, the story that we’re telling in Michigan is similar across most states – the jobless rates are really, really low and the payroll jobs have been increasing.”

Total employment in Michigan advanced by 1.1% since the beginning of the year. That is higher than the 0.3% national growth figure over the same period.

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Michigan

All-American Albany transfer CB Aamir Hall commits to Michigan

Published

13 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

All-American Albany transfer CB Aamir Hall commits to Michigan

Last year Michigan added UMass cornerback Josh Wallace via the transfer portal and Wallace would go on to be an integral part of Michigan’s secondary in 2023.

With both Wallace and Mike Sainristil now in the NFL and DJ Waller transferring, Michigan has added needed depth at the position in Albany transfer corner Aamir Hall.

Hall was an FCS All-American in 2023, tallying 57 tackles (37 solo) with five interceptions. Per PFF, Hall received an 85.7 overall PFF grade last season, a 73.0 passer rating allowed, and an 88.3 Coverage grade. Before playing for Albany Hall spent three years at Richmond where he totaled 106 tackles (61 solo), two interceptions, and 18 pass breakups.

Hall joins a cornerback room that includes Will Johnson, Ja’Den McBurrows, Myles Pollard, Jyaire Hill, and Keshaun Harris. It remains to be seen where Hall will rank on the depth chart. However, it’s fair to say that his experience along with sound tackling, savvy pass breakups, consistent interceptions, and solid coverage skills will have him carving out what could be a vital role on Michigan’s defense.

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Michigan

Are the Floodgates Open for Jonathan Smith’s In-State Pipeline?

Published

20 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Are the Floodgates Open for Jonathan Smith’s In-State Pipeline?

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith had many recruiting goals when he arrived in East Lansing.

Smith wanted to keep his West Coast pipeline — something he carefully built during his time at Oregon State — intact.

Smith had a goal to rebuild Michigan State through prolific recruiting in the Midwest.

His most important goal was to make the Green and White the premiere landing spot for Mitten-state talent.

This week, it has become apparent Smith could be on his way to achieving that goal.

Smith had already secured a commitment in April from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s three-star linebacker DJ White. White was the No. 2 linebacker in the state behind Dakota High School’s Di’Mari Malone, another three-star.

White is the No. 14 player in the state, per 247Sports. White, a former safety and quarterback, has great size — 6-foot-3, 190 pounds — instincts and speed for a linebacker. Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Joe Rossi will have plenty to work with. It is a very real possibility White outplays his three-star rating when he gets to East Lansing.

Smith secured Malone on Mother’s Day.

Malone was graded even higher than White by 247Sports. The site has him as the No. 1 linebacker and the No. 9 player in the state. Malone’s tape is electric. He shows uncanny ability in coverage, a combination of ball-skills and athleticism.

On Tuesday, Michigan State landed the state’s No. 1 running back in East Lansing High School’s Jace Clarizio. Clarizio is the No. 64 running back in the 2025 class and the No. 10 player in the state, according to 247Sports.

National recruiting analyst Allen Trieu touted Clarizio’s potential:

“Solid receiver out of the backfield although that is something he can keep getting more reps at,” he said. “All-around back with no real glaring deficiencies and should be a starter at the high-major level.”

Michigan State has received interest from other top in-state recruits.

The No. 1 athlete in the state, three-star Desmond Straughton of Roseville High School, has Michigan State among his top teams. Straughton plays safety and running back, and excels at both. He will likely find his home at safety. Straughton is the No. 6 player in the state and No. 18 nationally as an athlete.

The top tight end in the state, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Jayden Savoury, has Michigan State among his favorites as well. The 6-foot-6 basketball player-turned-football standout has a high ceiling. Savoury has an offical visit set for May 31.

Lately, Michigan State has been on a roll when it comes to securing 2025 in-state talent.

It could just be getting started.

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.

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