Decision 2008:

22ND DISTRICT STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TAYLOR -- Voters casting ballots in the 22nd District state House of
Representatives race Nov. 4 will choose from among four candidates.

On the ballot for the two-year term will be Douglas Geiss, a
Democrat; Darrell McNeill, a Republican; Dennis Schlemmer, a
Libertarian; and Charley Johnson, who has no party
affiliation.

The seat is open because state Rep. Hoon Yung-Hopgood (D-Taylor) is
serving his third and final term. Under state law, state
representatives can serve only three two-year terms.

The 22nd District encompasses Romulus and Taylor.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election
Day.

Each candidate was asked a series of questions reflecting issues
affecting the state and their candidacies. Their responses appear below:

Why are you running for state representative?

GEISS: I am running because I feel Michigan is at a crossroads.
Instead of simply complaining about the issues Michigan is confronted
with, I've chosen to get involved and seek bipartisan solutions.
Michigan is now facing its toughest challenges in its history. The
decisions made in the next two years will shape our state for decades
to come.

JOHNSON: I truly believe that this state can make a comeback if we
take party politics out of the equation. Now is the time to start
getting people elected that do not have any ties to political action
committees and special interest groups. We must get rid of the
good-old-boys' network and put the people of this state first.

McNEILL: To bring some common sense government back to the people of
the state of Michigan from the over taxing, over regulations and the
over spending.

SCHLEMMER: To give Michigan residents a reason to stay. Daily, I see
residents struggling to fill the gas tank, avoid home foreclosure,
find a job and the list goes on. Drastic changes are needed to save
Michigan. Partisan politics is what has put our state into the
position it is in. As a third-party candidate, I give voters another
option.

What ideas do you have to improve the economy in the
state?

GEISS: We need to streamline state bureaucratic processes to allow
businesses to create jobs. Too much red tape hinders new companies
from establishing businesses in Michigan. We need to create a
competitive tax structure. If the cost of doing business in Michigan
is higher than other states, why would a company build here? A
competitive tax structure is needed to bring jobs to Michigan.

JOHNSON: As you are all very aware, our state is in trouble. As your
state representative, I will work with my elected colleagues to put
pressure on the federal government to make this so-called world
economy a level playing field. When elected, I will push for
incentives to bring high-tech, well-paying jobs to our state.

McNEILL: Streamline state government spending and send more money back
to the taxpayer. Government is not the answer to everyone's problem.
The job of state government is to make sure that the people are safe
in their homes and it should get out of the way of those who want to
make Michigan a better place to live and work.

SCHLEMMER: Cutting costs, creating jobs, cutting taxes and attracting
people to the state will fix the economy. I would pro-pose a 25
percent pay cut for elected and appointed officials across the state.
This would send a strong message to the residents. There is a lot of
unnecessary spending that, if stopped, would save millions of dollars
a year.

How can the state help homeowners who are facing foreclosure?

GEISS: These are tough economic times, and we must do everything we
can to help working families. I support using the Adjustable Rate
Mortgage Refinance Program to assist homeowners in refinancing to a
lower-interest, fixed loan. I also support the Rescue Refinance
Program that assists individuals who are delinquent on their mortgage
and are at risk of losing their homes.

JOHNSON: Let me begin with the truth about what the status quo
politicians did with last year's budget, making us the laughing stock
of the nation. I am unsure that anything can be done as a result of
the failings of career politicians. I will fight to cut all the fat
out of the budget in hopes of lowering taxes to lessen future
foreclosures.

McNEILL: If the state had not raised both income taxes and gas taxes,
the taxpayers would have more money to help out this problem. The
state government stands in the way of the taxpayer to have a good home
and raise children.

SCHLEMMER: Educating homeowners on how to avoid foreclosure is one way
of helping. When most people get into a certain stage of financial
trouble, they come to a point where they become afraid to answer to
creditors. Some foreclosures could be avoided just by helping
homeowners realize that it may not be too late to stop
foreclosure.

Do you feel it is the responsibility of the state to help homeowners
who are facing foreclosure? Why or why not?

GEISS: The state should always help citizens in times of trouble. This
does not mean we give people a free ride. The initiatives I support
are funded through taxable bonds, and the homeown-ers will be
responsible for paying off their full mortgage. The state assistance
provides below-industry market rates without subsidies from taxpayers.

JOHNSON: At this time, the state has been taken out of the equation
because the federal govern-ment just passed (a $700 billion) bailout,
to help resolve the housing crisis.

The state is responsible to cut taxes, reduce government spending
allowing more money for homeowners to pay their mortgage.

McNEILL: Much of the blame comes from Lansing and much of the answer
will come from Lansing when common sense comes back to Lansing. When
state government overtaxes and overspends it means less freedom to
choose a nice home to buy. Blame is at the door of Lansing.

SCHLEMMER: No. It is not the responsibility of the state to bail out
those that have gotten them-selves into financial trouble. However,
due to the current situation some homeowners are in, I would support
certain programs to help them try to avoid foreclosure. I must stress
that I would only support these programs if they were at little or no
cost to taxpayers.

With the number of houses in foreclosure and property values
declining, how can the state help local governmental units who will be
seeing their tax revenues declining and the need for services
remain-ing the same or increasing?

GEISS: The state must fully fund the Revenue Sharing Act. The General
Property Tax Act should be amended to exempt increases in taxable
value from the Headlee millage rollback requirements following the
transfer of property. Public Act 312 of 1969 (police and fire
pensions) must be re-viewed/modified to better define ability to pay.
We must also end unfunded state mandates on local government.

JOHNSON: As a business owner, I live within my means and within my
budget. In tough times I have had to cut back. At this time, the state
needs to do the same. Fortunately, banks are paying the taxes on
foreclosed properties, so revenues have stayed pretty much the same.
When elected, I will fight for our fair share.

McNEILL: State government could get out of the way and allow the
counties and cities to do what they do best: pick up trash, pave local
roads, snow removal and enforce the laws. Local govern-ment can do a
better job without the state looking down its neck. At times, the
state is needed for help; however, not most of the time.

SCHLEMMER: Did not respond to this question.Do you support or oppose
the statewide ballot proposals and
why?

Proposal 1: Legalizing physician-approved marijuana
use?

GEISS: I support this proposal. It is not about drug use, but, rather,
being compassionate to those in serious pain. Under this proposal,
only a doc-tor can give the authority for their patients to obtain and
use marijuana. With health care and prescription drug costs
skyrocketing, using marijuana for medicinal purposes provides an
inexpensive, proven means to provide help to those in need.

JOHNSON: My support for this is a selfish one. I watched for four
years my dad fight multiple melanoma, going through chemo, radiation
and having to deal with two broken shoulders that would not heal. It
would have been nice to have an alternative to morphine.

McNEILL: I'm against this proposal on two levels. First, it just opens
the door to many other drugs to become legal and law enforcement has
their hands full without trying to find out what is or is not legal.
Second, using marijuana is still against federal law and the
enforcement will not stop.

SCHLEMMER: I support this proposal. It is long overdue. There is no
reason to deny medicinal marijuana to a patient whose quality of life
would improve if using it. It is time for the government to stop
intervening in the lives of citizens. If your neighbor smokes medical
marijuana, it does not hurt you, so why should you be concerned.

Proposal 2: A constitutional amendment to expand the use of human
embryonic stem cell research and prohibit the state and local
governments from restricting or discouraging human embryonic stem cell
research.

GEISS: I support Proposal 2. When read in detail, it puts key
restrictions in place to address moral concerns. The proposal only
allows stem cells left over from fertility treat-ments and scheduled
for destruction to be used if they were donated by the patient. Also,
the embryos can only be used within 14 days after cell division
begins, and cannot be bought or sold.

JOHNSON: I support medical research. I believe cord blood cell
research will produce the results. I also feel this proposal is too
big for elected officials to decide on. This is why it is being put
before the voters.

McNEILL: I oppose this proposal from a pro-life standpoint, and
because I believe changing the state constitution is a big deal that
should not be taken lightly. Once passed, state or local governments
would have a problem enacting any laws limiting it. To change the
state consti-tution, supporters should bring a proposal to have a
constitutional convention.

SCHLEMMER: Yes. This proposal will make it possible to conduct
research that will benefit mankind. The anti-Proposal 2
adver-tisements are very misleading. A lot of medical conditions and
diseases may be cured through stem cell research.