Cherry pie, ice cream, debating.
Candidates for Michigan’s 103rd House District and 37th Senate District will debate in Leelanau County on Monday, Oct. 5 at the Glen Arbor Township hall.
The Cherry Pie Debate is organized by the Leelanau Enterprise and Interlochen Public Radio, with the Glen Arbor Sun on board this year, too.
The League of Women Voters of Leelanau County also helps shape the questions for the evening.
The heavyweight battle will feature John Damoose versus Kate Gallup, for the 37th Senate seat and Betsy Coffia versus Edwin Dean, for the 103rd seat in the state House During the debate, each candidate will give an opening and closing statement, along with answering specific questions within an allocated time for several rounds. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 to 8:30 p.m. debate.
Every two years, this event put candidates front-and-center in front of those they’re hoping to represent. The Leelanau Enterprise started the Cherry Pie Debate in 2014 and has become a fixture of northern Michigan politics.
Moderators for the event are Brian Freiberger, news editor of the Leelanau Enterprise; Ed Ronco, news director at Interlochen Public Radio; and Jacob Wheeler, editor and publisher of the Glen Arbor Sun.
A livestream of the event will be provided by 9&10 News.
And yes, there will be cherry pie and ice cream.
Admission is free (as is the pie and ice cream).
Over a hundred residents will settle into a seat with a slice of cherry pie and ice cream as they listen.
The debate will be streamed live online and 9&10 News will provide coverage.
