An estimated 170 people filled the Glen Arbor Township Hall Monday night for the biennial Cherry Pie Debate, which featured candidates for the 103rd State House and 37th Senate.
And it didn’t disappoint. The Enterprise staff, League of Women Voters Leelanau County and IPR News Radio and Jacob Wheeler of the Glen Arbor Sun have been working diligently for the past several weeks to organize what is believed to be the only debate of its kind in northern Michigan. It pit- ted incumbent Democratic House nominee Betsy Coffia of Traverse City against Edwin Dean, the Republican nominee from Northport. Incumbent 37th district senator John Damoose sparred and Democratic challenger Kate Gallop of Cedar.
The candidates were queried on the subjects that impact residents of Leelanau County, and northern Michigan as well. Questions zeroed in on Line 5; affordable housing, short-term rentals; the statute of limitations on charges of criminal sexual conduct; data centers and AI.
At a time when tensions are running high and the airwaves are flooded with negative political advertise ments, it was great to see the candidates come together and field questions without vitriol or acrimony.
There was no name-calling and everyone in the audience was respectful of one another and the candidates as well.
It was a down-home event during which debate-goers had a piece of pie from Baker's Gamble and ice cream from Cherry Republic, and washed it down with coffee from Peddling Beans.
Like something from a Norman Rockwell piece, people came together to prepare themselves to vote in the Nov. 3 election.
An informed electorate is tantamount to the survival and success of a free, democratic society.
Don’t forget to vote Nov. 3.
