Moore, Segal face off for Rotarians

Nick Schirripa • The Enquirer • October 21, 2008

Greg Moore and Kate Segal faced off in a mostly cordial debate Monday for Battle Creek Rotarians, espousing many of the same ideas they've recited in recent weeks.

But the candidates for the state House District 62 seat have some clear differences when it comes to government spending. They spoke at the noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Battle Creek, held at Burnham Brook Center.

Segal, D-Battle Creek, said when it comes to the treasury, she believes elected officials have to take a look first in the mirror.

"Legislators need to learn to live within their means, and that means starting with themselves," she said. "They're out of touch with what Michigan families are working with and suffering through right now."

Segal said legislators' salaries and benefits need to be reduced and brought more in line with the private sector. She did not give specific numbers.

Moore, R-Athens, said government spending is a result of the priorities set by voters. The Legislature is a reflection of the electorate, he said, and that means if people want lawmakers to hold tight the purse strings, voters have to hold them accountable.

"We will go up and represent you, but if you don't support the things that we want to get accomplished, it's going to be a problem," he said. "If you're out advocating for more — your organization, your business, your group — folks, you're part of the problem. I can't continue to give you more and more and more without raising somewhere."

When asked about the partisan divide in Lansing, the candidates agreed more cooperative efforts are needed.

Segal said she believes she's demonstrated a bipartisan spirit as the chairwoman of the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, and she wants to take that spirit to the state Capitol.

"There's a lot of opportunities for job growth in the state and for health care that are going to take both sides of the aisle," she said. "That's what I'll do in Lansing. There's a few more people we have to work with, but it's going to take that relationship and it's going to take that extra time."

Moore said the partisanship that's divided Lansing lawmakers for the past couple years starts at the local level with voters.

"If you tell me, 'Greg, you need to go up to Lansing and work across the aisle, work with Democrats to get things done,' I agree with you," he said. "If you aren't willing to take a look across the aisle at people who are going to be the best for this community, how are we ever going to get it to happen in Lansing?"

Some of the partisan tension between the candidates has increased recently because of a Moore campaign flyer tying Segal's campaign to Michigan Coalition for Progress and Jon Stryker.

Moore said the handbill, which describes Stryker as a "billionaire homosexual activist ... spending tens of thousands of dollars ... to push a radical agenda and buy the election for Kate Segal," is a factual piece.

Although he wouldn't elaborate on why he thinks the group's agenda is radical, Moore admitted the leaflet had an edgy tone.

"It's an edgy race," he said. "The point of the piece is he's got a fringe agenda he's pushing and he's expecting people he backs in the Legislature. (Jon Stryker's) just not matching up with the people in this district. I'll leave it up to the voters to do their own research."

According to the group's Web site, "the Michigan Coalition for Progress is an independent progressive voice for the people of Michigan dedicated to holding our elected political leaders accountable. We are bringing people together to elect progressive leaders who are committed to moving Michigan forward."

Segal said she has received a $500 campaign contribution from Stryker, and she wouldn't say what she thought of the flyer.

The coalition is an independent group, she said, and she has nothing to do with its endorsements or advertisements.

Segal said she doesn't personally know Stryker, a Democratic-leaning philanthropist from Kalamazoo and grandson of the Stryker Corp. founder.

Nick Schirripa can be reached at 966-0692 or nschirrip@battlecr.gannett.com.

Originally published October 21, 2008
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