Candidates competing in the Nov. 2 statewide election debated at the Dearborn City Council Chambers in a public forum held by the League of Women Voters of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights on Sep. 29. 

A debate between state representative candidates for the 15th district took place and included Republican Suzanne Sareini, Dearborn City Council President Pro Tem, Dearborn City Councilman and Democrat George Darany, and Taxpayers Party rep. Daryl Smith, a supply chain professional for the automotive industry and other companies.

Sareini plans on reducing government.  “Government has tried to do everything, control everything and fund everything, and now they can’t afford it, and they’re not willing to make the choice of what should stay and what can’t stay. I think that government needs to live within its means,” Sareini said. “I want to turn the page. I want to create a Michigan that has a single vision for all of our futures, one that doesn’t put schools against cities, one that doesn’t put businesses against labor. We need to work together. Both parties need to come up with a dialogue and common set of goals.” Sareini says the Michigan business tax should be repealed to make Michigan more attractive to new businesses.  Darany agreed with her.

“As a businessman myself I can tell you the government doesn’t create jobs, small businesses do,” Darany said. He plans on  assuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, creating jobs, strengthening the education system, keeping police and firefighters on the street and removing government road blocks so local businesses can create jobs.

“Lansing is broken, and we must reform our state government and get our economy back on track.” Darany said.

Smith thinks Michigan should become a right to work state in order to become more competitive.  “We need to change state labor laws and become a Right to Work state,” Smith said. He thinks the Michigan business tax should be compared with other states and benchmarked rather than removed. Smith said lowering sales tax on products made in Michigan would benefit small business owners.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano’s opponent, Republican Mario Fundarski, a Michigan State graduate in political science and history as well as a navy veteran, also spoke at the event. Ficano, who is projected to win  the election by a wide margin, was not present.

“My opponent’s administration has failed the people of Wayne County. We are currently $226 million in debt. If you’re satisfied with the way the government has been for decades, vote for my opponent,” Fundarski said.

Sareini also spoke about the importance of unions.

“Unions have to work with businesses, we have work together. I’m not against unions. I know if they work together we can come through this together,”  she said.

She plans to personally work with small business owners to improve economic conditions. Darany also showed support for unions, saying they created the middle class.  Sareini said she would continue fighting for higher education standards.  “We have to have an educated work force in order to stabilize our economy,” she said.

PHOTO: State representative candidates for Michigan’s 15th district. From left, Dearborn City Council President Pro Tem Suzanne Sareini, Dearborn City Councilman George Darany and the Taxpayers Party’s Daryl Smith.  PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN