Two candidates for the 14th District Kent County Commission seat debated on Tuesday on a forum televised on Grand Rapids’ public access television station GRTV. The forum, hosted by Westside Connection and moderated by Barbara Sue Damore, featured two of the three candidates running in the August 8 primary—Republican Holly Marie Zuidema and Democrat Carol Hennesy. The 14th District covers Grand Rapids’ Westside and a map is available on the Kent County website (http://www.accesskent.com) to help voters identify their district.

A summary of the questions and responses:

Question: What is your plan for gang activity and limiting graffiti in the 14th District?

Holly Marie Zuidema (HMZ): Within the 14th District graffiti is a city issue and there is a city hotline that should be called when graffiti is seen in order to get it cleaned up quickly. Supporting neighborhood associations and building relationships between neighbors can also make graffiti less likely.

Carol Hennesy (CH): Getting rid of graffiti immediately takes away the pleasure of those doing graffiti. She explained that the Sibly Tunnel is cleaned up once per week and it has deterred graffiti writers and people feel safer without graffiti and that has led to increased usage. She also explained that talking to people in the neighborhood can make for an unappealing climate for graffiti.

Q: Do you support a countywide millage for expanded 911 service?

HMZ: She is “not crazy” about raising taxes and she believes that we need to explore all options before there is a countywide 911 system.

CH: The issue has been on the Commission’s plate for a few years and while some areas of the county do not have 911 service everyone deserves it. The millage would extend service to more places and also upgrade Grand Rapids services, but in light of the fact that Grand Rapids already has 911 service and contributes 1/3rd of the county’s property taxes, there has to be some funding equity.

Q: Is enough money being spent on bird flu?

HMZ: This is just one issue that gets a lot of press, but there are other issues relating to preparedness for influenza and there is intra-agency coordination.

CH: There are county, city, hospital, and state government officials working on this. There is a planning system in place for a variety of flu viruses and there is testing at the county level for suspicious birds at the county level (for both West Nile and bird flu).

Q: What would each of you do to create more jobs?

HMZ: At the county level she would make the area business friendly by lowering taxes and limiting ordinances and regulations.

CH: It is important to create an interest in downtown Grand Rapids, which the Commission has done by locating county offices downtown and being involved in the DeVos Place. She believes it is important to keep Grand Rapids a “cool city” by spending county money to keep urban center strong.

Q: How much experience do you have working in government?

HMZ: Has not held a government position, but as a realtor she is a small business owner and has relevant experience from that. She said that she unique outlook on growth due to experience living in Chinese urban center. Her experience in China would help her in developing incentives for development and preserving green space.

CH: Her volunteer work has put her in touch with many government officials and her work with Healthy Kent 2010 has involved work with the Community Health Department in Lansing.

Q: What would you do to get revenue sharing money back to the city and county?

CH: Revenue sharing money belongs to the city and county and the city’s share is currently shrinking and the county is not getting any. She explained that it is a challenge to get money from state sales tax and a failure to get it can cause a cut in services. The county earned $13.5 million in interest last year and she has questions about where and if that money has gone and argued that it should be spent to keep the city of Grand Rapids vibrant as a regional center.

HMZ: She said that nobody knows what the city and county are doing with revenue sharing money down to the penny. She said that there needs to be more transparency in this regard, especially if people are going to the state for fair funding. She emphasized that they are more likely to get the funding for specific plans and projects.

Q: Do you support monies for farmland preservation?

CH: She is not supportive at this point. She supports it theoretically but prefers to use foundation, state, and federal money instead of using county money to buy up parcels of land. She supports hiring someone at the county level to work with farmers to help them remain viable and to find markets for produce.

HMZ: She agrees with Hennesy and said that buying up random parcels of land tends to make sprawl worse and would instead like to see a master plan that encourages developers to build up instead of sprawl.

Q: How do you feel about taxes, what is the role of public money, and how responsible is the county for it?

CH: The county is the steward of our tax dollars which are paid for services. She is pleased with the current level of services and the county’s current budget, which she said takes in $1.59 for every dollar spent. She says that this surplus is good for getting bonds for projects, but wonders if there could be room in the budget for seniors, 911 service, transportation, and Millenium Park. She prefers not to pay more taxes.

HMZ: The county has done a good job living within its means and that it is best not to raise taxes in light of heating and healthcare prices. She supports maintaining services at current levels and warned that high taxes drive business away.

Q: What are your thoughts on the living wage?

HMZ: The problem with the living wage is that requiring contractors to pay a certain wage (i.e. $12.50 an hour) will result in them dropping benefits whereas lower wages (i.e. $9.50) often include health coverage. She says it is a noble idea but that it drives away jobs and limits benefits.

CH: She prefers to approach this on a state level rather than city-by-city. You need to look not only at the lowest bid in contracting but also the track record of the company, training programs that they offer for employees, and the number of apprenticeships that they offer.

Q: Do you support a program for free admission to low-income people at John Ball Zoo?

HMZ: There are already free days and the zoo is a business that must pay operating costs. She would like to see a summer pass that would allow unlimited admission to all attractions for one price.

CH: She remembers when the zoo was free and appreciates the current free zoo days and would also like to see a coordinated pass. She said that the zoo is clearly good for the Westside as attendance has been up this year but that it could perhaps be funded through the parks system rather than the convention authority.

Q: What is you educational background?

HMZ: She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese literature and she taught in the Chinese education system for three years.

CH: She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s school of journalism and she has worked as a journalist covering county government.

Q: What can be done to increase voter turnout? What keeps people from the polls?

CH: People will go to the polls if candidates are known or if the voters care about the issues. She believes in the importance of going door-to-door and encourages people to not only vote but also to get involved in neighborhood organizations. She emphasized the “power of one” and stressed the idea that one person or one vote can make a difference.

HMZ: She said people are voting, but the majority are doing it on American Idol. People vote in similar reality shows because they care about the shows; she wonders how we can get the same energy into community politics when so many people have become jaded about the process.