Everything from the “Voting is Sexy” T-shirts offered to those who submitted questions for the moderator to the actual debate questions themselves was geared toward the student population during the East Lansing 54B District Court judicial candidate debate hosted by ASMSU on Thursday evening.
East Lansing attorney Andrea Larkin and state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, went blow-by-blow in student issues before a mixture of roughly 40 students, faculty members and residents in the Lincoln Room of Kellogg Center.
Both candidates showed support of flexibility in the sentencing of first-time offenders and agreed on making party-litter violations less of a judicial issue and more of one for Parking and Code Enforcement, or PACE.
“If you have Solo cups on your lawn, what nuisance is that creating?” Larkin said.
Candidates also were asked about parking laws and their stance on the issue, which candidates agreed to take on a case-by-case basis.
“Sixty-six percent of the (court’s) load is parking-related,” Meadows said. “I think judges have discretion on this issue … If (judges) find someone not guilty, the lightbulb will go on over PACE’s head.”
Although Larkin showed avid support for legislation that advocates the use of treatment such as counseling and community service as punishment for some crimes, Meadows showed some trepidation toward using those punishments.
Larkin cited her experience with her children, as well as her legal background, as her qualifications for the position, while Meadows said his experience with the ordinances put into effect during his 11 years on the East Lansing City Council has prepared him to be a judge.
Even the first-time moderator, state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, an MSU alumna, was tuned in to the young population and used her daughter’s hot pink wristwatch to keep time during the event.
Miller said the 54B District Court judicial position is especially prevalent for students because they see nearly all court cases pertaining to underage drinking and party ordinances — issues notoriously violated by undergraduate students.
“I’ve heard there’s a presidential election (this November),” Vice President for Governmental Affairs Dylan Miller said. “But if you or one of your friends get a (minor in possession), it’s not the president that they’re going to be standing in front of — it’s one of these people.”
Because of the 54B District Court election’s strong impact on students’ lives, Miller said the debate, which also was free for the public, was hosted on campus to make it convenient for students to attend and learn about the candidates.
“Students have busy lives,” Miller said. “We’re not trying to bring the students out to the politics; we’re trying to bring the politics to them.”
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