Members of the MSU and East Lansing communities will get an opportunity to meet the four candidates running for East Lansing City Council in an open discussion forum tonight.
The Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience, or MRULE, is hosting the event, which will be held at 7 p.m. in Room C131 of Hubbard Hall. This is the first time the candidates will meet to discuss issues with voters.
In November, voters will be able to elect two councilmembers from incumbents Vic Loomis and Bill Sharp and newcomers John Fournier and Kevin E. Beard to serve on the five-member council.
All four candidates confirmed attendance to the forum and will each have an opportunity to speak on such issues as civil rights and how the relationship between the university and East Lansing can be improved, said Jon Hoadley, women's studies and social relations senior and MRULE student leader.
MRULE invited the candidates and are hosting this forum because the organization could draw a diverse mix of people with diverse issues, Hoadley said.
Fournier, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior and City Council candidate, said he was interested in the forum because of MRULE's mission.
"MRULE does good work to create dialogue on race issues and the real fractures that exist in society," he said. "East Lansing is not a particularly racially diverse city, so as far as race issues the city faces today, there aren't many because of that."
The forum tonight will not be the last opportunity for voters to hear the candidates speak because organizations such as ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, will hold others, said Sharp, an incumbent councilmember.
"When I am asked to do something like that, I do - it is just a part of good campaigning," he said. "It is a chance for voters to see a person and not just a picture, listen and ask questions that may not be answered in the paper. I won't ask them questions. This is an opportunity for them to ask."
Beard said the forum being held on campus is unique but will benefit current and possible student voters.
"It will be a different environment than the candidates are used to," he said. "We are used to a neighborhood host or something of that sort. Not enough students get involved in the East Lansing political process - anything to bring the election to their doorstep is one in the right direction."
But incumbent Councilmember Loomis said the location doesn't matter because student voters do not differ from permanent residents as voters.
"They are members of the community and they have the same opportunity to vote," Loomis said. "People will see there is a clear difference in the candidates."
Criminal justice sophomore Nicole Wheatley said she doesn't stay informed on East Lansing politics, but she is interested.
"I'm not from here, but I'm going to be here for the next two years," Wheatley said. "It is important I know about the city around me."
