The candidates for the 69th district state House seat, Republican Susan McGillicuddy and Democrat Sam Singh, reiterated their frequent campaign points in the discussion, agreeing on the importance of investing in Michigan’s education and businesses but sparring on how to approach it.

Singh, commenting on other recent debates he and his opponent have held, said growing a community depends on students.

“If we are going to be a state that competes with other parts of the country and other parts of the world we need to be … investing in our students, we need to be investing in our communities,” Singh said.

McGillicuddy echoed Singh’s sentiments but said cutting taxes will better enable businesses to hire employees and improve the economy to keep people in Michigan.

“We’ve lost so many young people to other states,” she said.

Singh holds a heavy advantage over McGillicuddy in the race, as the district historically has voted Democratic and Singh has earned more fundraising support and endorsements.

Also present at the forum were state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, and East Lansing lawyer Andrea Larkin, who are competing for the 54-B district court judge seat and touted their judicial experience across the board.

Meadows said the 54-B court’s case load is unique given the number of cases concerning students.
Larkin said her experience with civil cases and infractions will be her strength in addressing student cases.

“My judicial philosophy is simple: I don’t make the law, I apply it,” she said.