Candidate Forums 2022

ICYMI, below are recordings of League-sponsored or co-sponsored “meet the candidate” forums, candidate debates, and voters’ rights webinars from 2022. Also included here are recorded webinar events surrounding proposals and other ballot issues in 2022. (For recordings of informational webinars, educational workshops, and the DPL/LWVD collaborative series, go to Recordings/Past Events.)

Detroit School Board Virtual Candidate Forum

[October 13, 2022] Chalkbeat and WDET hosted a virtual forum for candidates running for the Detroit school board.

Two former board presidents, a few former educators, four incumbents, parents, and a recent graduate are among the 18 candidates running for four seats on the Detroit school board in what could be a consequential election for the city school district.

​​The seven-member board oversees and sets policy for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which educates nearly 49,000 students. With more than half of the four-year seats up for election on November 8, any new board members could affect Superintendent Nikolai Vitti’s plan to address pandemic-related enrollment losses, chronic absenteeism, and poor academic achievement.

Watch a recording of this event HERE.

The forum was split into two panels with a short intermission.

Panel 1

Panel 2

Incumbent Georgia Lemmons and candidate Reba Neely did not respond to an invitation to attend.

Article by Caroline Bauman (October 10, 2022) at BridgeDetroit.

DPL/LWVD Collaborative Series Presents⏤ Ballot Issues: Term Limits, Reproductive Rights & Voting Rights

Image Credit: Ruth Koelewyn

[October 11, 2022] The Detroit League and Detroit Public Library hosted an educational session regarding the constitutional amendments on the November ballot with Eric Lupher of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan leading the review. This program was designed to inform voters, not to persuade them.

Click HERE for a link to this recorded session.

Brought to you by the Detroit League of Women Voters and the Detroit Public Library, partnering in talks promoting voter education and tools for action.

MI Supreme Court Candidate Forum

[September 21, 2022] LWVMI and the Jewish Bar Association of MI hosted a virtual candidate forum for Michigan voters to hear from candidates running for the MI Supreme Court.

To view the recorded forum, click here.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

Be sure to read the forum review from Bridge Michigan.

LWVD/DPL Collaborative Series County Commissioners and Judges: Weighing Local Government

Image Credit: Ruth Koelewyn

[September 13, 2022] Elections for federal and state offices seem to take all the attention when people are making decisions in voting. Have you ever gotten to the bottom of the ballot and realized you have no idea how to decide between candidates? Learn about the roles of county commissioners and judges to help you make an informed choice when voting in the General Election.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT

Former County Commissioner Edna Bell, and current County Commission Counsel, Felicia Johnson shared what role this local governing body has in relation to other local executive offices such as the mayor’s office and city council, what skills to look for in a commissioner, and which issues you might want to contact your commissioner about.

Retiring Judge Deborah Thomas shared information on how the court system functions in our local government, what to consider when reviewing candidates for this non-partisan role, and how to research candidates for this role.

This event was co-sponsored by the Detroit League of Women Voters and the Detroit Public Library, partnering in talks promoting voter education and tools for action.

CANDIDATE FORUM⏤Wayne County Sheriff

[July 26, 2022] The League of Women Voters of Detroit in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Tau Alpha Omega Chapter, and the Detroit Alumnae Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held a special candidate forum for Wayne County Sheriff.  The forum was privately recorded via Zoom, with LWV Secretary Rhonda Craig as moderator.

Watch the candidate forum HERE.

FMI on candidates running for Wayne County Sheriff, see the WDET MI Primary Election 2022 Candidate Guide.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM: 3rd Circuit Court Judge of Circuit Court

[July 20, 2022] The League of Women Voters of Detroit in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Tau Alpha Omega Chapter, and the Detroit Alumnae Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held a special candidate forum for 3rd Circuit Court Judge of Circuit Court.  The forum was privately recorded via Zoom, with LWV Secretary Rhonda Craig as moderator.

Watch the candidate forum HERE.

The American Bar Association recommends eight criteria for evaluating candidates for state judicial office. Read: What Information Should Voters Use When Choosing Judges?

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM⏤US Congress, District 13

[July 12, 2022] The League of Women Voters Grosse Pointe, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Detroit, held a special candidate forum for the U.S. Congress, 13th District Primary Race.  The forum was privately recorded via Zoom, with League members serving as moderators and timekeepers.

This was the first time LWVGP has hosted a candidate forum for a federal Congressional seat.

The League invited 10 candidates to participate:

John Conyers, III (D), Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D), Michael Griffie (D), Adam Hollier (D), Sharon McPhail (D), Sam Riddle (D), Portia Roberson (D), Lorrie Rutledge (D), Shri Thanedar (D) and Martell D. Bivings (R).

A total of seven candidates committed with five actually participating; Michael Griffie joined too late to be included and Martell Bivings was a no-show.

CLICK HERE to view the recording of this event.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM: MI State Senate, 6th District ⏤ Democratic Primary

[June 30, 2022] League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County hosted a private candidate forum via Zoom for the Democratic Primary State Senate, District 6. Three Democrats are running. All were invited, but only two appeared at the forum.

CLICK HERE to view the recording for this event.

Sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Northwest Wayne County, which serves the communities of Canton, Garden City, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Redford, Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township, Wayne and Westland, Michigan.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM: MI State Representative, 3rd District ⏤Democratic Party Nominees

[June 28, 2022] The League of Women Voters of Dearborn – Dearborn Heights (LWV-DDH) hosted a candidate forum featuring Democratic candidate nominees running in Michigan’s upcoming 3rd District primary race for State Representative.

CLICK HERE to view the recording for this event.

For more information on LWV-DDH, please visit http://www.lwvddh.org/.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM: MI State Representative, 15th District ⏤ Democratic Party Candidates

[June 27, 2022] The League of Women Voters of Dearborn – Dearborn Heights (LWV-DDH) hosted a candidate forum featuring Democratic candidate nominees running in Michigan’s upcoming 15th District primary race for State Representative.

CLICK HERE to view the recording of this event.

For more information on LWV-DDH, please visit http://www.lwvddh.org/.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM: Wayne County Commissioner, 13th District ⏤ Republican Party Candidates

[June 29, 2022] The League of Women Voters of Dearborn – Dearborn Heights (LWV-DDH) hosted a candidate forum featuring Republican candidate nominees running in Michigan’s upcoming 13th District primary race for Wayne County Commissioner.

Click here to view the recording of this event.

For more information on LWV-DDH, please visit http://www.lwvddh.org/.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM ⏤ 11th District MI House of Representatives

[June 28, 2022] This was a private forum via Zoom.

CLICK HERE to view the recording for this event.

Co-sponsored by the Grosse Pointe, Detroit, and Macomb Leagues.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM⏤1st District, Wayne County Commissioner

[June 29, 2022] This was a private forum via Zoom.

CLICK HERE for the recording of this event.

Co-sponsored by the Grosse Pointe and Detroit Leagues.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

CANDIDATE FORUM⏤10th District MI House of Representatives

[June 16, 2022] This was a private forum via Zoom. View the recording of this event here.

Cosponsored by the Grosse Pointe and Detroit Leagues.

This candidate forum is the property of the League of Women Voters and cannot be used for campaign purposes or any other use without the express written consent of the LWV.

Reproductive Rights: Overview and Advocacy

[June 8, 2022] This webinar reviewed what’s happening around reproductive rights at both the national and state level.  Attached is a copy of the slide deck, which has hyperlinks to numerous resources for your advocacy and organizing work. Click here to watch the workshop recording.

Sponsored by LWVUS. For further reading: There is No Equality Without Reproductive Rights.

A Snapshot of the Michigan Ballot Initiatives

[April 12, 2022] Michigan’s November ballot will include multiple proposals, both from petitions currently circulating and from others still being developed with many of these conflicting proposals surrounding the right to vote

In this session, Eric Lupher of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan reviewed the current status of petitions already being circulated in Michigan, as well as the intended purposes of petitions still being developed. Lupher informed participants about the petitions, without supporting or discrediting them.

Click the link below to watch the recording of this presentation:

Michigan Redistricting: A Model for the Nation? Evaluating the State’s New Maps and Process

[January 19, 2022] This webinar analyzed and evaluated Michigan’s new redistricting approach and new maps. The discussion offered a national perspective, comparing Michigan’s new approach of an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission with approaches in other states. Will Michigan’s new model inspire reform in other states? Watch the recording for a lively discussion on these critical topics that will shape elections and decision-making in Michigan for the next decade.

Featuring ⏤ Moderator: Matt Grossmann, Director, Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University. Panelists: David Daley, Senior Fellow, FairVote and author, Unrigged; Jon X. Eguia, Professor of Economics and (by courtesy) of Political Science, Michigan State University; Nancy Wang, Executive Director, Voters Not Politicians; Edward Woods III, Communications and Outreach Director, Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.


Click the link to view the recording: https://youtu.be/FAAVQqksIS8

This is the final redistricting webinar in a series sponsored by the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, Voters Not Politicians (VNP), and Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR).  Co-sponsors: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, League of Women Voters of Michigan, University of Michigan’s Program in Practical Policy Engagement, and Detroit Public Television. 

The purpose of these webinars is to educate and engage the public in Michigan’s redistricting process.  There will be time for questions from the public after brief presentations from the panelists.  Please also submit your questions in advance when you register for the webinar here.

For more information contact closup@umich.edu

Forum on MI Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Maps ⏤ RECORDED

[October 18, 2021] The Detroit League and the Detroit Public Library sponsored a virtual forum to discuss the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission draft maps.  This was a special opportunity to hear about the maps and how they reflect the communities in Michigan in general and specifically in Wayne County. There are three LWV members who have been monitoring the Committee’s process and who have worked to encourage Communities of Interest to be included:

To view the recording for this event, click here.

 For more information on the Commission and draft maps ⏤ https://www.michigan.gov/micrc.  

July 2021 Primary Candidate Forums⏤RECORDED

[July 2021] The League of Women Voters of Detroit in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Tau Alpha Omega Chapter (https://akatao.net) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Detroit Alumnae Chapter (https://detroitdeltas.org/who-we-are/) hosted a series of Candidate Forums for the August 3, 2021 Primary.

Redesigning the Detroit Police Commission ⏤ RECORDED

[June 15, 2021] Melanie White, Interim Secretary for the Detroit Police Commission, and Denzel McCampbell, Detroit City Charter Revision Commissioner, were panelists for the forum about the City Charter and the Police Commission. Besides understanding the roles of these commissions, the panel focused on revisions the Charter Revision Commission recommended to change the role of the Police Commission if the Charter revisions are approved via voting on Proposal P in the August 3 primary.

According to the Citizens’ Research Council of Michigan, “the Detroit Charter Revision Commission is an elected body voted on by the citizens of Detroit to construct and revise a document designed to provide the mechanism for accomplishing the myriad of tasks assigned to city officials to govern. Three essential responsibilities of the Charter Revision Commission include:

To view the recording, click the link below: https://zoom.us/rec/share/gDTXqv3l7X5HI7qftxbqnRKFypDfjLN8-wQPeXvjFZj8lVeDAdhBSo1gVK3CVe_N.I_V3uKqNoo-BBElc

MI Redistricting Forum ⏤ RECORDED

AKA/LWV Michigan Redistricting Forum flyer

[April 8, 2021] Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority-Tau Alpha Omega Chapter and the Detroit League of Women Voters hosted the first in a series of 2021 collaborative forums regarding Michigan’s redistricting efforts. The guest speaker was Charles Thomas, Jr., minister for People of Purpose Ministries, a long-standing distinguished member of LWV, a member of several voting rights groups, and a founding member of the Detroit League’s Speakers Bureau.

Click the link below to watch the recorded event:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/S5zO6F2FWb6Pqzh–Vhx4XoRVYxfy2Ld8zTgCRphCWmB-InGapy65n-8gdmKtVfd._YusGAYqIVmaACot 

MI Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission ⏤ RECORDED

Image Credit: Ruth Koelewyn

[March 9, 2021] The Detroit Public Library and Detroit League of Women Voters offered another virtual presentation in their 2021 collaborative series with the first-ever discussion with the MI Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, who presented a history of the commission as well as where they are in their current deliberations and their timeline to redraw the electoral districts in Michigan. One of our Detroit League members has been monitoring the Commission on behalf of the State League and she reported on how the Commission is functioning. 

To review this recorded event, click this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X6Ah9nav63Va77OQM76Uv77yOhgUbryk/view?ts=604b9fa6

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