Fielder, Cavitt vie for 106th state House seat
Cam Cavitt
Marie Fielder
Cam Cavitt
Marie Fielder
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ALPENA -- Northeast Michigan will have a new state representative after the November election.
Voters will decide on Nov. 8 between Marie Fielder, a Democrat from Alpena, and Republican candidate Cam Cavitt, of Cheboygan County's Mullett Township to represent the 106th state House District.
Fielder, who describes herself as a moderate Democrat, says she is tired of Northeast Michigan not having a loud enough voice in Lansing. She said she has a good grasp on which issues are important to people in the region and pledged to fight for them in the state Capitol and make sure their voices are heard.
"I believe for far too long northern Michigan has been a follower in terms of policies in Lansing, and I believe it is time for Northeast Michigan to become more of a leader," Fielder said. "I have worked my whole career with people around the 106th and I've heard firsthand some of the issues they feel are most important that they feel aren't being addressed."
Cavitt is the drain commissioner for Cheboygan County. He said he believes Northeast Michigan has a brighter future and pledged to protect its way of life, people's liberty, and the area's natural resources.
Cavitt describes himself as pro-life and against abortion, unless it is needed to protect the health of the mother. Fielder said she is not pro-abortion, but believes it is a woman's right to do what she pleases with her own body.
The candidates have differing views on what should be done with Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5, a 645-mile, 30-inch-diameter pipeline that transports up to 22 million gallons -- or 540,000 barrels per day -- of light crude oil, light synthetic crude, and natural gas liquids through Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas.
Opponents of the pipeline want it shut down because of the risk of a leak and the impact it could have on the Great Lakes, while supporters of keeping the line operational support a proposal to run the pipes through an underground tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.
Fielder said she is pro oil and gas industry but is against keeping Line 5 open and the proposed tunnel project.
Cavitt believes closing the pipeline will raise energy costs for people in the area and have a negative impact on local communities who receive financial compensation from Enbridge. He said building the tunnel makes sense because it will protect the lakes from a spill but allow other utilities, such as fiber, to be run in the tunnel.
Cavitt said Enbridge is the largest taxpayer in Cheboygan County and tax money funds schools in Wolverine. He said that, if the pipeline was shut down, the county would lose much-needed revenue and residents would feel the impact.
"A lot of people don't talk about the impact it would have on our local schools," Cavitt said. "If Enbridge were to close the pumping station in the township, Wolverine schools would probably have to consolidate or maybe even close. That money also goes to roads, public safety, and other services, and, without it, the county and townships could just be devastated. I'm pro-tunnel, because we need that energy infrastructure."
Both Cavitt and Fielder said they believe the state government can do more to address the housing shortage in the state, and also needs to iron out a plan to help relieve the burden of high gas prices by offering a temporary tax holiday until gas prices stabilize. Both a break on the gas tax or sales tax on gasoline has been considered in Lansing, but, so far, nothing has been done.
Cavitt and Fielder also agree on keeping the water in the Great Lakes where it is today and pledged to fight any effort by the federal government or other states to direct a portion of the water in the Great Lakes to the West to help overcome a water shortage there caused by the Colorado River Basin drying up due to a nearly two-decade drought.
The two candidates agree on an important issue in Alpena that developed over the summer involving air quality.
Both Fielder and Cavitt say the foul odor the state says Decorative Panels International produced at its plant must be addressed. They also said the state and the business need to do more to protect people from the odor and any health impacts it may have without harming the local economy and jobs.
DPI has said it is addressing the odor.
"We live in America and in a place where everyone deserves clean air," Fielder said. "There are reports from people on the north end of Presque Isle County who say they could smell it. I'm a firm believer in regulations, but I also believe there is a place for industry. We have to work closely with industry to be sure that we don't hurt them but also hold them to high standards."
Cavitt said regulations are already established and, if a company doesn't abide by them, they should be held accountable, as long as the punishments or any new regulations don't make it harder for the business to compete.
"These larger employers in Alpena deal on a global scale, not just here, and it is critical to an economy like Alpena's," he said. "It really is a fine line. There are technologies those companies can invest in to help alleviate these concerns. Maybe there are some environmental groups or agencies that can help pay for it. Maybe it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is."
The Fielder file
∫ NAME: Marie Fielder
∫ AGE: 58
∫ OCCUPATION: Retired educator
∫ ELECTED EXPERIENCE: None
∫ HOME: Alpena
∫ FAMILY: Married, five children
The Cavitt file
∫ NAME: Cam Cavitt
∫ AGE: 53
∫ OCCUPATION: Realtor
∫ ELECTED EXPERIENCE: Cheboygan County drain commissioner, 2011 to current
∫ HOME: Mullett Township
∫ FAMILY: Three Children