Undecided voters react to candidates

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A group of undecided Republican and Independent voters gathered Thursday evening to watch the WOOD TV8 debate between the GOP contenders for governor.

The watchers were Joe Pohlen, a recent GVSU graduate; Dick Ortega, who considers himself an Independent and owns Alternative Mechanical and Alternative Medical Supplies in Grand Rapids; Ron Falk, who owns a computer training business; Rachel Lee, Jerry Bishop, Eleanor Nielson and Sarah Julien Gierz.

The panelists left the building still undecided, but on a more focused path to selecting a candidate.

The most surprising candidate to the panel was State Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo. The participants felt they learned the most about him through the debate.

He was called "matter of fact" and direct.

"He wants to reform Medicaid (and) government assistance -- that's a big thing," Gierz said.

The other GOP candidates who attended are state Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and Congressman Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland.

With several entrepreneurs in the group, taxes on small business was a very important issue.

Falk keyed in to what candidates had to say on the matter, as he chose to start a computer training business in West Michigan.

"I'm picking a state that's very tough to do that in, and I think Bouchard, Hoekstra offered the ideas and suggestions of government getting out of our way so we can do that," Falk said.

Lee wanted to hear candidates discuss Asian carp in the Great Lakes, and she got that opportunity. But the answers, she said, left something to be desired.

"What they should be talking about now is what they should suggest from our government system to handle it, because by November, it's going to be too late," Lee said.

Others wanted more information on subjects that are important to them.

Nielson is concerned with how the state will deal with aging baby boomers. Bishop would have liked to hear more on what he called "urban issues" such as justice system reform and per-person funding in education.

"I had four candidates that didn't deal with any of the issues I face every single day that are some of the most critical in Grand Rapids," Bishop said.

Several panelists mentioned they were very disappointed to not hear from the fifth candidate businessman Rick Snyder. Many had familiarized themselves with Snyder through his website and were looking forward to hearing him speak.

A similar group of undecided voters watched the Democratic debate on Monday.