We reported in September that there will not be any debates in the state House and Senate races in Berrien County this fall, as the Republican candidates have decided against the traditional events held by the League of Women Voters. Ian Haight is running for the 21st District Senate seat against Republican state Representative Kim LaSata.
“It’s quite disappointing to me,” Haight told WSJM News. “I’d really been really looking forward to the League of Women Voters debate for some time. I think debates are really good for the people there. They get to hear the candidates talk and talk about the other person’s ideas.”
Haight and LaSata will take part in a couple of forums with other candidates ahead of the election, but he says those lack the depth and substance of debates and prevent candidates from being able to call their opponents out on answers.
“Not having that opportunity is to the detriment of the people,” said Haight. LaSata previously told WSJM News she wasn’t going to take part in a League of Women Voters debate because the organization is left-leaning and has sued Republicans over redistricting.
Haight says while the 21st is viewed as the second-safest Republican Senate district, Barack Obama won all three counties in 2008 and he believes the votes exist to flip the district if enough people go to the polls.
