Rogers City candidate forum sees strong turnout

UPDATED: 3:04pm  Katy Conklin did not jab at Ken Radzibon or Erik Stone’s suspensions throughout the night. Radzibon addressed the issue during a question from the audience. The sentence has been retracted. WBKB regrets the error.

Rogers City — Just over 80 people packed into the Rogers City Theater on Tuesday night to learn more about their local elections ahead of the August primary.

The League of Women Voters hosted their second of three candidate forums in Northeast Michigan. In the race for the the Register of Deeds in Presque Isle County, Vicky L. Kowalewsky had the stage to herself as Darrin C. Darga could not attend. Democratic candidates for state representative of the 106th district, John Norton and Lora Greene were on hand to field questions on various issues.

The pinnacle of the evening focused on the race for Probate Judge in Presque Isle County. Erik Stone, Katy Conklin, and Ken Radzibon are the candidates. Stone was unable to attend the forum due to a mandatory meeting involving work. He did leave a statement to be read. Both Conklin and Radzibon were asked several questions involving specific programs affecting a probate judge, experience, time management, organizations they belong to, and even the legalization of Marijuana, one of the top ballot issues in November.

“I think that marijuana is a drug or substance that as long as somebody is not driving and out on the road, a small amount for personal use is okay,” said Candidate Katy Conklin.

“The problem with that folks is that unlike alcohol where you can take a breathalyzer test and it can be determined the level of alcohol is such that it would be a danger to drive,” said Radzibon. “There is no good test right now to determine the level of marijuana and how that might impact your driving.”

During a question in the forum, Ken Radzibon addressed the issue of being suspended while serving as probate judge. Radzibon was suspended for 90 days in 1998 for a violation of Michigan Rules and Professional Conduct. Erik Stone was also suspended in that same year for 180 days. Radzibon talked about his years of experience, in regards to his years of practice and formally serving as probate judge of Presque Isle County for 24 years. Conklin went into detail about experience as well as her community outreach as Executive Director of Hope Shores Alliance.

The race will certainly be tight going into the primary. All three candidates are qualified and ready to make it on the ballot in November.

To find out more information about your local primary election, please visit the Secretary of State Website to see what will be on your ballot in August. (https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633-49313–,00.html)