ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, the Delta County League of Women Voters held a candidate forum for three major races ahead of the November election. First up were the candidates for 94th District Court judge—Trent Stupak and Andrew Hayse.
Stupak has worked in the area as a lawyer for 25 years, with experience in federal, appellate, and Tribal courts. Hayse currently works as the Delta County Circuit Court domestic relations referee, and he previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney.
At the forum, the candidates were asked what services they would like to implement in the local court system. Stupak focused on improving technology and helping citizens with civil infractions restore their licenses.
“I think something like that is rather unique, but it also goes to what’s the problem sometimes in backlogging cases, and it’s driving on a suspended license,” he said. “It’s people without able to get to work because they don’t have a driver’s license.”
Hayse highlighted the need for mental health resources.
“I think we can use a lot of the same mechanisms that the Drug and Sobriety Court uses and apply them to other issues,” he said, “whether it be our veterans, who have served with honor, come home and need that additional help or whether it comes to people who are suffering from mental illnesses.”
The candidates also told voters how they would address the need for more lawyers in Delta County.
“I would like to solve that by creating a paid public interest internship at the courthouse to attract law students, much the same way that I was attracted to come up and practice in Delta County,” said Hayse. “I think our community has a lot to offer, but I think people need to see it for themselves in order to want to come up here.”
“We work with the State Bar, we work with the State legislature, we work with other entities so that funds can be provided to the court,” Stupak said. “A public defender’s office can really be a good thing for Delta County, and I’m for that… If somehow we have problems with that, I really think we need to make sure that our colleges—Bay College, Northern Michigan—promote the legal field to students.”
The forum also included candidates running for Michigan’s 108th House District and 38th District Senate seat. To watch the Delta County League of Women Voters candidate forum in full, click here.
