ESCANABA — The Michigan House of Representatives 108th District candidate forum was held at the Escanaba City Hall Wednesday night as a precede to the Aug. 5 election. The four Democratic candidates: Janis Burgess, a private practice attorney from Menominee; Dennis Baldinelli, director of the Dickinson County Brownfield Board from Kingsford; Judy Nerat, a small business owner in Wallace; and David Polzin, a skilled laborer and union member from Menominee. Mike Falcon of Gladstone is the lone Republican candidate. He attended the forum but was not asked to participate since he has no opposition in the primary election. The candidates are vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Tom Casperson of Escanaba. Candidates responded to issues such as the Michigan Merit Curriculum, the continuation of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the improvement of job development in the Central Upper Peninsula.