Page 4-Sunday, April 1, 1979--The Michigan Daily
Mayor, council candiates speak to the issues
ISSUES Housing Road repair City finances Open government Priorities
Has not addressed the Fairperson Has consistently cited road repair Considers the cit fisca Holds office hours during which
platform in any detail. Advocates as his number one priority. Instituted Cyficlyhealthy,
ayor LUIs residential developments scattered the 1978 Patching Program, under and says Ann Arbor has incurred a sur- citizens can come in and chat. Was con- ix the streets with $3.9 million, in-
Beicher (R) throughout the city rather than concen- which the potholes on six city streets plus of funds. The surplus is an ac- victed last year along with the other sure public safety, improve city ser-
trated in a single area, and is working were filled in. Has set a goal of almost cumulation of funds left over from prior Repn Conc of voing the vices (snow and garbage removal).
to increase the number of homeowners $4 million for this year's road repair. years. closed caucuses.
Generally favors the platform put Says Ann Arbor is operating on a Encourages citizen input in decisions.
Jamesdforth by the feititious mayoral can- Fes repadif erentifro ht in adeficit, since some of the money used Advocates open caucus meetings in Finding funds to repair Platt and
d e, Luise Fairperson, whh calls m er vy fer et m stam-. for street repair was taken out of the which neighborhood groups can voice Maple roads, improve city's financial
Kenworthy (D) for greater tenants' rights. He has p soed by Belher. Has set high stan- surplus from past budgets. Says city's their concerns. Feels Republicans are condition, insuring public safety, and
ush for the creation of a Downtown ards for street renovation, designed to financial situation may deteriorate if often too secretive in their dealings. creating more pub parks.
Development Authority (DDA)- make repairs last at least 10 years. government doesn't curb spending.
Feels that the University has failed to Feels that, although the roads are Feels that Republicans ignore the in- Feels that the current Republican
First Ward provide adequate housing or supportive bad, they have been used by terests (housing and social services) leadership prevents him from fully Feels that the city government must
Ken Laff alservices for students. Very unhappy Republicans as a visible issue, but that while being especially concerned with utilizing his skils as a council member. improve social services, which can be
with the inspection of new housing the Republicans "rape the social ser- the welfare of the business community. Says that the Open Meetings Act con- accomplished by saving money that is
developments, and feels that the city's vices budget" to finance their cosmetic Says that there is too much waste in the viction is symbolic of the capricious wasted because of bad mangement.
taxpayers will end up paying for it in street repairs. y bdt Republican attitude toward keeping
the future. ciysbuge. things from the public.
Feels that the University should con- He feels that solutions to road,
First Ward struct more housing on central campus. Says that the Republicans have taken Allen'is against the idea of a city in- Feels that communication with con- parking, and tax problems are
an aggressive, useful attitude toward come tax because he feels that the stituents is very important. Says that foremost on his list. Says that the
W . Allen (R) Says that the University has enough the road problems. He supports the government already has enough he has gone around the community and Republican majority has already made
money to build other buildings, so present patching program. revenues to do a good job. talked to people about their problems, a goodstart in the drive to solve these
therefore housing should also be built, rsn acigporm eeust ogo o. while Latta hasn't.prbes
Like her Democratic counterparts, Feels that the Republican majority Feels that the Republicans are inten Wants to set a clear city policy for
Second Ward Feels that the University has shirked Morris feels that the road program of continues to spend with short term per- tionaly covering up the city's serious housing, parking, and spending issues,
LsIlie Morris its reponsibility in supplying quality the Republican majority is a reac- spective, failing to assess the long term financial and social problems. Feels as well as policies for the direction of
housing. tionary repair plan rather than a com- consequences of their spending. that the tenant majority of the Second development within the city's boun-
(D - Unopposed) prehensive program designed to take Believes that this could lead eventually Ward would be better served by open daries. Wants city to make long-term
care of the problem permanently. to greater costs in the future, evaluation of facts of gov't by majority, studies into Council's effectiveness.
Cites "is spearheading of the enunas says he has been responsive
Praises the Republican-controlled Republican-sponsored program for Cites his "critical, business-oriented to individuals and neighborhood group Highest priority is maintaining basic
Third Ward Council's initiation of downtowngralexnddodrpis"shs approach" as instrumental in "helping inwoknonlclise.Hctshs services and continuingt he
development and housing projects in- greatly expanded road repairs as his us control the budget." Council's major ia working on local issues. He cites rls Rerice pad oadg the
LOU# s enUlias major focus and accomplishment while ts ilb tyn mediation efforts over the Kimberly Republican-expanded road repair
cluding 1500 units of much needed on Council. He advocates continued ex task will be trying to live with Woods controversy between the neigh- program within the limitations brought
(R - Incumbent) single family and senior housing. pansion of this road repair program, limitations. borhood and the developer as represen- by the Headlee Amendment.
emphasizing residential streets. tative of such efforts.
Calls for a comprehensive plan of Criticized Republican talk of a millage Strongest emphasis on local Third
Joins other Democrats i advocating road reconstruciton and not resur- rollback as just campaign rhetoric. Repeatedly claims the need for Ward concerns, emanating from
Third Ward more moderate income rental housing. facing "so we can know when to expect a s s rollback ould mean earlier and greater citizen input in the development of the Ward. These in-
Holley Faust (b) Effouratsnirustto bbuimade to get de road relief" and attacks the cuts in basic services and "nobody planning processes affecting neigh- elude improving recreational facilities
hunsit o iRepublican-backed program as wants that." borhood development. for senior. citizens and inadequate
housng. causing "substandard road repair" sidewalk systems traffic intersections.
Pleased with Republican accom- Says the Republicans' expanded Proposes coordinating a propor-
road repair program should be con- tionate millage rollback among the Says he has met with many neigh- a Says all other issues are "minor" and
- tined Ageeswit curentfuningof silly" in comparison with the need to
housing provjec ts-Cr anbrook tiued. Agrees with current funding of three main recipients of the borhood groups as part of his two- reduce th tampbrden and goernet
Meadowbrook, and ittsfield as exam- the approximately $3.9millon program millage-Ann Arbor, other areas in month incumbency and his campaign,
(R- Incumbent) ples of ,well-designed and controlled dthrough t Generalathroug d inraseP Washtenaw County, and the school and intends to continue that practice. spending.
growth." property taxes. board.
"Housing is (Ann Arbor's) most Criticized his opponent's "11th hour Housing, particularly for low and
critical issue," says Cappaert. Says Charges that street repair and other Says Republican talk of a millage hallway decision" in which his op- moderate income residents, is his
Fourth Ward city and University must coordinate basic services, such as snow removal rollback sparked by recently received ponent agreed to the controversial highest concern followed by ensuring
increases in property tax assessments Canrokhusngpojcbateab-U i eriaeinthesmattentione
their efforts together to obtain state and and fall leaf pick-up, are inadequate inssrs Cranbrook housing project after ob-
y CopPoert (D)federal funds to build moderate income the student areas of the Fourth Ward. is just the usual election time rhetoric. taning a pledge from the developer to as those in the outlying residential
housing in University and downtown Opposes the bond issues reduce the housing density. areas.
Says the city should encourage more Use availble money and match funds Wants to use money from all sour- Will talk to an interested Providing basic city services and
Fifth Ward development and that the supply shouldces-general fund, federal and state ny eetgroup money for street repairs, quality
GeadBkeep rents down. Wants more public from federal government for more funds, gas tax, city taxes, bonds for whenit wants to meet, but in the past ho d d g
( R- I en housing, but these should be more pairs b admits the repair program projects such as road repairs and has found tremendous apathy in his sessment processes, especially for
(R - Incumbent) spread outiadfcljo. public housng. wasd.rcties
senior citizens.
Wants more aid from federal govern- Says money should come out of gas Wants to use a lot of federal funding Wants to hold monthly meetings in Wants to control city planning so
FifthgWardmefr mete han lh i m -taxes and bonds for repairs, and that for road repairs, subsidized housing, neighborhoods to be able to get feed- there will be a balance between
CarolWaace(Dgnecessary burden on the city to provide the previous repairs are unsatisfactory and to keep rent prices within Carter's back and clarify some of Council's ac- development and green areas.
student housing beyond freshman year. and will not last long, iflation guidelines.
. Andte Daily endorss . .
James KENWORTHY Ken Leslie LeRoy Carol
For Mayor LATTA MORRIS CAPPAERT WALLACE
W E ENDORSE James Kenworthy
to replace Louis Belcher as
mayor of Ann Arbor. While Kenworthy
perhaps does not present as positive a
picture of the state of the city as
Belcher, we feel he offers a more
realistic one.
Belcher's campaign promises and list
of achievements during his year as
mayor may sound impressive, but his
goals are often unfeasible and his
achievements are merely events that
would have happened no matter who
was mayor. Belcher, for instance,
claims he is implementing zero-base
budgeting in the police department, but
many observers are saying the concept
is unrealistic, since the cops already
operate on a fixed budget.
The mayor also claims to have held
down the city's budget increase whena
11 he really did was ratify the budget
presented by the City Administrator.
'Kenworthy's sense of integrity and
realism is evident in his approach to
street repair. He advocates careful
reconstruction of the city's roads, using
specific high design standards. Though
this process would take longer and cost
more than the type of pothole-patching
projects Belcher has instituted, it would
eliminate the need to refill the potholes
every couple of years.
enumrnthv unika his nnnent ha
accusation that neither mayoral can-
didate had adequately addressed the
housing issue, the CBH has now con-
ceded that Kenworthy is responding to
the students' housing problems.
Kenworthy also shows a great deal of
concern for preserving the character of
Ann Arbor. He favors increased
residential construction downtown to
centralize the city, rather than disper-
sing self-sufficient commer-
cial/residential throughout town as his
opponent does.
Kenworthy is trying to prevent Ann
Arbor from becoming a more subur-
banized, commuter-style city by
providing places to live for the people
who work here.
Kenworthy served for four years on
City Council and proved himself a well-
informed and conscientious represen-
tative.
While Kenworthy's cautious, what-
will-be-best-in-the-long-run attitude
might prove to produce less quantity, it
will in many cases provide more
quality for the city.
F IRST WARD Democratic Ken
Latta has provided refreshing
insight to a body whose politics often
appears to supercede sound judgement.
He has effectively represented the in-
terests and needs of his constituency,
even when they conflict or are
overruled by the Republican majority
on Council. Therefore, the Daily endor-
ses his re-election.
William Allen, Lata's opponent, has
charged him with excessie absentia.
Latta has missed several meetings but
he seldom misses important votes. His
influential presence at meetings is too
valuble to spare. He is the bulwark of
the Democratic caucus; we only hope
the frustration of minority politics does
not defeat his drive.
Latta's truly sagacious legislative
perspective has earned him the respect
of Council members of both parties, as
well as those of citizens and city em-
ployees. His microphone is not the
most-oft wielded around the table. But
when he does speak, the calm manner
and cogent analysis of the situation at
hand spurs progres in action rather
than bogging the body down with
meaningless rhetoric and procedural
confusion.
His sensitivity to the daily problems
of Ann Arbor's citizens is evident in ac-
tions such as the day he spent on the job
L ESLIE MORRIS, running unop-
posed in the tenant-dominated
Second Ward, is well known as a fighter
for tenant rights. During her term in of-
fice, she has consistently displayed a
genuine concern for the welfare of those
residing in the Ward, particularly con-
cerning housing issues. This concern is
illustrated by her sponsorship of or-
dinances requiring installation of fire
detectors on all rental housing, and
prohibiting age discrimination in ren-
ting. Leslie Morris responsibly protects
the best interest of those living in the
Second Ward.
Halley
FAUST
WHEN INCUMBENT Louis Senu-
nas claims citywide Republican
policies such as the "greatly expanded
road repair program" and "helping to
control the budget" as his own major
accomplishments, he is merely reflec-
ting the fact he has taken basically no
initiative of his own aimed at helping
his Third Ward constituents.
Halley Faust impresses many Third
Ward residents as possessing a detailed
acquaintance and a genuine concern
with the many specific problems in-
,nag. in th ward's develnnment.
F OURTH WARD serves a special
role in Ann Arbor politcs-it is
the only ward which includes roughly
equal proportiofis of students and per-
manent Ann Arbor residents. However,
currently the ward is not serving his
representative function at City Council
due to inadequate lack of attention to
the views tand concerns of one of these
groups-students.
LeRoy Cappaert has lived for the past
four years in the heart of the student
district at Oakland and Hill and ex-
periences some of the neglect students
feel.
Consequently, Cappaert has
repeatedly pledged to "fight and .see
that the Fourth Ward gets the same
level of services (such as street repair,
snow removal, fall leaf pick-up) as
other parts of Ann Arbor."
Also, Cappaert considers housing the
"most critical issue." Here, too,
students would probably agree. He
proposes greater coordination between
the University and the city in pushing
for state and federal funds to build
moderate income housing around the
University area, as well as encouraging
more "tenant arranged housing" such
as ICC coops.
Republican Edward Hood, in his two
month incumbency, has shown himself
C AROL WALLACE, Democrat, is
our choice for City Countil's Fifth
Ward. Wallace is a newcomer to city
politics, but she is concerned with
issues such as student housing and
citizen participation in the government.
Her job as a Research Assistant in the
Psychology Department at the Univer-
sity keeps her in touch with events here.
Wallace believes her opponent,
Republican Gerald Bell, has not done
anythng outstanding in his four years or
the council. She points out that he is the
mayor pro-tem and goes along with
Mayor Belcher on virtually every issue,
and has not introduced many new
issues for the Fifth Ward.
In order to get in touch with residents
of her ward, Wallace has conducted
door-to-door campaigns and, if elected,
wants to hold monthly neighborhood
meetings in order to keep com-
munication open with her constituents.
She said her top priority is to come up
with a good city plan and watch how the
land is used; a good mixture of
development and green areas must be
planned so the city will look nice in th
next decades.
As for student housing, she says the
University should convert St. Joe's
Hospital into more student living-space
because the building is now empty. She
said the city should not bear all the
menosommannen