Eighty years of editorial freedom
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan

Recommendations

for

City

Council

I

First Ward: Norris Thomas

420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

News Phone: 764-0552

Editorials printed in The Michiqan Daily express the individual opinions of staff writers
or the editors. This must be noted in all reprints.

SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1971

NIGHT EDITOR: LYNN WEINER


Harris for mayor

IN DETERMINING which mayoral
candidate to recommend to the
University community, we find our-
selves faced with a difficult political
and moral dilemma.
Three months ago, a new party en-
tered the city political scene, armed
with a platform that seemed to reflect
the ideas and goals which much of the
student body has long identified with.
The enlightened social, political, and
economic programs of the Radical In-
dependent Party represent a refresh-
ing departure from the staid prag-
matism of tpe liberal Democratic Par-
ty, and the conservatism of the Re-
publicans.
And it would have only been consist-
ent with our political views to have
supported the RIP's candidate for
mayor, Doug Cornell.
NEVERTHELESS, we are at the same
time confronted with the candi-
dacy of a Republican whose sentiments
reflect the ultra-conservative backlash
which has swept Ann Arbor ever since
the Democrats gained control of the
city government two years ago.
The danger embodied in the can-
didacy of Jack Garris should be taken
seriously by all voters. It is reflected
in the utter fanaticism with which the
man seeks to rid Ann Arbor of all ele-
ments and ideas which represent an
attempt "to overthrow or destroy our
American way of life." And his simplis-
tic priorities as mayor would, in his
own words, be to prevent youth from
"turning to drugs, to violence, and in-
discriminate sex . . . to disrespect for
parents, teachers, police, and the es-
tablishment."
In short, with Garris as mayor,
along with a City Council which is cer-
tain to have a Republican majority,
students, black people, and other tradi-
tional victims of conservatism will be
confronted with a concerted e f f o r t
toward massive repression in Ann Ar-
bor.
Thus, we are forced to adopt as our
highest priority the defeat of J a c k
Garris. And this priority leads us to
support, with mixture of reservation
and confidence, the Democratic in-
cumbent, Robert Harris.
LOOKING BACK on the last two
years, it is true that the changes fos-
tered by the Harris administration
have not gone as far as we would have
liked, or even as as we predicted in

1969. The mayor has led the city into
the virtually untouched areas of police-
community r e 1 a t io n s, housing,
drug rehabilitation, and elimination
of racism. But not with the commit-
ment we had hoped for.
He has expanded the Human Rela-
tions Commission into a full depart-*
ment, with a mandate to investigate
and adjudicate complaints of racial
discrimination. But that department
remains understaffed and without au-
thority over the city's largest employer,
the University.
He has attempted to establish a
means by which citizens with com-
plaints against the police can obtain re-
course. But the Police Department re-
mains virtually autonomous, and the
mayor has not taken steps to prevent
its officers from overreacting in con-
frontation situations and from d i s-
playing a brutal dislike for students
and black people.
NEVERTHELESS, THE mayor has
shown good intent in his b r i e f
tenure, more so than any administra-
tion before his, and certainly more so
than would a Garris administration
that followed his.
He has been hampered by a tight
city budget, which does not allow his
legislation to be adequately enforced.
And he has had to pay some heed to
the political realities of Ann Arbor -
for although the reforms he champ-
ioned were meager enough, Harris
would have no chance of being re-elect-
ed by conservative Ann Arbor if any-
one but Garris was the Republican
candidate.
Recent polls show Garris and the
mayor in a fairly close race. It is our
concern that the philosophy of Jack
Garris might find its way into City
Hall that motivates us to oppose his
candidacy with all the strength at our
disposal.
THUS, WHILE we lean strongly
toward the political convictions of
the Radical Independent Party, we re-
cognize that Garris will be defeated
only by a strong showing for the may-
or.
And since we feel the incumbent has
the ability and the committment to
prevent a conservative City Council
from inflicting too much damage to
the city, we urge the community to re-
elect Mayor Robert Harris.
-THE SENIOR EDITORS

BOTH CANDIDATES running in t h e
First Ward are likeable, sincere men,
unencumbered by a partisan line. B u t
Democrat Norris Thomas offers politics
clearly preferable to those of his Repub-
lican opponent, Edward Rutka.
As a Democrat, Thomas has a solid
advantage, for the First Ward is com-
posed of the North side's black and middle-
class white populations, and has been
Democratic for years. Nonetheless, Rutka
has been making a determined effort to
capture the seat now being vacated by
H. C. Curry.
Whatever the reason for his advant-
age, however, we find a number of reasons
to endorse Thomas. The most important
of these is his intention to represent tradi-
tionally disenfranchised groups such as
blacks, youth, poor people and much of
the University community.
In representing these people, Thomas
intends to work for better police-commun-
ity relations by eradicating police mis-
conduct, establishing adequate grievance
procedures and eliminating selective law
enforcement against minority groups.
Specifically, he has expressed support
for holding public hearings where a peace
officer accused of misconduct would ap-
pear and be held accountable for his ac-
tions.

and considering the strong possibility of a
Republican majority on the council, they
might just remain intentions.
Yet Thomas will definitely be one mem-
ber of council working to radically alter
Ann Arbor city government and improv-
ing conditions for his ward and the city's
youth.
RUTKA TOO HAS some admirable
points in his program. For instance, he
advocates a long list of requirements for
developers, all designed to safeguard the
quality of Ann Arbor during periods of
growth. He also shows a willingness to
work on an equal basis with blacks and
youth.
Finally, Rutka lays a good deal of em-
phasis on cooperation both on a regional
level for planning and development and
on a local level for public transportation
and low-income housing.
However, that co-operation also extends
to the Police Department, which R u t k a
emphatically supoprts in its pursuit of
drug users, not excluding marijuana.
Furthermore, Rutka supports the elec-
tion of Jack Garris, a stance which clearly
belies his avowedly moderate and well-
intentioned position.
Thus, even though he would work hard
on council, though he possesses a sharp

financial sense, and though he exhibits a
sympathetic understanding of -youth,
Rutka is too much a Republican to pro-
vide adequate representation for the peo-
ple in his ward.
THOMAS, HOWEVER, is not so much a
Democrat that he cannot be the strong
advocate his constituents need. As a dis-
tinctive change from his Democratic col-
leagues, Thomas would therefore be an,
excellent replacement for Curry.
--JIM McFERSON

'I1

Norris Thomas

IN ADDITION Thomas advocates action
to save the environment, neighborhood
control and planning in the Model Cities
area and legalization of some drugs to pre-
vent drug-related crime.
While pushing for tougher enforcement
of strong Fair Housing and Human Rights
ordinances, Thomas also supports expan-
sion of day-care facilities and the estab-
lishment of a joint city-University day
care center.
Of course, these are intentions only,

Edward Rutka

Thrd Ward: Nelson Meade

THE THIRD WARD is a fairly well-to-do
residential area which generaly sends
Republicans to Council. Nicholas Kazarin-
off, a Democrat, is retiring from the seat
he won in a squeaker two years ago,
leaving a race between two party stalwarts,
Republican Peter Wright and Democrat
Nelson Meade,
The race is basically an ideological one
which parallels the conflict in the mayoral
race. As is true in that race, we believe it
important to keep the Garris philosophy
from dominating city hall, and thus we
recommend Meade.
It is important to underline the phi-
losophy of lesser-evilism which lies behind
this choice.
Meade is a liberal Democrat who made
such a good showing in his race for
county commissioner last fall that he se-
cured his party's nomination for council.
Having been involved politically, hie
knowledge of all the issues is uniformly
good.
He supports the Harris administration
in its Model Cities program, its push for
low-income housing, its support for les-
sening marijuana penalties (even up to
legalization), its attempt to unify public

ly supports Garris and the other Repub-
lican candidates.
His campaign might be described as
based on opposition to the Harris admin-
istration, mainly in the area of city fin-
ance.
Unquestionably there are grounds for
criticism in that area, as well as others
such as low-income housing and the Model
Cities Program.
Wright would stop "harrassing" police
and appears to have little understanding
of the Ann Arbor drug problem.
He professes to oppose Harris's "poli-
ticizing issues" and seeks to "do things for
the advantage of the city, not the party."
Yet, the city to Wright appears to be
populated exclusively by white middle-class
property owners.
Though displaying significant concern
for community problems, Wright main-
tains that the approach he and the six
other Republican candidates offer is the
best way to solve the problems.
Both men, it must be understood, a r e
extremely well-informed and present well-
thought-out programs. Their differences
are similar to those evidenced in their re-
spective mayoral candidates.

Meade can be criticized for the same
reasons as Harris.
BUT VIEWING the two men's positions
and Wright's unqualified support of Gar-
ris; it is necessary, although far from ac-
ceptable, to endorse the Democratic can-
didate; and hope that Meade's political
perspective will sharpen in office.
-JIM McFERSON

'A

ti

Nelson Meade

transportation into a single unit, and on
most other issues.
But there is no one issue which parti-
cularly concerns Meade; he sees himself
as pushing for implementation of present
administration programs.
' In addition, he hopes to push and prod
the bureaucracy to see that services are
delivered."
WRIGHT IS A REPUBLICAN and clear-

Peter Wright

Fourth Ward: Gilbert Lee

The Second Ward race:
De Grieck for City Council

THE FOURTH WARD, on the west side
of the city, is very typical of American
suburbia. Running for City Council from
this ward are Richard Hadler, a conserva-
tive Republican who will almost inevitably
be elected, and Gilbert Lee, the desperate
choice of the Democratic party.
Since both candidates can be expected
to vote a strict party line if elected to
council, the choice becomes, in part, a
choice of the Democratic party philosophy
over the Republican philosophy.
But beyond party politics, Lee seems to
offer an enlightened attitude on social is-
sues which might prove valuable on City
Council. For example, while he disap-
proves of the use of drugs, he believes
there shouldhbe no legal penalty for it.
LEE was chosen as the Democrats' can-
didate evidently as a reward for years of
faithful service to the party. He previously
ran unsuccessfully for county commission-
er, a n d devoted last October to Philip
Hart's campaign for re-election to the U.S.
Senate.
Lee comes out in strong support of all
party views, and would certainly vote with
the rest of the Democrats on council, if
elected.
Lee's opponent, Hadler, is a very likeable

to study some of the current controversies.
However, since his current involvement
in city politics is the result of a growing
dissatisfaction with the liberal trend of
city government under the Harris admin-
istration, and since he would like to see
Garris elected mayor, it can only be ex-
pected that after a closer study of the is-
sues, he would continue to agree with the
conservative forces.
HADLER OPPOSES the idea of a city
income tax, for example, although he ad-
mits that it may prove to be the only way
to maintain the present level of city ser-
vices. He also disapproves of the recently
passed marijuana ordinance, feeling that
such action, if appropriate at all, should
come first at a state or national level.
Lee, in contrast, favors both of these
measures, in line with his unwavering sup-
port of t h e Democratic platform as a
whole.
What is objectionable about Lee stems
more from his personal views than his
party views.
The questionable nature of some of Lee's
personal opinions is seen, for example, in
relation to the drug issue. In explaining
his view that there should be no legal pen-
alties for the use of any drugs, Lee says

that "I'd like to think of my kids seeing
all these (drugs) on the shelves . . . and
they'd no more think of using them than
they'd think of taking a gun and pointing
it at their head."
WHILE SOME of Lee's attitudes a r e
thus not very desirable for City Council,
the success of his campaign would give the
Democrats one more vote in their efforts,
to continue adapting the city to its recent
and rapid growth.
-JANET FREY

Gilbert Lee

Tr E SECOND WARD City Council race,
like the mayoral race, presents the
voter with a moral and political dilemma.
For here, where students comprise a
greater percentage of the population than
anywhere else in the city, stands the best
opportunity to establish a genuine poli-
tical alternative to the major parties.
With this in mind, the Radical Inde-
pendent Party entered its only candidate
for City Council in the second ward, Jer-
ry De Grieck.
Recognizing that De Grieck has little
chance of winning the election outright,
students may be motivated against voting
for him because that will draw votes from
the Democratic incumbent, Robert Fab-
er, and increase the likelihood of a Re-
publican victory.
We understand this fully. Nonetheless,
despite the fact that we regard a Demo-
cratic administration as preferable to a
Republican city government, we urge stu-
dents to vote for De Grieck - and there-
by for RIP -in the Second Ward.
WE DO this because we perceive
the establishment of a radical
electoral alternative to the two major
parties in Ann Arbor as a goal more cruc.
ial than the actual outcome of the Se-
cond Ward race.
Though Democrats speak more to the
needs of students, blacks and poor whites

ernment through either of the major
parties.
For the Democrats do not actually take
steps to really terminate the exploitation
of one group of citizens by another, but
only to make that exploitation more bear-
able.
Therefore, despite the seeming attrac-
tiveness of the Democratic candidate,
it is imperative that students accept the
opportunity presented by RIP to estab-
lish the credibility of a group presenting
a radical analysis of the city's problems.
However, legitimacy for the new party
can only be attained if RIP draws a signi-
ficant amount of support in areas such as
the second ward, where the party's phil-
osophy most closely reflects the views of
the constituents.
But if all of the party's recent efforts
cannot attract a response from those it
seeks to represent, the chances of the
party graduating from the realm of a
perennial loser will be considerably re-
duced. For if the party is not taken ser-
iously, it can neither represent anyone's
interests directly nor can it influence the
existing parties to change their priorities.
And this would indeed be a tragedy. A
radical party, once established, need not
be relegated to the rank of a totally in-
effective body; the success of similar radi-
cal parties in Berkeley and Madison in

m a n whose comfortable, conservative
views, along with support for Jack Garris,
are very likely a fair representation of the
opinions of the voters in his ward. While
not considering himself bound to the par-
ty line, he admits that in his recent study
of council's activities his vote would al-
most always have gone with the Republi-
can side.
Hadler's opinions on many specific is-
sues facing council are not completely de-
cided at this point. because he feels he
needs more information and a longer time

Richard Hadler

Fifth Ward: Donald warren

THE FIFTH WARD, on the northwest
side of Ann Arbor, includes repre-
sentatives of all segments of Ann Arbor's
population, including students and blacks.
Developing from a small homogenious com-
munity into a diversified urban area, this
ward thus has the same problems faced by
the community as a whole.
In an analogous fashion, the responses
of the candidates to these problems reflect
the different approaches their parties as a
whole take to the city's problems. The
Democratic candidate, Donald Warren,
eagerly looks forward to grappling with
problems such as race relations, youth
problems and ecological concerns.
Republican candidate John McCormick,
however, would like to see the city ad-
ministration move much more slowly and

ious to accept the status quo his opponent
favors.
In addition, he seems the better candi-
date because he is realistic enough to see
the problems as results of growth and di-
versification of the city while his op-
ponent can only make a narrow attack
upon one administration.
Where McCormick suggests that even the
racial tensions are the fault of local gov-
ernment (and would generally seek prac-
tical and ad hoc solutions to problems as
they surface in the city), Warren is look-
ing for solutions not to separate problems,
but to underlying causes.
Specifically, Warren sees the city fac-
ing a major challenge: planning f o r
wholesale growth while also providing ade-
quate mechanisms for recognizing and

McCormick stresses that Ann Arbor
should neither be viewed nor handled as
an experiment. He says the city should
be run for the residents intending to live
their livesshererather than as a labora-
tory for scholarly transients who would
look for solutions to more general social
ills by attempting radical solutions through
the city government.
Contrasting Warren's positive approach
with McCormick's negative view, we thus
recommend Warren for the Fifth Ward
council seat.
--JANET FREY

I,

Donald Warren

McCormick puts his emphasis on the