Saturday, July 31, 1976
THE MICHIGAN DAILY .
Page Five
..in Tuesday's primary:
Cty. prosecutor
Democrat George Steeh
Circuit judge
Arthur Carpenter
EORGE STEEH is the Daily's choice
in the race for county prosecutor.
As assistant prosecuting attorney in
Genessee County, Steeh earned a reputa-
tion as an effective consumer crusader.
He has established an impressive re-
cord in aiding consumers who fall prey
to the often avaricious pursuits of rental
agencies, false advertisers and fly-by-
night operators. He says he will bring
more consumer problems under t h e
realm of the prosecutor's office, and find
additional ways to cut down on bureau-
cratic hassles and unnecessary rip-offs
in the community.
As students, many of whom are ten-
ants, we are impressed with Steeh's ac-
complishments, and recognize the need
for a county prosecutor who would be
keenly aware of the consumers' needs.
Steeh's opponent, local attorney Ronald
Keys, also has a lengthy record of deal-
ing with consumer issues and experience
as an assistant prosecutor. But he seems
to lack the forceful maner and dedica-
tion of the youthful Steeh, a University
graduate.
Aside from his consumer interests,
Steeh advocates an increased emphasis
on the solving of major crimes, rather,
than lesser crimes involving pornogra-
phy and drug possession. He says he
would like to initiate a clinical law pro-
gram which would offer University law
students practical experience as coun-
sel in lesser cases.
Because of his important accomplish-
ments and interest in students and con-
sumer protection, we feel Steeh is the
best choice for county prosecutor.
ARTHUR CARPENTER is the b e s t
candidate in the non-partisan cam-
paign for 22nd Circuit Court Judge.
His opponents, Shirley Burgoyne and
Henry Conlin, have long and impressive
records as attorneys, (as does Carpen-
ter), but an endorsement for the judge-
ship must go deeper than consideration
of courtroom credentials.
We support Carpenter not just for his
knowledge of the law, but for his sharp
concern for socially-minded groups in the
area.
University students will find special
reasons to support Carpenter - he is the
only candidate to have committed him-
self in court to tough student cases, and
he is principally responsible for students
gaining the right to vote in Ann Arbor.
ie won the Michigan Supreme C o u r t
case which established that right. He is
also responsible, in part, for the easing
of University residency requirements.
We believe Carpenter's extensive ex-
perience affords him a wider and more
insightful viewpoint than his opponents
in dealing with court matters. Although
known as somewhat abrasive, Carpent-
er's reputation for fairness and honesty
underscores the strength of his candi-
dacy on other counts.
The 22nd Circuit Court judgeship is an
influential position. Arthur Carpenter,
we feel, would wield that influence
wisely.
Washtenaw County sheriff
Democrat Fred Postill
Republican Tom Minick
FREDERICK POSTILL is the Daily's
choice for the Democratic nomina-
tion for Wastenaw County sheriff.
During his three-year tenure, Postill
has demonstrated that the sheriff's de-
partment can do away with the harsh
regime of former Sheriff Douglas Har-
vey, that it can run an efficient law
enforcement program with decency.
Postill has instituted some important
changes in the department:
-withdrawal from the over-zealous,
unrestrained Washtenaw Area Narcotics
Team (WANT);
-Improved conditions in the county
jail. Under Postill's administration con-
struction has begun on a new prison;
-Handling of large groups of citizens
with restraint.
Of his opponents, only Charles Broder-
ick, a former member of the depart-
ment, provides a serious challenge.
Broderick is a hard-line 'law-and-order"
man who would, he says, appoint Doug
Harvey under-sheriff. That despicable
suggestion alone is enough to dismiss
Broderick's candidacy.
Postill has been embroiled is a con-
troversy of late concerning his alleged
participation in a brawl with one or
more of his subordinates. The facts are
uncertain, but it appears that the charg-
es against Postill may have been poli-
tically motivated, and we are unswayed
in our support.
Sheriff Postill is the best thing to hap-
pen to the department in years. He
should be given a mandate to continue.
1HOMAS MINICK receives the Daily's
vote for the Republican candidate
for Washtenaw County sheriff.
Minick, an Ann Arbor police captain.
has local experience and an open-minded
view of the sheriff's job; he has an im-
pressive background in law enforcement
as well. Minick has suggested that sen-
sitivity training might be employed to
make deputies better at dealing with cit-
izens and with the delicate issues and
situations often presented by police work.
His chief opponent is Fay Johnson, re-
tired commander of the Ypsilanti State
Police post. While Minick advocates
"coming down hard" on hard drug deal-
ers and supports cooperation between
area law enforcement agencies, he has
not favored a return of the sheriff's de-
partment to the controversial Washtenaw
Area Narcotics Team (WANT); Johnson
has. The two agree that sheriff's patrols
to outlying regions of the county should
be increased.
Johnson favors the present system
of townships and villages paying the cost
for increased protection; Minick, right-
ly, says the practice is wrong.
While his credentials do not measure
up to those of Democrat Fred Postill,
Minick is the best of the Republicans.
He is young and enthusiastic; and out-
shines Johnson.
McClary for county post
EMOCRAT CATHERINE McCLARY, running for re-election
to the County Commission from the 15th District, has serv-
ed admirably for two years. She deserves to be returned to her
seat.
She has eliminated discriminatory language from county
contracts and has urged administrators to hire women to coun-
ty positions. On the Budget and Ways and Means Committees,
she has demonstrated thoughtful concern for the improvement
of area social services.
Furthermore, McClary has shown a sincere commitment to
the Commission and has been scrupulous in studying the issues
facing the Board. As one of her supporters asserts, "She is
about the only one who reads the entire packet (of committee
documents and minutes) before going to the meetings."
Her three opponents - all University students - appear
enthusiastic but lack her record of accomplishment and dedica-
tion, It seems best to stick with a sure bet - Catherine McClary.
Vote yes on
parks plan
V OTERS areturged to vote
'Yes' on the single ballot
proposal - to levy a one-quar-
ter mill tax in order to bolster
the development of parks and
recreation facilities in Washte-
naw County,
The mill is small, and t h e
benefit to be gained great.
While the Ann Arbor area has a
good parks program, there is al-
ways a need to safeguard green
places, for without such a a f e-
guards, shopping malls a n d
Tower Plazas would inevitably
inundate us.
Non-endorsements
With this set of endorsements, The Daily breaks a long
tradition by supporting candidates in the Republican primary
races. We do so because we feel a responsibility to recommend
the best candidate in every race we have covered, not just
those me would favor in November. But for various reasons, we
have chosen to make no endorsements in several races:
-State Representative Perry Bullard and John Dietrich,
Republican candidate for Bullard's seat, run unopposed. An
endorsement in either race would be academic.
-Republican William Delhey, county prosecutor, also runs
unopposed in his party; however, we indicate here strong dis-
favor for Delhey's performance.
-The Republicans in the County Commission race have
shown themselves to be either too inexperienced or too oppor-
tunistic to merit support.
Several races were not covered by The Daily.