The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 10, 1981-Page 3-C ANN ARBOR CITY GOVERNMENT STUDENTS SHOW LOW INTEREST City halls are quiet First Ward This predominantly student ward, which includes South and West quads, is represented by Demo- cratic councilmembers Susan Greenberg and Low- ell Peterson. Greenberg's term will expire this April, but the newly-elected Peterson will not be challenged until 1983. second Ward Encompassing part of the North Campus area (thus, also heavily populated by students), this traditionally Democratic ward is represented by councilmembers Earl Greene and Leslie Morris, both Democrats. Greene's term will expire in 1982, and Morris, re-elected for the third time last April, will be up again in 1983. ,,,, _ J - __ - - -- thdrd Ward This traditionally Republican ward is repre- sented by Virginia Johansen and Clifford Shel- don, both Republicans. Johansen's term will ex- pire in 1983, and Sheldon's in 1982. - By DEBI DAVIS The routine drama of Ann Arbor politics is usually played out on an em- pty stage. While most students are preoccupied with books and other collegiate distrac- tions, and while many full-time local residents seem oblivious to the affairs of city government, the gears are tur- ned by a limited but active group. AT THE weekly meetings of Ann Ar- bor's City Council, the most visible and easily-accessible arena for citizen par- ticipation, there are usually more em- pty seats than full ones in the spectator rows. In past years, some of the most crowded nights have been those when Communications 302 students made their once-a-term visits to attempt lcoal reporting. OCCASIONALLY, when an issue of particular campus interest is con- sidered by Council, students will flock into the chamber to make certain their voices are heard. But the uproar dies quickly, and as the issue fades, so does the student voice. It wasn't always this way. 'In the early 1970's the student voice rang clear in city politics with its newly-acquired and hard-fought voting rights. In 1972 a coalition of students, Vietnam war ac- tivists, and former White Panthers formed the Human Rights Party and won two seats on Council. The HRP victory ushered in an era of liberalism in city politics. During that period Council passed some radical legislation, including the five dollar fine for marijuana possession. In those days, Council often debated, into the wee hours of Tuesday morning, gaining the reputation in some circles of a "cir- cus." AT ONE of those lengthy, late-night debates in 1974, the City Council passed a resolution to break its diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union - which it did, via telegram. But that era has ended and Council has returned to its more reserved, pre- 1970 mood. Last April the GOP main- tained its six-year hold, with a 6-4 majority and the re-election of Republican Mayor Louis Belcher, who cornered more than 60 percent of the vote. Ann Arbor operates on the ward system and consists of five nearly pie- shaped wedges emanating from the center of town. Two candidates are elected to two-year terms from each ward on an alternating basis. EACH WARD has a distinct voting pattern. Wards one and two, the down- town, student-dominated wards, vote Democratic, while wards three and five, consisting primarily of affluent homeowners, vote Republican. Ward four is known as the city's swing ward because of its past party fluctuations. In recent years therregion has been leaning toward the Republicans. In last April's election the Republican candidate won by a 2 to 1 margin, the largest GOP victory in that region to date. The City Council is a part-time body with an annual councilmember salary of $5,000. The mayor is also a part-time I ourt h W ard This area is known as the "swing ward" because of its past fluctuation between parties. It is cur- rently represented by councilmembers David Fish- er and Ed Hood, both Republicans. Fisher's term expires in 1982, and Hood's in 1983. Like the Third Ward, this area is represented by Joyce Chesbrough and Lou Velker, both Repub- licans., Chesbrough's term ends in 1982, and Vel- ker's in 1983. employee, receiving $10,000 a year fol his services. (These were salaries as of last May). MAYOR BELCHER is well-seasoned in city politics, after three years as a councilmember and three years as mayor. He is the co-owner ari -vice president of First Ann Arbor Corp., an aeronautical management and cn- sulting firm. During his tenure, Mayor Belcher has streamlined city government by cutting employees from 1200 in 1970 to 826 last spring. He has also enacted millage rollbacks each year to stem rising taxes. Belcher's traditional Republican ideology often pits him against the Democra tic councilmembers from the first and second wards. Leslie Morris, (D-2nd ward), three term incumbent, is frequently Belcher's most vocal op; ponent. Soft-spoken Morris, well-known for doing her homework, arms herself with a multitude of statistics and facts to fire at the Republicans, and has a reputation as Council's liberal watch dog. MORRIS IS a staunch representative of her student constituency, voting for their interests against the majority. This strategy has made her uri- touchableat the polls, and she has been re-elected twice by overwhelming margins. Her partner from the second ward; Earl Greene - a native of Virginia who; teaches music at Willow Run Elemen-; tary School - is also known for his con cern over student issues such a housing, crime, and transportation. g '4 1C. Z ore for Cooks cook4 ook -person cook Daily Photo by JACKIE BELL City an By DEBI DAVIS The city of Ann Arbor has a profound role to play in the life of University students. The ties between the city and University - at times turbulent, but generally peaceful - have always been close. While students can venture off cam- pus to enjoy the city's resources down- town or in the suburbs, full-time residents partake of the facilities available on campus. The interaction is valuable, mutually beneficial. ECONOMICALLY, the University is both a dependent and a supplier of local We'alth. While tax dollars are spent on the University - for police and fire protection, and other services - its presence here provides an economic }boon for local merchants. It is no secret that the students, faculty, and Univer- sity tourists are largely responsible for the full cash registers around town. In addition, the University provides -the cultural lifeblood of the city, -presenting plays, concerts, lectures, Ann Arbor's City Council is currently dominated by the Re- publican Party, with Mayor Louis Belcher (left) at its head. C- d 'U' friendly neighbors Some University students are even on the city's payroll. In a program established last year, the city employs several graduate students of public policy. By working at City Hall they ob- tain on-hand experience in various aspects of government. The paid inter- nships are funded jointly by the City of Ann Arbor and the University Work Study Program. STUDENT ACTIVITIES have also spurred the city to establish new crime prevention programs. Extensive lob- bying by the Women's Safety Task For- ce of the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan edged the city closer to a late night transportation service, provided on a trial basis by independent taxi companies through the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. And last May the Ann Arbor Anti- Rape Coalition was instrumental in the City Council's appropriation of $3,600 to the Ann Arbor Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit. The money was allocated to help raise community secure state funding for the new University Hospital, now under con- struction. The planning departments of the two units meet regularly to coordinate their activities. Last year's renovation of the State Street business district was designed to integrate city/University architectural styles. Students, of course, are not the only members of the University community to leave their mark on the city. The faculty have played, and continue to play, an important role in Ann Arbor. Professor John Clark, of the Engineering college, for instance, chaired the Energy Steering Commit- tee until it was dissolved last year, coordinating efforts to seek alternative energy sources to make the city more self-sufficient and less dependent upon outside sources. Working diligently, the committee gave City Council several recommen- dations toward achieving this goal last June. Research data were obtained through the cohesive working relationship of University experts and community volunteers, resulting in one of the most comprehensive energy plans ever proposed in any midwestern city. Community involvement is just another aspect of the many oppor- tunities that are available to students interested in gaining practical ex- perience through application of ideas. Both the city and the University have pooled resources to attract light in- dustry, particularly computer firms, to the Ann Arbor area. The cooperative ef- Mayor Louis Belcher, who has called Ann Arbor the 'Athens of the Midwest, 'says the city and the University have 'grown up together.,' and films of a caliber unheard of in most cities of Ann Arbor's size. Artists * from all over the world appreciate and share in the cultural resources here. The city's annual Art Fair, which runs for a week every July, is a clear example of the comfortable co- existence of the University and city. A copperative effort, the event draws thousands of people and provides a ,.welcome diversion for local residents. A Summer Festival, featuring professional theater, dance, and music, is . another example of successful University-city cooperation. MAYOR LOUIS Belcher, who has called Ann Arbor the "Athens of the -Midwest," says the city and University r have "grown up together." The two are -connected through myriad informal -and formal relationships, ranging from city-provided traffic control on football Saturdays to University student and faculty participation in city gover- '-nment. * rMany University professors, par- ticularly economists and actuaries, bring their expertise to city operations by serving on citizen's committees. In last spring's general city election, School of Education student Toni Bur- ton campaigned for a seat on city coun- cil. Although she lost to the incumbent, r she still holds her seat on the city's Zoning Board of Appeals, which is the final authority in city zoning disputes. Daily staff writer Lou Fintor filed a report for this story. STAY ON TOP OF THE NEWS... 4 awareness of rape. The Anti-Rape Coalition is an umbrella group which contains several student groups. The planning process is one of the most significant areas of city- University relations. The joint lobbying efforts of these two governments helped r * * - S~~MOKINN6 Op NON M lH 0 0* - See You At TIM~~o f5VT