14B - The Michigan Daily - Election '98 - Thursday, October 29, 1998
City Council wards give little power to students
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The Michigan Daily - El
Turbulent campaign season draws
By Kenly O'Connor
Daily StaffReporter
After Nov. 3, the Ann Arbor City
Council once again will begin a term
that does not include representation
from the student population.
Ann Arbor's charter calls for the five
council wards to be drawn in a pie-slice
shape with its center in downtown near
the Diag.
4 The stated reason for this is that each
ward includes all parts of the city:
downtown, suburban neighborhoods
and rural areas outside the city.
Therefore, all citizens are concerned
with the entire city, not just the part in
which they live.
There is no all-student ward or offi-
cial student council seat because stu-
dent residencies are divided among the
five wards.
This presents a problem for students
who wish to learn about and contribute
to city government by serving on the
council.
s Two students were elected to city
council in 1973 and another in 1974, all
from the Human Rights Party. The
threesome caused quite a bit of contro-
versy in their time, said former council
member Liz Keogh, now living in
Bakersfield, Calif.
"They were like nothing we had seen
before," said Keogh, who served as a
Democrat on the council. "They were
viewed as having very little respect for
the way we did things."
Student involvement in city govern-
ment was a new phenomenon in the
'70s, Keogh said. When 18-year-old cit-
izens became eligible to vote in 1972,
they also received the right to run for
public office, resulting in a surge of
interest previously unseen, she said.
"Up to that point, students had no
political power," Keogh said. "They
made up a significant percentage of
the city and pumped up the economy,
but no one cared about their con-
cerns. Suddenly, the floodgates
opened."
But the student Council members did
more than just exercise their new right
to run in elections. They raised legiti-
mate issues others wanted to ignore,
Keogh said.
The students of the Human Rights
Party shocked the council by putting a
proposal on the ballot, that passed and
made the possession of a small amount
of marijuana punishable only by a $5
fine.
They demanded discussion on issues
such as rent control and city funded
daycare. These were issues even liberal
Democrats didn't want to go near,
Keogh said.
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon
remembers the effect the elected stu-
dents had on the city's governing body.
"They were very concerned about
student issues, but they didn't under-
stand that the issues had to be talked
about in the context of the city,"
Sheldon said.
Stories of pizza deliveries at council
meetings and student members putting
their feet on tabletops have been passed
down since that time, Sheldon said.
The council was anxious to curb
what they believed to be a mocking of
their official procedures.
"When the time came to redraw the
wards, there was a consensus that they
should be more representative,"
Sheldon said. "I think it was the only
time that the Republicans and
Democrats agreed."
Michigan Student Assembly
President Trent Thompson said the lack
of an all-student ward diminishes stu-
dent voice on the council.
"It made it so that students could not
create a coalition to elect someone
because they can only vote in their own
district, Thompson said. "The students
are a major part of Ann Arbor, and they
should be proportionately represented."
While undergraduate students have
not held a spot on the council since the
'70s, graduate students have had some ,
representation.
Rackham student Elizabeth Daley is
up for re-election for her city council
seat.
She said being a student gives her a
different perspective on city issues that
affect students, such as the problems of
renting.
"I know about smaller things hap-
pening on campus that also impact the
city," Daley said. "I was a renter for 10
years, and I am familiar with the con-
cerns that go along with this?'
Despite the districting concerns,
Kolb stressed that students can make a
difference.
"If people really get organized, they
can influence local elections;" Kolb
said.
By Mike Spahn
and Jason Stoffer
Daily Staff Reporters
quickly," said Sarpolus,
Republicans sounded shockec
told them the results of last w
With the November 3 election right around Granholm's potential victo
the corner, the political winds are swirling and important to the Democrats
nobody is sure where the cards will fall. "need to win something," Sari
After President Clinton admitted he had an He went on to say that R
affair with former White House intern Monica - drooling early in the election
Lewinsky, Republicans salivated at the poten- weak president and fragmen
tial political payoff. When flamboyant trial party, but the voter angst ha
lawyer Geoffrey Fieger won the Democratic Democrats are coming on stro
gubernatorial primary, Republicans were con- "The Republicans have to1
fident they would ride Gov. John Engler's election is so soon," Sarpolus
coattails to regain control of the state House of the president's troubles will n
Representatives. an effect as Republicans origin
History adds even more fuel to the Democrats yearning for c
Republican fire - the party in control of the must win one of three major1
White House has gained congressional seats in said: the attorney general, con
only one off-year election since the Civil War. House, and the state Suprem
But pundits say voters are
fickle and the political
turnout and voter sentiments The Republicans nave to
are nearly impossible to pre- beg a that
dict. They warn that some la h WJ~UE
adding that
d when he first
eek's polls.
ry is especially
s because they
polus said.
epublicans were
n season with a
ted Democratic
as subsided and
ng.
be glad that the
said, adding that
ot have as great
nally had hoped.
ontinued power
races, Ballenger
ntrol of the state
ne Court, which
would require
democrats to
keep the two
seats up for
election. He
said that a vic-
tory in any
one of these
three would
vindicate the
Clinton's impeachment."
But Ballenger and Sarpolus said they do no
think there will be any shift in the current del
egation, which has 10 Democrats and six
Republicans. While trying hard to make ui
the gap, Ballenger said, Republicans efforts
will fall short and fail to gain control o
sought after seats in and around Detroit.
Although there is no race in Michigan, th
U.S. Senate election may carry even greater
importance to the future of the Clintor
inquiry. Currently, Republicans hold a 55-45
advantage and Democratic incumbents in
Illinois, Wisconsin and California are strug
gling to hold onto their seats. If Republican
gain 60 seats, they will be able to vote for clo
ture - and could stop a Democratic filibuster
in the event of a Clinton impeachment trial.
"They may well come close to 60, but tha
doesn't guarantee cloture," political science
Prof. Vincent Hutchings said. "It's such at
individualistic environment in the Senate it'
hard to get people to vote party line."
Closer to home, some Ann Arbor area races
will be hotly contested. In a seat vacated by
term-limited state Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann
Arbor), Republican Julie Knight faces
Democrat John Hansen. Hansen said the dis
trict is delicately balanced, with 52 percent o
voters Democratic and 48 percent Republican
Traugott said the Hansen-Knight race is
toss-up, but he expects U.S. Rep. Lynn River
(D-Ann Arbor), state Sen. Alma Wheeler
Smith (D-Ann Arbor) and state Rep. Liz
Brater (D-Ann Arbor) to win easily.
Ballenger called the Hansen-Knight race "def
initely the most interesting race in that area."
In districts such as Schroer's, Traugott said
the size of the gubernatorial victory will make
its greatest impact. Engler lead Fieger by
around 30 percentage points in the latest pol
conducted by EPIC/MRA.
If Engler's strength causes 2 to 3 percen
more voters than usual to cast their entire bal
lot Republican, Ballenger said, the GOP wil
Republicans may be overcon- f
fident and will not take the
time to head to the polls.
"It's so hard to tell who
will win the elections,"
said Bill Ballenger, editor of the Inside
Michigan Politics newsletter. "It literally
changes hour-by-hour."
While the broad picture is far from certain,
pollster Ed Sarpolus of Lansing-based
EPIC/MRA said there is only one contentious
race left atop the Michigan ballot - the attor-
ney general race between Democrat Jennifer
Granholm and Republican John Smietanka.
"The Governor and Secretary of State are
over. Proposal B seems dead and Proposal C
will pass," Sarpolus opined. But he said the
most recent poll shows Granholm ahead for
the state's top law enforcement spot, a new
development in the hotly contested battle.
"It was surprising that the race shifted so
- Ed Sarpolous
EPIC/MRA pollster
party.
That same party has a lot of work to do after
the election, Ballenger said. He said the Fieger
victory will be termed a "disaster" by future
leaders, and they need to be sure something
like it does not happen again.
"Fieger may just be viewed as an aberration
after the election," Ballenger said.
Communication studies and political sci-
ence Prof. Michael Traugott, an elections
expert, said he expects the Democrats to lose
10 to 15 seats in the U.S. House.
"To the extent it's below 10, it'll be seen as
a Democratic victory," Traugott said. "To the
extent it's beyond 15, Republicans will claim
it's the voice of the people speaking in favor of
Campaign finance reform laws
shape many local, state elections
Id
may
mutt
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may
VICKY LASKY/Day
Competition lax in races for cit counci posts
By Jason Stoffer
Daily Staff Reporter
The issues are not always what determine
the outcome of an election. Without enough
money, an election can be lost before cam-
paigning even begins.
Every year, donors are finding more cre-
ative ways to shirk federal donation limits -
$1,000 for an individual and $5,000 for a polit-
ical action committee. Soft money is the latest
fad, and involves dollars groups spend for issue
advocacy.
Each election cycle, unions, corporations
and the Republican and Democratic National
Committees run-soft money attack advertise-
ments. These ads never mention their preferred
candidates' names, but often attack the opposi-
tion.
The amount of money involved is enor-
mous.
The minimum amount needed to win a seat
in the U.S. House ranges from $250,000 to
$500,000 dollars in a non-presidential election
year, said Patrick Rosenstiel, campaign manag-
er for 13th District U.S. House candidate Tom
Hickey. U.S. Senate races require millions of
dollars.
The crux of the issue, Democratic state
House candidate John Hansen said, is that
donations do not come for free.
"You judge each issue on its merits (when
voting on a bill), but I .think it's always on the
back of your mind who supported you," said
Hansen, who is running for the seat from which
state Rep. Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor) has
See FINANCE, Page 12B
oth
Corr
tee
give
By Kelly O'Connor
Daily Staff Reporter
For most candidates running for office, the
phrase "election night" conjures images of
tough competition and an evening that ends
with victory for one and a loss for another.
But this year's Ann Arbor city council elec-
tion is not a typical one.
Of the five council members up for re-elec-
tion, three are running unopposed and two are
challenged by the smaller Libertarian party.
The lack of competition shows that Ann
Arbor residents are satisfied with the way
things are, said Tobi Hanna-Davies (D-1st
Ward).
"My ward is predominantly Democrat, and
it has been that way for a long time," Hanna-
Davies said.
"People want someone who is progressive
on the issues. That's why there's no contest"
The 11-member council contains just four
Republicans, but party affiliation does not
always affect council votes. The opinions of
the individuals come out during debates, said
Councilmember Stephen Hartwell (D-4th
Ward)._
"In any type of politics, you have to put a
label on yourself - Republican, Democrat -
liberal or conservative," Hartwell said. "But
everyone on this council has a wide range of
interests and concerns."
Yet some council members say the lack of
competition for seats on council is a symptom
of a larger problem in government.
"It says something sad about the state of
local politics and local parties," said Elizabeth
Daley (D-5th Ward).
"The fact that there are no candidates rep-
resents people's concern with the burden of
serving on council, but it also represents the
diminishment of local government," said
Daley, a Rackham student.
The full schedules of Ann Arbor residents
sometimes take precedence over a desire to
serve through public office, Ann Arbor Mayor
Ingrid Sheldon said.
"Many people's lives are so busy that they
don't have time to become involved," said
Sheldon, a Republican running for re-election.
Also, many people feel that their one vote will
not make a difference in the outcome of the elec-
tion, but this is simply untrue, Hanna-Davies said.
The city's 1st Ward "has more students than
any other ward, and with a good voter turnout,
we could change the course of the mayoral
election," Hanna-Davies said.
Je 1[idtiun &tru
Election
'98
Election '98 Editor: Jeffrey Kosseff.
Campaign Reporters: Kelly O'Connor, Mike Spahn and Jason Stoffer.
Managing News Editor: Janet Adamy.
News Editors: MarIa Hackett, Heather Kamins and Chris Metinko.
Editor in Chief: Laurie Mayk.
Reporters: Nikita Easley, Yael Kohen, Katie Plona, Heather Wiggin and Jennife
Photographers: Allison Canter, Jessica Johnson, Kelly McKinnell, David Rochk
Cover graphic by Vicky Lasky.