14B - The Michigan Daily - Election '98 - Thursday, October 29, 1998 City Council wards give little power to students 0 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 corg 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.