( ) N E - H U N D R E [) W T E N T Y T' W ) Y A( S 1 1 ) 1 (I I \I ) ) . a ) Ann Arbor, Michigan Tuesday, November 8, 2011 michigandailycom * ELECTION DAY 2011 * A incumbents say budget is priority CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CITY C If re-elected, council members want to redirect funds to public safety By JENNIFER LEE Daily StaffReporter As Ann Arbor residents head to the polls today to vote in the general elections, current elect- ed officials will eagerly await the results that will determine whether or not they get to keep their seats on the Ann Arbor City Council If re-elected, the incumbents _ say they are determined to con- tinue addressing what they feel are the key issues facing the council today: balancing the city's budget and redirecting funds toward infrastructure and public safety. Council member Stephen Rapundalo (D-Ward 2) said maintaining the city's budget is at the top of the council's to-do list. "I think first and foremost the main issue is dealing with the city's fiscal structure, the budget and making sure that we're within our means but at the same time being able to plan for needs that we have down the road," Rapundalo said. Council member Sabra Briere (D-Ward 1), who is an uncon- tested candidate this year, stressed the budget's impor- tance since the amount of money the city receives from the state has decreased in recent years. "It's goingto be another really interesting year as we try to deal with constant changes coming from Lansing when it comes to income for municipalities and when it comes to knowing what to do," Briere said. The incumbents expressed concern over prioritizing city spending and determining which sectors and projects the budget should or shouldn't allo- cate funds to. Council member Stephen Kunselman (D-Ward 3) said he is frustrated with the See BUDGET, Page 3 Challengers seek to unseat Democrats Candidates say council needs to readjust spending By ADAM RUBENFIRE Daily Staff Reporter Four candidates for Ann Arbor City Council are aim- ing to unseat four Democratic incumbents in today's election. In Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5, City Council incumbents Mike Anglin (D-Ward 5), Marcia Higgins (D-Ward 4), Stephen Kunselman (D-Ward 3), Ste- phen Rapundalo (D-Ward 2), face opponents - three who are Republican and one with no party affiliation. City Coun- cil member Sabra Briere (D- Ward 1) is running unopposed. Former Republican Council member Jane Lumm is chal- lenging Rapundalo and run- ning as an independent. She said she wasn't planning on running in today's race, but when both Democrats and Republicans asked her to run, she reconsidered. Lumm said she hopes resi- dents will be inspired to run in future elections by seeing her run without a party affiliation. She added that one day, she'd like to see Ann Arbor have non- partisan elections. "Ann Arbor has always been described as an outlier when it comes to partisan municipal elections," Lumm said, adding that most municipalities hold non-partisan elections. She explained that she is running as an independent because she describes herself as "socially liberal" and "fiscally conserva- tive." Republican David .Parker, a public accountant and financial planner, is challenging Kunsel- man for his Ward 3 seat on the council. In an interview at the Oct. 5 League of Women Vot- ers debate, Parker said though he is running as a Republican, he describes himself as a Lib- ertarian. He added that unlike many of his Republican coun- terparts, he supports the full legalization of marijuana. Competing in Ward 4 is See CHALLENGERS, Page 3 Cityproposals to askvoters about sidewalk, street repair Third proposal regards Employees' Retirement Board By ANNA ROZENBERG Daily Staff Reporter Voters headed to the polls today will be asked to take a stance on three citywide pro- posals dealing with funding for street and sidewalk repairs and appointments to the city's retire- ment policy board. Proposal 1: Street and Bridge Millage Proposal 1 would replace a current tax that funds street reconstruction between the years of 2012 and 2016. The pro- posal would raise an estimated $9,091,000 in the first year after its implementation. While federal and state funds are used to repair potholes with- in the city, the proposed millage would be used for resurfacing or reconstruction of roads that need repair and would replace Ann Arbor's millage that expires this year. City Council member Sabra Briere (D-Ward 1) said she is in See PROPOSALS, Page 8 Baits I to close after winter 2012 With closure, 'U' avoids $6 million repairs for boilers and fire system By HALEY GOLDBERG Daily StaffReporter For the 571 students currently * living in Baits I Residence Hall, their year in the North Campus housing complex may mark the end of the Baits I legacy. This past week, University Housing informed residents and staff in Baits I of the University's intention to close the complex at the end of this academic year, according to University Housing spokesman Peter Logan. The decision was made after the University determined that replacing boilers in the building and installing a fire suppression system for the complex to meet University standards would cost an estimated $6 million, accord- ing to Logan. He said the boilers cannot be used safely for anoth- er school year. "We realized that over the UNIVERSITY FACULTY SACUA discusses affect of sexual assault policy on investigation of cases Former SACUA chair: 2 of 41 sexual assault cases investigated last yr. By MARY HANNAHAN Daily Staff Reporter With only two of 41 reported sexual assault cases inspected at the University last year, and under the pressure of federal guidelines, the leading faculty governance body is debating the issue of investigation in sexual assault cases. In a meeting with the Senate Advisory Committee of Uni- versity Affairs yesterday, David Potter, chair of the Student Relations Advisory Commit- tee and former chair of SACUA, discussed how policies out- lined in a letter sent by the U.S. Department of Education to col- leges will affect the treatment of sexual assault allegations for undergraduate students at the University. The letter proposes that each sexual assault case be investigated and also calls for the standard of evidence to be lowered in the investigation. In the "Dear Colleague" letter sent in April, the Department of Education setguidelines forhow federally funded universities can be in compliance with the Title IX, which prohibits dis- crimination based on sex in aca- demic institutions. In response, the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Cen- ter and other offices drafted an interim policy for the University and plan to implement a long- term procedure this winter. An interim policy that lowers the standard of evidence from clear and convincing - in which it is highly probable that an assault occurred - to a prepon- See SACUA, Page 3 Baits I is scheduled to close at the end of the current academic year. years, Baits I has not met the expectation of students ... and to really upgrade those facilities would really require a lot more than $6 million," Logan said. "... It's really difficult right now at this point to justify spending a significant amount of student dollars on infrastructure and renovation for Baits I." University Housing Direc- tor Linda Newman said anoth- er main reason for closing the building is that Baits I - which opened in the mid-1960s - does not embody the principles of University Housing's Residen- tial Life Initiatives. The project includes creating dynamic resi- dential neighborhoods and com-, See BAITS, Page 3 WEATHER HI: 57 GOT A NEWS TIP? NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM L: 36 Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail Lupe lights up EMU Convocation Center TOMORROW news@michigandaily.com and let us know. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE FILTER INDEX AP NEWS ..................3 ARTS .....................6 Vol.CXXII,No.44 OPINION .....................4 CLASSIFIEDS...............6 20 tThe MichiganDaily SPORTS,............5 NEWS .........................7 michigondodty corn I A ,.