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One hundred and one years of editorial freedom
Volume No. 12S Ann Arbor, Michigan Wednesday, July 29, 1992 @1992 The Michigan Daily
COM-Candidates prepare for primary
by Hope Calati
Daily Staff Reporter
The race is coming down to
the wire for candidates running
for the state house in the 52nd
and 53rd districts, as next
Tuesday's primary draws ever
nearer.
The 52nd district contest
includes a hotly contested race
to replace State Rep. Perry
Bullard after his 20 years in the
state house. Five Republicans
and four Democrats are running
for their respective parties'
nominations in the district,
which includes northern Ann
Arbor and northwestern
Washtenaw County.
Charles Sayre, Dennis
Petsch, George Merkel, Mark
Ouimet and Tom Richardson
are fighting for the Republican
nomination.
George Merkel of Chelsea
has served as a Sylvan Town-
ship Trustee for eight years and
as a Washtenaw County Com-
missioner for eight years.
Merkel said he thinks he can do
"some good" for the state.
Merkel supports the efforts
of Gov. John Engler in welfare
reform.
The candidate said the tax
systemshouldbeshiftedforedu-
cational funding. "We should
take the burden off property tax
and put it on the income tax,"
Merkel said. He also said the
state workers compensation tax
is too high and keeps businesses
out of Michigan.
Mark Ouimet, a member of
the Ann Arbor City Council,
characterizes his campaign as
focusing on change. Ouimet's
education reform package em-
phasizes equalizing funding for
state schools by detatching the
connnection to property taxes.
Chelsea resident and teacher
Dennis Petsch sayshe is running
because of inadequate state sup-
port of the educational system.
Petsch's platform supports
increased educational funding.
However, he supports reallocat-
ing money from more affluent
districts to less affluent districts,
and opposes increased alloca-
tions to the state's universities.
"(The universities), like the
state of Michigan, are wasting a
lot of money," Petsch said.
The Democratic contest in
the 52nd features several candi-
dates who have not previously
servedaselectedofficials: Sabra
Briere, Scott Munzel, Mary
Schroer and Earle Stevenson.
Sabra Briere has been in-
volved in Ann Arbor politics
since 1977 as a community ac-
tivist and as Ann Arbor Demo-
cratic Party chair. In 1990, she
worked to declare Ann Arbora
Zone of Reproductive Freedom
which would create a $5 fine if
abortion becomes illegal.
She proposes increasing the
tax base through increasing the
number of taxpayers by raising
the amount ofmiddle-classjobs.
Mary Schrorer has served
since 1983as thelegislative assis-
See STATE, Page 2
Hopefuls vie for U.S.
congressional seat
Provost's letter angers Union
members, may have broken law
by David Shepardson ter contains statements which the Provost. "I was in the posi-
Daily Opinion Editor are illegal. "Provost Whitaker tion to do it," she said.
Provost and Vice President had no right to unilaterally de- OnMonday, membersof the
for Academic Affairs Gilbert cide wage rates for union em- 2,400 strong University chapter
Whitaker may have broken state ployees... It was in violation of of AFSCME voted to ratify a
law when he sent a letter to all state law, the Public Employee two-year contractproposal.Last
faculty and staff authorizing a Relations Act," Levy said. Tuesday,theUniversity bargain-
freeze on salaries. Thiry said the letter is all a ing committee and AFSCME
Later that same day, Gloria big misunderstanding. "It was negotiators agreed to a contract
Hage, the University's labor at- not Provost Whitaker's intent to and sent it to the full union for
tomey, sent a letter to the Presi- violate any part of the ratification. The vote passed by
dentof the American Federation University's responsibility to nearly a two to one margin, 735-
of State, County, and Municipal engage in collective bargaining 406.
Employees local 1583 with the unions," he said. The contract is highlighted
(AFSCME) and phoned all of Colleen Dolan-Creene, As- by a 2 percent base wage in-
thecampusunionstonotify them crease. Also included is a $45
of Whitaker's mistake. payment by the University to
Provost Whitaker's letter make upforthe fiveweeksunion
dated July 17th froze wages for members went without a con-
all staff and faculty employees. tract. This agreement comesless
Itdidnotexcludeunionemploy- than two weeks after Provost
eesandwasunderstoodbymany Whitaker announced a "shared
Union members to be a "viola- z ,asacrifice" program at the Re-
tion of the collective barganing gents' meeting.Among theitems
agreement." discussed, Provost Whitaker
However, VicePresidentfor stated that there would be "no
Business Operations James pay raises this year."
Thiry said the letter "was not Levy is personally opposed
intended to be sent to Union- to the contract. "It is areal cut in
staff members." W hitaker our wages," she said.
Hage sent a letter to sistant Vice-President for Aca- AFSCME members specu-
AFSCME that stated "the letter demic Affairs, added, "It is my lated that most workers sup-
(Whitaker's letter) ... is not in- opinion that any statements on ported the contract fearing the
tended to apply to unions. Their general opinion are notcovered University would not guarantee
wages, of, course, will be deter- by state law." job security or budge from there
mined through the collective Hage acknowledged criti- barganing stance. Levy said
bargaining process." cisms that it is unusual for the memberswerenotready tostrike.
Judith Levy, president of Universitylaborattorneytosend
AFSCME, said Whitaker's let- letters to clarify the positions of See Utow, Page 2
by Hope Calati
Daily Staff Reporter
Republican candidates in
Michigan's redrawn 15th Con-
gressional district are gunning
for votes in the days before the
Aug. 4 primary in the hopes that
they will be the one to challenge
incumbent Democrat William
Ford.
Six Republicancandidates-
Burl Adkins, Glen Kassel, Bob
Geake, Herbert Scott, William
Steele and Raymond Tanter -
are competing for the nomina-
tion. Adkins, Geake and Tanter
are the only candidates actively
pursuing the office. Ford is un-
challenged for the Democratic
nomination.
Adkins, a Southgate
businessperson, has previously
challenged Ford, once as a
Having an
art to art
tal
Although this man
seems to be a little
tied up at the
moment, he and
thousands of other
art lovers
converged on the
city for Ann Arbor's
annual Art Fair.
Touted as the best
art extravaganza in
the Midwest, Art
Fair is not only a
time for acquiring
art, but also for
eating delectable
food and engaging
in people-watching.
Look inside to
pages eight and
nine for more
picture perfect
visions of last
week's Art Fair.
Democrat and twice asa Re-
publican.
"We have a lack of leader-
ship," Adkins said. "I believe
wehave torunourgovemment
like we run our businesses."
Adkins emphasizes his ex-
perience in the auto industry
and the strengthening of do-
mestic industries in the global'
market. He claims to have cre-
ated 180 jobs in his firm, Glo-
bal Technology Associates,
which provides auto-related
design services under short-
term contract.
He supports the death pen-
alty for first-degree murders, a
balanced budget amendment
and a line-item veto.
Geake, a state senator from
Northville, has served in state
See CoouEss, Page 2