NEWS 1.5 milion Michiganders turn out to vote in primaries this week The Michigan Daily - Monday,'August 9, 2004-3 PRIMARIES Continued from Page 1 Rep. Paul DeWeese collected 7 percent. In the 52nd state district, seven candi- dates competed for the state representa- tive seat that the term-limited Gene DeRossett will be vacating. According to statistics from Washte- naw County Clerk's Office, only about 9 percent of registered voters in the city of Ann Arbor cast a ballot on Tuesday. County-wide, voter turnout was roughly 16 percent. Voting at campus polling places was percent of registered voters who cast ballots. Turnout was considerably higher at off-campus locations, such as schools and churches. Precinct workers at the South Quad polling place remarked that low voter turnout at campus locations might have been attributed to relatively difficult campus parking as compared to the other locations in the city. Only 7 people showed up at their location on Tuesday. Several Ann Arbor voters revealed that issues such as education, the econo- my, national security and the Iraq war resonated in their minds when casting their ballots. "I'm not against Republicans per say, I'm just against the President," explained Emily Milner, an Ann Arbor resident and retiree, who voted at Pio- neer High School. In Michigan's traditionally progres- sive 15th Congressional District, which includes the heavily student-populated 53rd state district, incumbent John Din- gell ran unopposed for Democratic Party nomination, as did his eventual Republican challenger Dawn Anne Reamer. Dingell received 15,460 Washt- enaw County votes, while Reamer col- lected 4,083. Also in the 53rd district, Democratic incumbent state Rep. Chris Kolb won his party's nomination with about 92 percent of the vote, defeating newcomer Scott Schlimner, who garnered almost 8 percent. Kolb will face Erik Sheagren, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomi- nation. Washtenaw County Commissioner Joe Yekulis won the GOP nomination with about 54 percent of the vote, edg- ing out Saline City Councilwoman Ali- cia Ping by 9 points. Yekulis described his outlook for November is "very positive" and his game plan as being "very simple". "It comes down to meeting as many people as possible and convincing them that I have the experience, skills and abilities to represent them in the Michi- gan House of Representatives next year." Pam Byrnes, Washtenaw County road commissioner, won the Democratic pri- mary, finishing with 56 percent of the vote. Philip Zazove was second, with 35 percent, and Fran Brennan Pontoni fin- ished with 9 percent. The Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana Act may gain momentum, following the approval of a similar initiative in Detroit on Tuesday. If approved, the act would modify the Ann Arbor city code to allow qualified patients to possess and cultivate marijua- na for medicinal purposes with a doc- tor's authorization. Ann Arbor resident Timothy Paulding, who is visually handicapped, is assisted by an election official at the Michigan Union polling place on Tuesday for a state-wide primary election. Paulding was the eighth voter of the day at this precinct. The controversial initiative has poses, why not?" she said. received criticism from a range of legis- L SA junior Candace Forte lators, who are wary of the implications believes that marijuana should be of passing the act, and point to the completely legalized because she unproven effectiveness of the substance thinks it is no more dangerous than as a medical treatment. the abuse of substances that are LSA junior Caitlin McCarthy says legal, such as alcohol and over-the- she supports the act. counter drugs. "In terms of legalizing in general, I'm The Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana very ambivalent, but for medical pur- Act will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. AAPD cracks down on bar fights By Melissa Benton Daily Staff Reporter Ann Arbor nightlife is returning to normal, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department, after a series of bar fights in July involv- ing hundreds of people. While bar fights are fairly common, AAPD had been taking extra precau- tions to prevent similar incidents in the future because of the unusually large S Unisiy A number of participants that were involved in the fights, Deputy Chief Greg O'Dell said. "The primary thing that we've done is increased patrols during closing time," he said, adding that AAPD has also changed the work schedules for several officers, so there are now more officers on duty at 2 a.m. There have been no complaints since the most recent brawl broke out at Studio 4 on South Fourth Avenue on July 26, O'Dell said. Almost 200 people were involved in the fight outside Studio 4. Three women were arrested, one for striking someone in the head with a bottle, and the other two for disorderly fighting. - f x When police officers began ques- tioning witnesses to determine what Sun- Tfur 1130 a m. to 10:00p.m. N Unversty Fri -4a.1:0amt 10 ~.ys *happened, they found that some of Fr-Sat.11:30a.mt1:O0p. the names given were the same -. p555 from a previous fight on July 8. That brawl occurred outside the See BRAWLS, Page 10 122 So nivs fat Fra . Arbor Gain Real World Business Experience at SOPHOMORES! LD YOUR RESUME!! Be a Display Advertising Account Executive for Fall & Winter terms!! r+ sell advertising to local and national businesses a Manage your own account territory I Meet and communicate with business owners ,s0 Earn money working for an exciting student-run organization 0 Flexible hours to work around your class schedule 1' Management opportunities available S' sales experience is helpful, but not necessary If you are ceatll_, pick up an application at the Display Advertising department of TMD at: DEADLINE STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BUILDING IS AUGUST 420 MAYNARD ST., 2ND FLOOR ELEVENTJ talt 764-8662 for mare information