41 Monday, August 4, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com C)Jbe fMidbian aili Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu EMMARIE HUETTEMAN GARY GRACA KATE TRUESDELL EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect theofficial positionof the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the viewsof their authors. This year's city primaryhas produced, on the whole, a unique spread of qualified candidates. Hot issues this year include student housing, sustain- ability and fiscal responsi- bility - again. Thanks to Michigan's infa- mous voting laws, it's a well-known fact that few students are actually regis- tered to vote in Ann Arbor. And while they shouldn't hide behind legislation to defend their apathy, stale issues don't help matters. In the hands of capable candidates, action on those issues could actually be a real possibility this year. Which is why it's even more important this year that those who can vote do - and those who can't, change. WardTHEI Both candidates Patricia Lesko and Sandi Smith demonstrate a well-rounded knowledge of linch- pin issues like affordable housing, urban development, city greening and Univeristy-city relationships. Patricia Lesko has big ideas. Lesko sees Berkeley, California - similar, in many ways, to Ann Arbor - as a useful model for development. She says she'd like to see improved transparency with city government and recog- nizes that the city could benefit .Ward2 E In Ward 2, Tony Derezinski and Stewart Nelson are facing off. Derezinskihas served in numer- ous public capacities. A former state senator, he also served on the Eastern Michigan University board of regents. He is promoting changes in public transportation and hopes to foster "proactive col- laboration," andhasbeenendorsed by Hieftje, as well as U.S. Rep. John Dingell. Stewart Nelson is a retired pilot who has focused much of his cam- Ward 3 : Running in Ward 3 are incum- bent candidate Stephen Kunsel- man and newcomer Christopher Taylor. Kunselman, notorious for the high-profile backyard-chick- en debate, has worked in local government for 10 years. He is focused on improving local parks, improving the city's green- belt and promoting sustainable design. Taylor is emphasizing the need, for improved building regula- Ward 5 TH E The race in Ward S is between Carsten Hohnke and Vivienne Arementrout. Hohnke lacks public service experience but has strong ideas about transportation and hous- ing. Armentrout served on the Washtenaw County Board ofCom- missioners and calls for reform- ing city government through better budget management and improved accountability. JIHNJHIEFTJE from student input when it comes she's not just a body in a seat; she to housing. Lesko is running as has detailed and concrete goals a write-in candidate, for city improvementlike- replacing Ron Suarez, ly a contributing factor in who has dropped out of her winning the current the race. _ mayor's endorsement. Also running is Sandi Voters should choose Smith. She has worked Sandi Smith; from talk- most notably with the ing with her, it's clear Downtown Development that she understands the Authority on the LED complex inner-workings light program, a progressive and of city government. While both pragmatic greening initiative that candidates are qualified, Smith's has won the city notoriety. But experience gives her the edge. A ETONY DEREZINSKI paign on opening up city govern- equipped to recognize the impor- ment and hopes to improve finance tance of students within a commu- management by taking a nity and to take measures to seat on the council, facilitate involvement. The Daily endorses His plans for better col- berezinski based on his laboration - if he can pull extensive experience them off - would prove in office and realistic mutually beneficial to both understanding of the the city and the University. challenges - and plans And if that weren't to face them - ahead for enough, his experience in Ann Arbor. regional planning in an era where As a former regent at East- development is a hot-button issue ern, Derezinski is particularly make him the man for the job. STEPHEN KUNSELMAN tions and fiscal responsibility. He Both Taylor and Kunselman also advocates more money for have good ideas, and for a fresh- improving and greening man candidate, Taylor's the Ann Arbor Trans- are impressively defined. portation Authority. But when it comes to In the booth, voters understanding' how to should check Kunsel- make those changes hap- man's box. Though he's pen, Kunselman wins. known for ruffling feath- He has the kind of ers, he advocates real know-how that can only and pragmatic issues. come from experience. It's obvious from speaking to him That could be Taylor in a few that he knows how to get things years, if he can start a little lower done. and work his way up. D Y END RSE: CARSTEN HOHNKE While Ward S's race hasn't in meaning - there is an earnest- produced candidates of quite the ness in him worth supporting. same caliber as else- Though he doesn't have where in the city, vot- remarkable solutions to ers should recognize student concerns like a slight advantage in affordable housing, he Hohnke. does at least recognize the Though he lacks importance of such issues. Armentrout's service The same can't be said for experience and cer- Armentrout, who seems tainly speaks politik more focused on repri- - a language peppered with manding from her soapbox than snappy soundbites that are vague enacting change. SANDI SMITH 4 4 4 a After eight years in office, incumbent mayor John Hieftje has a lot to show for it. During his time in office, he's produced an impressive list of accomplish- ments. A long-time champion of the environment and city green- ing, Hieftje has sponsored initia- tives like the Mayor's Green Energy Chal- lenge and has been a key supporter of' the Ann Arbor Parks and Greenbelt Pro- gram, even winning the Environmental Leadership Award from the Michigan League of Conser- vation voters this year. He is also committed to improving public transportation and fostering controlled urban development in a way that main- tains the spirit of the city. Tom Wall, a local business man, is the heavyweight incum- bent's challenger. Wall, who also ran for mayor in 2006 as an Independent, has vocalized the need for fiscal responsibility. He has similarly backed envi- ronmental projects like the Gre- enway Program and called for more incorporation of sustain- ability policy in the city's build- ing regulations-. But those goals, while admirable, can't beat out the current powerhouse heading city coun- cil's table. Voters should choose John Hieftje for his expe- rience, knowledge and ability to get things done. Realis- tic and, simultane- ously, forward-thinking, he can provide the kind of leadership the council needs. And while little progress has been made to increase students' involve- ment in city government during his terms served, he still under- stands that this is an important issue in need of work. 0