Monday, August 2, 2010
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Tie fidtcitgan Baily
Edited and managed by students at
the University of Michigan since 1890.
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arboyr MI 48109
tothedaily@umich.edu
Iwould hope that there isn't a place in
Ann Arbor politics for the kind of
rhetoric that's been thrown around
during this campaign."
- Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, following a recent debate,
as reported yesterday by AnnArbor.com.
ANDREW LAPIN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
RYAN KARTJE
MANAGING EDITOR
ALEX SCHIFF
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of thenDaily's editorial board.
All othernsigned articles and illustrationsnrepresent solely the views of their authors.
Vote Hieftje, Kailasapathy, Teall, Hohnke
Candidates for city government promise changes to increase student involvement in city politics
T here's no hiding Ann Arbor's overwhelmingly blue hue when it comes to politics. With Republicans rarely standing a chance
in the general election, the August primary among Democrats tends to be the deciding ballot in city elections. That makes it
especially important for students to show up to vote on Tuesday, when contests will be decided for the mayor as well as City
Council seats for Wards 1, 4 and 5.
Undoubtedly the most encouraging factor of this year's elec-
tion was the consensus among most candidates that the prima-
ry date should be changed. While many blamed the restrictions
stipulated by state law, there appeared to be a sincere willing-
ness to work with state-level officials to move the date to a
time when students can participate. What remains to be seen
is whether or not this election year enthusiasm translates into
action, lest this continue to be an empty campaign promise.
With a decade under his belt at the helm of Ann Arbor's city
government, incumbent John Hieftje has plenty to boast about.
During a time when most other municipal governments face
crippling cuts to vital public services and tax hikes, Hieftje has
done a respectable job as the steward of Ann Arbor's finances.
The city has minimized layoffs and cutbacks while continuing
to embark on impressive "green" initiatives, promote a dense,
vibrant urban core and enhance mass transit.
Hieftje will face off against challenger Patricia Lesko, CEO
of Part-Time Press and the formerly anonymous voice behind
the blog A2Politico. With a level of rhetoric not typical to Ann
Arbor politics, Lesko venomously criticized Hieftje's tenure as
a lot of talk and "green-wash" without real results. She argues
passionately for the direct inclusion of student voices in city
politics and opposes the ward system, as well as condemns the
current administration for cuts in public services.
Hieftje has, by most measures, been a positive force for Ann
Arbor. Lesko seems to be much more apt as a critic than as a
candidate to lead Ann Arbor. Her fiery campaign rhetoric has
featured a list of statistics and facts that have turned out to be
outright false or misleading, such as stating that the city gov-
ernment's Chief Financial Officer Roger Fraser had received a
35 percent pay raise since he started (it's actually 16 percent)
and that Stadium Bridge collapsed, according to AnnArbor.
com. And while Hieftje could benefit from incorporating some
of Lesko's emphasis on engaging students more directly with
city politics, he has proven himself able the manager and leader
Ann Arbor needs. The Daily endorses John Hieftje for mayor.
In Ward 1, incumbent Sandi Smith faces a formidable chal-
lenger in Sri Lankan-born Sumi Kailasapathy. Smith has an
impressive legacy on city council protecting human services,
supporting affordable housing and promoting downtown
development. She led initiatives to double the occupancy of the
emergency shelter system last winter, supported an expansion
in the city's recycling program and created the Energy Audit
and Rehabilitation Grant Program, which incentivizes down-
town businesses to invest in energy efficiency.
But Sumi Kailasapathy also has a remarkable record in
human rights, most notably as a leading student organizer at the
University of Jaffna during the 1980's, where she co-founded
a women's shelter for victims of the military's sexual violence
and fought for human rights. Now a certified public accoun-
tant, Kailasapathy, more than any other challenger this year,
demonstrates an incredibly strong grasp of the city's finances
and the skeptical voice the Council needs to keep its spending
in check, ask the right questions and ensure that all available
options are explored.
While Smith's record on human services is indeed com-
mendable, Kailasapathy too shares this passion for helping
society's less fortunate members. More importantly, she dem-
onstrates an immense knowledge of the issues at play in this
election, including the city's complex financial picture. She
argues enthusiastically - and rightfully - for the need for
independent voices on the Council. The Daily endorses Sumi
Kailasapathy for City Council in Ward 1.
In Ward 4, incumbent Margie Teall is running against Jack
Eaton. Teall has an impressive and lengthy resume as a mem-
ber of City Council since 2002. She has been a leader in sup-
porting environmentalism in both city government and Ann
Arbor at large. Most importantly, she has found innovative
funding solutions for building projects that have minimized
their impact on the budget. And like most other candidates,
she expressed an eagerness to move the primary date to a time
when students can participate.
Challenger Jack Eaton, on the other hand, criticizes the city's
cuts to public services and also promises to work directly with
student groups to move the primary date. As a former Univer-
sity student, he claims he understands the issues students face
as unique residents of Ann Arbor. He also argues that he will
make the Council more transparent, citing incidents this year
in which council members were found to be regularly trading
e-mails during meetings with the public.
Yet while his vision for Ann Arbor is impressive, his plans
for making it a reality are rather vague. In contrast, his oppo-
nent has extensive experience in city government and the deep,
specific knowledge necessary to find creative solutions to the
problems facing the city. The Daily endorses Margie Teall for
City Council in Ward 4.
In Ward 5, incumbent Carsten Hohnke is pitted against
Lou Glorie. Hohnke can point to a solid record during his
two years on the Council, when he sat on the Greenbelt Advi-
sory Commission, passed legislation that expanded the city's
recycling program and supported policies restricting subur-
ban sprawl. He has worked with students on lighting issues
and shows a genuine desire to work more closely with them
in the future, including an expressed interest in collaborating
to engage state legislators on finding a primary date during
the school year.
Like most challengers this year, Glorie is campaigning
on what she sees as the need to reprioritize the city finances
toward public services and restore fiscal responsibility. On her
website, she states that if some in the city government "believe
we have too many police and firefighters, then they should
explain why, and we should discuss it" and that she "doesn't
see why the city would consider reducing the number of these
employees." Glorie similarly promotes repairing the city's leaky
water system and crumbling roads.
Hohnke has the benefit of being able to point to his accom-
plishments as a councilmember, whereas Glorie must run on
the quality of her ideas and plans for change. Unfortunately,
these are both lacking in details and paint a picture of Ann
Arbor that oversimplifies the challenges it faces. The Daily
endorses Carsten Hohnke for City Council in Ward 5.
"