8 Monday, August 2, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com ELECTIONS From Page 1 council members - Anglin, Kun- selman and Tony Derezinski (D- Ward 2) - Rabhi has the support of Conan Smith, a current member of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. And recently, the Michigan Democratic Party's LGBT Caucus publicly backed his cam- paign. But according to Rabhi, his great- est support comes from what he calls "face time" - going door-to-door through every neighborhood in the 11th district and talking to prospec- tive voters. "At the end of the day, the best way I've been engaging people is FRAUD From Page 1 insider trading that led to over $30 million in illegal profits. just knocking on their doors," Rabhi said. "It's the way you make politics and democracy accessible. I want to engage the people in the democratic process." Rabhi said he began going door-to- door in late April, which enabled him to reach more houses than if he had started closer to the primary. Start- ing early was important, he said, in a district of about 25,000 registered voters. "At the beginning a lot of people were telling me, 'You're the first county commissioner candidate that's ever knocked on my door,' " Rabhi said. Rabhi said his campaign efforts have only intensified since April. The 11th district encompasses a large part of the University's com- In a statement released to media outlets through their attorney, the Wylys have classified the charges as "a misapplication of the law." "They have never been given any reason to believe the financial transac- $150 OFF Mention This AD End 7/31/10 And Receive $150 Off. Now is the perfect time to prep with one of the M A nation's leaders in test preparation. A -Small Classes *LSATs Ca** "Expent instructors " Free Extra Help .The GMAT Princeton -2 viwPi n et fnXa, 7 i.<. u l " Review munity, including South Quadrangle, West Quadrangle and predominantly student-filled neighborhoods around Oakland Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Rabhi said he makes a point of hit- ting student-heavy areas even though the student population deflates over the summer. "I think it's important to engage all the voters, not just the people who are usual voters," he said. "I don't think it's a waste of time." Still campaigning in the days lead- ing up to the primary election, Rabhi left flyers on Saturday afternoon for residences on Fifth Avenue and Wil- liam Street, making notes to himself to return later to houses in which no one answered his knocks. Rabhi did get the chance for direct interaction and the opportunity to tions in question were anything other than legal and fully appropriate," said William Brewer, III, a partner at Bickel & Brewer - the firm represent- ing the Wylys. "It will come as little surprise to those who know them that the Wylys intend to vigorously defend themselves ... and expect to be fully vindicated." In an e-mail interview with The Michigan Daily, University spokes- woman Kelly Cunningham said it's unfortunate the Wyly brothers are currently experiencing such hard- ships. "Mr. Wyly is a longtime support- er of the University," Cunningham wr"te in her e-mail. "We're sorry to hear he is facing these difficult cir- cumstances." The charges come after nearly two decades of investigations into the Wyly brothers' investment practices, which led to a Senate investigation in 2006. At the culmination of the investigation, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which at the time included ranking minority member Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), released a report highlighting the Wyly broth- ers' investment practices as one of six elaborate abuses of tax laws. At the time, Jerry May, the Univer- sity's vice president for development, said Wyly was innocent until proven guilty. "Sam Wyly is a highly reputable and successful business person," May said in an interview with the Daily at the time. "He has done a lot for a lot of organizations and people." A spokesperson at the Business School echoed May's comments at the time, saying the Senate's investiga- tions were unlikely to impact Wyly's relationship with the Business School. Though comment on the Univer- sity's process for screening donors was not immediately available last week- end, the University's past actions sug- gest the University may continue to stand by Wyly by leaving his name on answer questions about his platform at some houses along his campaign path. At the South Division home of Dylan Manna - a PhD candidate in physics at the University - Rabhi launched into a conversation about important issues facing the county. Manna asked Rabhi how he stood out from his opponents. "What I'm bringing to the table is energy and enthusiasm to get the job done," Rabhi replied. He then began talking about his plans to continue funding vital human services while encouraging sustainability. "Sustainability - environmental, economic and social. That's what sets me apart," Rabhi said. By the end of their brief conversa- tion, Manna said he had confidence in Rabhi's campaign. "I like the fact that you're young and enthusiastic;" Manna said. "You've got my vote." Rabhi said he doesn't want his age to be a factor in the race, adding that when he first considered running, he thought his age would work against him. "I don't like to use age to distin- guish myself from my opponents," he said. "When I started, I was afraid of the fact that I was a student. I was afraid that people would not accept that." After comments like Manna's, though, Rabhi said he's begun to realize that his age might actually work in his favor. "I've realized that what I'm bring- ing to the table is new and different," he said. "But that's my strength." MICHAEL ZAMORA/ muel Wyly, pictured above, and his brother Charles face allegations of insider trading. the building he helped finance with allegedly illegal funds. In 2001, then-University President Lee Bollinger stood by University alum and donor Alfred Taubman, who was found guilty of price-fixing - a convic- tion that landed Taubman a one-year federal prison sentence and a $7.5-mil- lion fine. Bollinger said he would not change the name of the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Taubman Medical Library or the then-Taubman Center of University Hospitals, now called the A. Alfred Taubman Health Care Cen- ter. At the time, some individuals - including former LSA Dean Edie Gold- enberg, who is now a political science and public policy professor - said Taubman's name should have been removed from campus facilities. "I don't think that sets a wonderful example for students," Goldenbergsaid at the time of the University's decision to stand by Taubman. "The University really ought to give the money back and find other sources." In addition to charges brought against the Wyly brothers, Michael French, the Wyly's attorney, and Louis Schaufele, III, the pair's stock- broker, have also been accused of wrongdoing. "The Wylys' attorney, French, and their stockbroker, Schaufele, sub- stantially assisted the Wylys' fraudu- lent scheme, each reaping financial rewards for doing so. Each also com- mitted primary violations of the anti- fraud provisions of the securities laws," allege the charges filed with the court.