Monday, August 3, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
PRIMARY
From Page 1
"long record working closely with
students."
Greden is the current chair of the
council's Student Relations Com-
mittee. He also sponsored a 2006
leasing ordinance that gave pro-
spective renters more time to sign
leases.
"I sponsored the lease ordinance,
which was brought to my intention
by the students," Greden said. "It
was to help all renters citywide, but
particularly students, to avoid the
pressure of landlords tryingto pres-
sure them to sign leases in the early
stages."
All three candidates also agreed
that there should be more commu-
nication between the city and the
University.
"The city needs to better recog-
nize the University isa key player in
the community - a huge job creator
- but the University needs to rec-
ognize that it cannot succeed as an
employer if the city is struggling,"
Greden said.
"What'sbad for the city is bad for
the University," Greden added.
Bullington said shebelieves there
should be more communication
between the city and the University.
municate with the University on Kunselmz
specific issues, like the lighting on important t
South University Avenue, because engaged in
it's a municipality on its own. ernment."
Kunselman said the University . In rebutt
and the city share the same location opponents,
and should work together to pro- using the s
mote cultural events. political adv
"We share space ... Top of the "This isI
Park is a great example of the city Greden said
and University working coopera- policy in pl
tivelytogether to make sure that the e-mails."
community as a whole has a great
time, as well as the Art Fair," Kun- Ward5
selman said. "We need to make sure
to continue and always fine-tune, Incumbei
especially in difficult economic will vie for
times." City Counci
Greden faced criticism from ner Scott Ro
Bullington and Kunselman for Anglin sa
the controversy concerning coun- rent experi
cilmembers sending private e-mails ber gives h
during council meetings. competition
Some of the council members, term has m
including Greden, had exchanged issues take r
e-mails that discussed issues that of ways to s
should have been communicated most efficie
aloud to the public during meetings Rosencra
this year. munication
Both Bullington and Kunselman make him a
said the main reason they are run- serve on Cit
ning for a City Council position is He said h
to combat the lack of ethics demon- in "every sid
strated by current members. he will hav
"I think the present City Coun- of informati
cil's priorities are skewed," Bulling- "I believe
aan said that "it's very
that our citizenry feel
trusting our local gov-
al, Greden dismissed his
saying that they were
ituation for their own
antage.
political opportunism,"
d. "If we put an ethics
ace, it wouldn't address
nt Mike Anglin (D-5)
a two-year position on
1 against first-year run-
osencrans.
aid he believes his cur-
ence as a council mem-
him an edge over his
. He said his two-year
ade him aware of what
priority over others and
olve those issues in the
nt way possible.
ns said he feels his com-
skills and work ethic
qualified candidate to
y Council.
he would invest himself
de of every issue" so that
e the most complete set
on to make a decision.
e that the job involves
way that they're understandable by
other people sitting at the table," he
said. "Even if you come down on the
opposite side of an issue today, you
have a good relationship that you
can work from tomorrow."
He added that his experience
working on numerous city commit-
tees - such as the Ann Arbor Park
Advisory Commission and the Ann
Arbor Environmental Commission
- has enabled him to studybudgets,
infrastructure, natural area preser-
vation, recycling and a full range of
other topics that he could face as a
City Council member.
Concerns raised by the candi-
dates include city budget efficiency,
mass transit, efforts to keep the
city environmental-friendly and
increasing the student vote.
Both Anglin and Rosencrans
agreed that maintaining anefficient
city budget in the coming years
takes priority over other concerns.
Anglin said residents should have
more of a say in the city's budget
process and spending priorities.
Rosencrans said the city could
cut costs through the concept of
"regionalism" - sharing resources
and facilities with townships, the
county, public schools and the Uni-
versity to foster greater economic
efficiency and cooperation among
those bodies.
promoting the city's green initia-
tives. He said he wants to bring
recycling in the business communi-
ties up to par with the programs in
the residential communities, which
are recycling up to 50 percent. He
added that he wants better protec-
tion for the Huron River - an ini-
tiative Anglin also highly endorsed.
Mass transit within Ann Arbor
is another one of Anglin's top pri-
orities. Anglin said he's looking to
improve transportation for students
and other residents and that this
issue is one that City Council and
the University could collaborate on.
He said a coalitionbetween the two
bodies could result in more trans-
portation options and funding.
Both candidates stressed that
they would like to see greater stu-
dent turnout in the primary and
general elections. Anglin said more
student input could help City Coun-
cil members define downtown
development in terms of parking,
safety, noise ordinances and build-
ing appearance.
Rosencrans said he thinks the
student vote is important and that
students are a part of the voting
population that need to be repre-
sented.
"I think it makes for a better
public voice if we have a complete
population chiming in," Rosen-