Ann Arbor residents from Wards 3 and 5 will head to the polls on Tuesday to choose their candidates in the Democratic primary election.

This year's group of five candidates includes two incumbents, a previous city council member, a former primary candidate and a first-year primary runner.

Ward 3

Ward 3 residents will choose among three candidates — incumbent Leigh Greden (D–Ward 3), LuAnne Bullington and Stephen Kunselman.

All three said they hoped for greater student turnout in the primary.

Bullington said she believes student votes are key but that she was concerned that the way the wards are separated will split the student vote.

Kunselman, a former City Council member from 2006 to 2008 and current University energy management liaison, has been heavily campaigning in student neighborhoods.

“I’m hoping that the student vote on August 4 comes my way,” Kunselman said. “I think I’m the only candidate of the three that recognizes the importance of our youth.”

Greden said he was disappointed in the low amount of student voters in the past and was the least optimistic among all three candidates that the student turnout would increase this year.

“I wish students would vote more,” Greden said. “The reality is that in the third ward in August, we will see less than a dozen students cast a vote … and that’s unfortunate.”

If elected, the candidates said they would undertake issues pertinent to students including leasing policies, the proposed city income tax and student safety.

Bullington said the dim lighting on South University Avenue has to be tackled because of safety concerns.

“Mainly we need to make sure that the students are safe when they’re out and about downtown at night,” she said.

Kunselman said he was against the proposed city income tax, which would affect students working in Ann Arbor. The tax would cost Ann Arbor residents 1 percent of their annual income and non-residents 0.5 percent of their annual income.

Though Greden is a proponent of a city income tax, he said he has a “long record working closely with students.”

Greden is the current chair of the council’s Student Relations Committee. He also sponsored a 2006 leasing ordinance that gave prospective 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 trying to pressure them to sign leases in the early stages.”

All three candidates also agreed that there should be more communication between the city and the University.

“The city needs to better recognize the University is a key player in the community — a huge job creator — but the University needs to recognize that it cannot succeed as an employer if the city is struggling,” Greden said.

“What’s bad for the city is bad for the University,” Greden added.

Bullington said she believes there should be more communication between the city and the University. She added that it’s difficult to communicate with the University on specific issues, like the lighting on South University Avenue, because it’s a municipality on its own.

Kunselman said the University and the city share the same location and should work together to promote cultural events.

“We share space … Top of the Park is a great example of the city and University working cooperatively together to make sure that the community as a whole has a great time, as well as the Art Fair,” Kunselman said. “We need to make sure to continue and always fine-tune, especially in difficult economic times.”

Greden faced criticism from Bullington and Kunselman for the controversy concerning councilmembers sending private e-mails during council meetings.