Mayor John Hieftje has never faced a primary challenge since being elected in 2000. This summer, that will change.

City Council member Wendy Woods (D-Ward 5), who is also associate director of the University's Michigan Community Scholars Program, is mounting a challenge to the incumbent mayor in the Democratic primary on Aug. 8.

In an interview in her office in Couzens Residence Hall, Woods did not point to any specific policy differences that sparked her decision to challenge Hieftje. Instead, she said her campaign is based on the need to include more people in the city's policy-making process.

Hieftje, a former realtor and City Council member himself, has compiled a record as a strong environmentalist. His office is littered with awards from environmental advocacy groups. Among his accomplishments as mayor, he cites a balanced budget, the passage of the Greenbelt ballot initiative to prevent sprawl into open spaces around Ann Arbor and the preservation and expansion of Ann Arbor's park system.

Woods also claims partial credit for some of these achievements.

"Many of the things he's been able to do as mayor has happened because of the Council that's been working with him," she said.

In the past three general elections, Hieftje has dominated his Republican opponents, never losing a precinct. In 2004, he defeated Republican Jane Lumm, capturing 68 percent of the vote.

But because Ann Arbor is so heavily Democratic, a challenge from within Hieftje's own party could be a threat, former Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon said.

"Because we have partisan elections, probably the only way you're going to get a decent hearing is to run as a Democrat," said Sheldon, a Republican who served as mayor from 1993 to 2000.

Still, the race promises to be an uphill battle for Woods. She will need to convince voters that they should reject a popular incumbent.

Woods disagrees with the commonly held perception that, in most levels of government, incumbency is often an insurmountable obstacle for challengers if voters aren't unhappy with the current officeholder.

"Rather than looking at this as being 'I've got to find out how many people are discontent and encourage them to do that,' what I'm hoping to do with my campaign is bring in ideas," she said.

"We're going to talk about things - we're going to, you know, hear from the public, hear from each other, generate new ideas and then allow people to make that distinction."

If she can do this effectively, she may have a chance at an upset, Sheldon said.

"She has very credible standing, especially within the Ann Arbor community, but also within the University community," Sheldon said. "If she works hard, she should be able to provide competition for John."

But many remain skeptical.

"I don't think she has chance," said one Council member, who asked that his name be withheld. "But I think she's trying to do this to position herself for the future."

Both candidates have ties to the University. Woods is associate director of MSCP, a residential program focusing on community service and social justice issues. Hieftje teaches a course in local government at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

University students who have worked with Woods are supportive of her candidacy.

"I don't know too much about her political career, but just seeing how she leads MCSP and seeing her speak on different issues, I definitely think she would be a good mayor," said Engineering sophomore Collin Hayward, a peer advisor in the program.

But Council member Margie Teall (D-Ward 4) said doesn't see a need for a change.

"I don't see a reason to bring in someone different," said Teall, who has endorsed Hieftje. "(Woods is) working well on the Council."

- Layla Aslani contributed to this report.

Dems primary

John Hieftje

- Mayor of Ann Arbor
- Education: Eastern Michigan University (bachelor's)
- Top priority: Promote sustainable, environmentally friendly development in Ann Arbor

Wendy Woods

- City Council member; associate director, Michigan Community Scholars Program
- Education: University of Michigan (bachelor's and masters)
- Top priority: Include more people in city govenment