From the Daily: Vote Hieftje, Smith, Derezinski, Kunselman, Hohnke
The Michigan DailyAugust 4th, 2008
This year’s city primary has produced, on the whole, a unique spread of qualified candidates.
Hot issues this year include student housing, sustainability and fiscal responsibility — again.
Thanks to Michigan’s infamous voting laws, it’s a well-known fact that few students are actually registered to vote in Ann Arbor. And while they shouldn’t hide behind legislation to defend their apathy, stale issues don’t help matters.
In the hands of capable candidates, action on those issues could actually be a real possibility this year.
Which is why it’s even more important this year that those who can vote do — and those who can’t, change.
Mayor:
The Daily Endorses - John Hieftje
After eight years in office, incumbent mayor John Hieftje has a lot to show for it. During his time in office, he’s produced an impressive list of accomplishments. A long-time champion of the environment and city greening, Hieftje has sponsored initiatives like the Mayor’s Green Energy Challenge and has been a key supporter of the Ann Arbor Parks and Greenbelt Program, even winning the Environmental Leadership Award from the Michigan League of Conservation voters this year. He is also committed to improving public transportation and fostering controlled urban development in a way that maintains the spirit of the city.
Tom Wall, a local business man, is the heavyweight incumbent’s challenger. Wall, who also ran for mayor in 2006 as an Independent, has vocalized the need for fiscal responsibility. He has similarly backed environmental projects like the Greenway Program and called for more incorporation of sustainability policy in the city’s building regulations.
But those goals, while admirable, can’t beat out the current powerhouse heading city council’s table. Voters should choose John Hieftje for his experience, knowledge and ability to get things done. Realistic and, simultaneously, forward-thinking, he can provide the kind of leadership the council needs. And while little progress has been made to increase students’ involvement in city government during his terms served, he still understands that this is an important issue in need of work.
Ward 1:
The Daily Endorses - Sandi Smith
Both candidates Patricia Lesko and Sandi Smith demonstrate a well-rounded knowledge of linchpin issues like affordable housing, urban development, city greening and Univeristy-city relationships.
atricia Lesko has big ideas. Lesko sees Berkeley, California — similar, in many ways, to Ann Arbor — as a useful model for development. She says she’d like to see improved transparency with city government and recognizes that the city could benefit from student input when it comes to housing. Lesko is running as a write-in candidate, replacing Ron Suarez, who has dropped out of the race.
Also running is Sandi Smith. She has worked most notably with the Downtown Development Authority on the LED light program, a progressive and pragmatic greening initiative that has won the city notoriety. But she’s not just a body in a seat; she has detailed and concrete goals for city improvement, likely a contributing factor in her winning the current mayor’s endorsement.
Voters should choose Sandi Smith; from talking with her, it’s clear that she understands the complex inner-workings of city government. While both candidates are qualified, Smith’s experience gives her the edge.
Ward 2:
The Daily Endorses - Tony Derezinski
In Ward 2, Tony Derezinski and Stewart Nelson are facing off.
Derezinski has served in numerous public capacities. A former state senator, he also served on the Eastern Michigan University board of regents. He is promoting changes in public transportation and hopes to foster “proactive collaboration,” and has been endorsed by Hieftje, as well as U.S. Rep. John Dingell.
Stewart Nelson is a retired pilot who has focused much of his campaign on opening up city government and hopes to improve finance management by taking a seat on the council.
The Daily endorses Derezinski based on his extensive experience in office and realistic understanding of the challenges — and plans to face them — ahead for Ann Arbor.
As a former regent at Eastern, Derezinski is particularly equipped to recognize the importance of students within a community and to take measures to facilitate involvement.
His plans for better collaboration — if he can pull them off — would prove mutually beneficial to both the city and the University.
And if that weren’t enough, his experience in regional planning in an era where development is a hot-button issue make him the man for the job.
Ward 3:
The Daily Endorses - Stephen Kunselman
Running in Ward 3 are incumbent candidate Stephen Kunselman and newcomer Christopher Taylor.
Kunselman, notorious for the high-profile backyard-chicken debate, has worked in local government for 10 years. He is focused on improving local parks, improving the city’s greenbelt and promoting sustainable design.
Taylor is emphasizing the need for improved building regulations and fiscal responsibility. He also advocates more money for improving and greening the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.
In the booth, voters should check Kunselman’s box. Though he’s known for ruffling feathers, he advocates real and pragmatic issues. It’s obvious from speaking to him that he knows how to get things done.
Both Taylor and Kunselman have good ideas, and for a freshman candidate, Taylor’s are impressively defined. But when it comes to understanding how to make those changes happen, Kunselman wins.
He has the kind of know-how that can only come from experience. That could be Taylor in a few years, if he can start a little lower and work his way up.
Ward 5:
The Daily Endorses - Carsten Hohnke
The race in Ward 5 is between Carsten Hohnke and Vivienne Arementrout.
Hohnke lacks public service experience but has strong ideas about transportation and housing.
Armentrout served on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and calls for reforming city government through better budget management and improved accountability.
While Ward 5’s race hasn’t produced candidates of quite the same caliber as elsewhere in the city, voters should recognize a slight advantage in Hohnke.
Though he lacks Armentrout’s service experience and certainly speaks politik — a language peppered with snappy soundbites that are vague in meaning — there is an earnestness in him worth supporting.
Though he doesn’t have remarkable solutions to student concerns like affordable housing, he does at least recognize the importance of such issues. The same can’t be said for Armentrout, who seems more focused on reprimanding from her soapbox than enacting change.
Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:19:45 -0500