Ann Arbor City Council candidates to face off in series of debates
The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area has released the schedule for public candidate forums it plans to host next month.
Candidates for the Ann Arbor City Council in four ward races will face off in a series of debates on the evening of Oct. 5.
- Ward 2, 7-7:30 p.m., Democratic incumbent Stephen Rapundalo vs. Independent challenger Jane Lumm
- Ward 3, 7:45-8:15 p.m., Democratic incumbent Stephen Kunselman vs. Republican challenger David Parker
- Ward 4, 8:30-9 p.m., Democratic incumbent Marcia Higgins vs. Republican challenger Eric Scheie
- Ward 5, 9:15-9:45 p.m., Democratic incumbent Mike Anglin vs. Republican challenger Stuart Berry
The league also will hold a forum for Ann Arbor school board candidates from 7-8 p.m. Oct. 3. Six candidates are vying for two contested spots.
The debates will be taped inside CTN studios on South Industrial Highway, where limited seating for the public is available, but they will be aired live on Channel 19. All debates will be rebroadcast until the Nov. 8 election and will be available online on CTN Video on Demand.
AnnArbor.com also will provide full coverage of the debates.
Suggested questions must be emailed to the league by Sept. 22.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Andrew Smith
Sun, Sep 25, 2011 : 9:34 p.m.
We need a diversity of perspectives on the Ann Arbor City Council. Right now, it's all ten Democrats under a Democrat mayor. No Republicans, no independents, no libertarians, no socialists. It's a one-party government. We need a variety of voices at the City Council table.
Roadman
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
Jane Lumm and Eric Scheie deserve voter support this fall. Marcia Higgins and Steve Rapundalo are former GOP oficeholders that conveniently became Democrats and in the past have voiced support for a city income tax.
Roadman
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
@Jack: You were one of Marcia's most vocal critics in 2009 and supported her independent opponent, Hatim Elhady. Since that time Marcia and yourself have had some positive interaction and you have softened your position on her. However, you are correct in that we need Jane Lumm to have ample support so that Steve Rapundalo can be tossed out of office in November.
Jack Eaton
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 4:56 p.m.
Actually, Jane Lumm and Marcia Higgins have more in common with each other than Ms. Lumm has in common with Mr. Scheie. Both Lumm and Higgins have explained that they left the Republican Party because it became too extreme. Jane Lumm is a fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidate. I believe she would be more responsive to her constituents than the incumbent. I think she would oppose re-purposing a public golf course for the benefit of a private business and would oppose subsidizing a conference center for the benefit of a private business. I have disagreed with Marcia Higgins on a variety of issues. Nonetheless, I do not believe that electing Mr. Scheie would cause an improvement on any of those issues and would likely lead to greater problems on other issues. In a blog posting Mr. Scheie described himself as a Tea Party supporter: <a href="http://classicalvalues.com/2011/08/on-freaked-out-white-men/" rel='nofollow'>http://classicalvalues.com/2011/08/on-freaked-out-white-men/</a> This election is not about incumbents versus non-incumbents. You may have to pay attention, but there are incumbents worth supporting (Anglin and Kunselman) and incumbents in need of replacement (Rapundalo). Lets not make matters worse by electing Tea Party supporters.
demistify
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
There is nothing enlightened about the attitude frequently displayed in these comments that it is fashionable to blindly vote for anyone but the incumbent. It is bad citizenship. And the consequences can be disastrous. How many of you plan to vote for Rick Perry?
Roadman
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
Don't blame me, I supported Mike Anglin last August.
jcj
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
Why listen to the debates? Just vote for anyone that's not in office now!
hut hut
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
Why listen to anything or anyone ever again? Especially if your mind is already made up.
Diagenes
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
As a resident of Ann Arbor, I wish the challengers to the staus quo all success in the debate. New members of City Council will bring a fresh approach to the city government. From the side walk millage to development issues, and public art, Council needs people who will bring some common sense and fiscal resposibility to city governance.
A2anon
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 11:38 a.m.
a2comments, that would require that all those angry posters actually LIVE in Ann Arbor, and I'm guessing 90% of them don't.
A2comments
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 11:02 a.m.
Given all the complaining about A2 government, one would hope that all A2 voters would watch the debate AND vote.
ClaytonB Johnson
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 10:43 a.m.
Go Jane! Nobody knows Ann Arbor's budget like you do!