Ann Arbor City Council hopefuls to debate incumbents at League of Women Voters forum
The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area announced today it will hold three separate Ann Arbor City Council candidate debates on July 13.
There are races in three wards to be decided in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary, and the league has invited each of the candidates to participate. By the looks of the format, it appears each candidate will have about 10 to 15 minutes to speak.
The 3rd Ward debate will run from 8-8:45 p.m. Democratic incumbent Stephen Kunselman is defending his seat against two Democratic challengers — Ingrid Ault, executive director of Think Local First, and Marwan Issa, technology director at Global Education Excellence.
The 5th Ward debate will run from 9-9:30 p.m. Democratic incumbent Mike Anglin is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Neal Elyakin, special education supervisor for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and a member of the city's Human Rights Commission.
The debates will be held at CTN television studios on South Industrial Highway. Limited seating for the public will be available. The debates will be aired live and taped for rebroadcast.
The candidates faced off for the first time in the 2011 election season earlier this month during a forum held at the Ann Arbor Community Center.
Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, is running unopposed this year. Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, will run unopposed in the August primary but faces Republican challenger Eric Scheie in the November general election.
Republican challengers also await the winners of the 3rd Ward and 5th Ward primary races, though the chances of any member of the GOP winning either race are slim.
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
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Now's our chance to vote out these Yahoos!
Roadman
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.
Dr. Marwan Issa has a campaign website that has just gone up at <a href="http://www.marwanissa.com" rel='nofollow'>www.marwanissa.com</a> The Issa family have been heavy donors to Mayor Hieftje's re-election campaigns, per County Clerk campaign finance records. Mohammed Issa has had his name listed as an endorser of Neal Elyakin on the Elyakin campaign website. Dr. Issa's campaign supporters are expected to try to mobilize Arab-American residents to vote in the Third Ward in what could be a close three-way race. It is unclear who the Mayor may support in the Third Ward race, however his endorsement would provide a tremendous boost to either of the three candidates. Ingrid Ault has already secured endorsements of heavy hitters Jean Carlberg and Leah Gunn; Mrs. Gunn was campaign manager to Leigh Greden in his ill-fated 2006 run for the Democratic nomination for State Representative where he garnered only 39% of the vote against Rebekah Warren. If the "Greden machine" backs Ault, she has a decent shot at unseating Kunselman.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
Too bad he supports the mayor. He almost had my vote... but alas.
arborani
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 12:40 p.m.
Please put the "where" in paragraph one, not number six. Journalism 101. Thank you.