Ex-pro wrestler to challenge Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber as a write-in candidate in November
As a write-in candidate for the Nov. 2 Ypsilanti mayoral election, Jeff Davis concedes he’s in a “David and Goliath situation” running against incumbent Mayor Paul Schreiber.
But the 35-year-old Ypsilanti resident is campaigning hard daily. On Thursday evening, he said he walked 15 miles throughout the city, shaking hands with any residents he bumped into.
Despite the odds, Davis says he remains committed and is seeking to inspire Ypsilanti residents to get more involved with their city.
“I’m out there talking to a lot of people and it’s all about inspiring them to make this city greater,” he said. “If one person can make a difference, what can 20,000-plus inspired Ypsilantians do?”
Since he filed as a write-in candidate, Davis, a former pro wrestler who now collects disability due to his injuries, won't have his name listed on the ballot. Those voting for him must write in his name on a blank line.
Schreiber, who recently defeated Council Member Pete Murdock in the August Democratic primary, is the only candidate who will be listed on the ballot. No independent or Republican candidates filed. Any additional candidates seeking write-in status must register with the Ypsilanti City Clerk by Oct. 22.
Davis said the low voter turnout in the August primary provided inspiration for his campaign. He said some precincts reported turnouts in the low-teens, and he wants to see more from his neighbors.
Davis’s prior political experience includes an unsuccessful run at the supervisor’s office in Dexter Township in 1996 when he was 21 years old. Two years later, he says he served as an assistant campaign manager for 52nd district state house candidate Julie Knight.
Davis touched on the largest issues facing Ypsilanti, including Water Street, economic vitality, the Thompson Block and crime.
He said he would like to see the city host more festivals set up in the streets instead of in the parks, which would provide a boost to local merchants.
Davis offered ideas on bringing life to Water Street, including holding street fairs, markets or other similar events to generate excitement around the property.
“That way when a developer looks at it they say ‘Oh, there is already interest in the area.’ You’ve got to bring interest to the area to bring the developers there,” Davis said, adding that he heard off-site gambling suggested as a way to quickly generate revenue, but was unsure Ypsilanti residents were in favor of the idea.
Davis said he supports saving the Thompson Block building, but cited a recent engineer’s report deeming it unsafe as a reason for labeling it a liability, and called for quick action from all parties involved.
“We need to lock the council, lock the mayor, lock the arbitrator and Beal in city hall until it’s settled, even if they have to order pizza for three days straight,” he said.
Those who attended a June debate between Schreiber and Murdock - moderated by puppet Mark Maynard - would recognize Davis as the wrestler “Bash Boulder,” who sent in a video question asking the candidates what they would do about crime after he had been attacked and tied to a chair.
Schreiber said he commended Davis for taking enough interest in the city to run for office.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Cash
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.
lorie, You surely have a right to support the current mayor. I don't support business as usual. I think it is failing. Ypsilanti, in particular downtown, is getting left in the dust. I want something new in town...particularly something that promotes the downtown area. Individuals are sinking there...and have lost their life savings trying to keep businesses afloat. Depot Town is great...but it is not the only Ypsi. You have to find ways to bring people downtown. You can ridicule "parties" but events that bring people downtown for fun will also bring them downtown to spend money. If new people try new things, they might fail. But doing nothing is certainly not successful.
Speechless
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.
"... On Thursday evening, he said he walked 15 miles throughout the city, shaking hands with any residents he bumped into." I appreciate Jeff Davis' style of neighborhood campaigning. It runs so delightfully counter to a common conventional wisdom in small-city politics, especially at the mayoral level. Not infrequently, experienced political operatives choose to go OCD in a determined effort to narrowly target the active voters most likely to support their candidate. In the name of expedience and efficiency, they pore over voter lists, carefully singling out which specific doors The Candidate will knock on while they pound the sidewalks to meet the masses on home turf. Campaign managers may steer their contender away from career non-voters or likely supporters of an opposing candidate, unless they have a calculated message specific to these groups of residents, which can be sent by mail. With a smile and (no doubt) a hearty handshake for anyone he randomly meets, Davis cheerfully tosses all that 'sober' political calculation to the wind.
pseudo
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 8:12 a.m.
Cash - I respectfully disagree. I want a mayor who has experience and some expertise with the issues (budgeting, housing, blight, development) that we actually face. Throwing more parties is fun and not a new idea in the least. Again, Tyrone Bridges ran on the idea of using Water Street as a location for a circus or fair. Just wondering about the other 90% of the job.
InsideTheHall
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 7:47 a.m.
Will they debate down at the air conditioned Cobo Arena????????
Cash
Sun, Aug 15, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.
fish, First, do you know his disability is being paid by "the government"? Could it be paid by his previous employer? Perhaps you know this man so you know about his disability. I don't. Secondly, do you know that "civil servants" are also paid by "the government"? Who do you think is paying the mayor's salary? Good grief! If someone has new ideas and can help the city, I' m all for it. To fault him for having a disability and receiving compensation is just wrong. And to say that people who receive disability compensation are getting "welfare", well, that's sad.
stunhsif
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 9:48 p.m.
Former pro wrestler, 35 years old and on disability as in living off the government. The dude picks a career and gets beat up and the taxpayers have to support this guy at the age of 35, give me a break. What a joke, this is welfare, pure and simple.
Cash
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.
Lorie, the best thing about this man is that he isn't a career politician or "civil servant". This area of Michigan needs new blood with new ideas. The old stale ideas aren't working. The mayor can be (believe it or not) a spark plug for action and energize the community! If it's one thing Ypsi needs it's to shed the old. The same people run and things don't change. There's no reason for him to shy away from running for mayor. I believe Snyder has proven that not being a career "civil servant" is a plus.
pseudo
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.
Jeff's idea about doing something in Water Street is actually something Tyrone Bridges ran on as a candidate for council in Ward 1 in this past election. I spent a hunk of primary day with Jeff and found him to be kind and helpful. That said, Jeff can promote those ideas as a citizen as others have. He doesn't have any experience with being a civil servant or in dealing with our city government from either an elected or appointed position. Perhaps he could inspire more people to be involved by serving on a commission or committee or, say, running for a council seat - after all, its the council representatives that actually make the proposals...not the mayor.
silverwings
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 12:25 p.m.
AnnArbor.com headline in November: "Schreiber slammed to mat by write-in challenger."
Cash
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.
@trespass, I agree. This guy sounds like he has some new ideas and most importantly isn't a political animal.
trespass
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 11:42 a.m.
How would one get in touch with his campaign?
Linda
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.
I like Jeffs ideas. Go Jeff!
Cash
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 7:29 a.m.
Wow! Some news ideas!! I love the idea of having more events in the streets, especially downtown. In fact I'd love to see Washington permanently closed between Pearl and Michigan and made into a pedestrian mall and used for events like Crossroads....but for a longer period of time! And having events at Water St is another great idea. We need some new blood in East Washtenaw politics. Go Jeff!!!
City Confidential
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 7:16 a.m.
I was curious about who this "ex wrestler" was, so I googled him to see a photo. I immediately recognized him. He is the kind, gentle, thoughtful person that helped me research some things in the Ypsi Historical Archives a few months ago. Portraying Jeff Davis as simply an "ex wrestler" does not do him justice. I am still supporting Schreiber for mayor, but Jeff Davis is more interesting than this article suggests.
xmo
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.
Sounds like a great "pay per view" show on cable TV.