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Posted on Mon, May 9, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.

Political notebook: Three Republicans emerge as potential contenders for Ann Arbor City Council

By Ryan J. Stanton

Three potential Republican challengers have emerged in this year's Ann Arbor City Council races, according to records from the city clerk's office.

Republican Eric Scheie has pulled petitions to run in the 4th Ward where Democratic incumbent Marcia Higgins is up for re-election. Higgins faces no other challengers so far.

Republican David Parker has pulled petitions to run in the 3rd Ward where Democratic incumbent Stephen Kunselman is defending his seat.

Kunselman also faces two Democratic challengersIngrid Ault and Marwan Issa. Ault filed last week and Issa filed today.

A third Republican, Stuart Berry, has pulled petitions to run in the 5th Ward where Democratic incumbent Mike Anglin already faces Democrat Neal Elyakin, who officially filed today.

Candidates who pulled nominating petitions have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to collect and submit the required 100 signatures to the city clerk's office.

No one has come forward to challenge Democratic incumbent Sabra Briere in the 1st Ward. In the 2nd Ward, Democrat Tim Hull is challenging Democratic incumbent Stephen Rapundalo.

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

Roadman

Thu, May 26, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.

It was Neal Elyakin who engineered the wildly successful political "hit" on former County Commission chair Vivienne Armentrout and a second candidate in the Ann Arbor District Library race by sending out copious e-mails describing the pair as "divisive" or "disruptive". Both Vivienne and the other candidate lost and, per Pat Lesko, Elyakin eventually apologized to one of the candidates who claimed he got the info from "someone" else. Check out Neal's blog, which contains some controversial political views.

aanative

Wed, May 11, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.

Although I am a life-long Democrat, it can only be a healthy government when both parties participate. I have voted for Republicans in local elections, but they seem to have given up on running for Ann Arbor Mayor and City Council. It's similar to the South except the parties are switched.

David Cahill

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.

Ann Arbor's discerning electorate will send these Republicans back under their rocks in November.

Roadman

Thu, May 26, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.

.......and will, hopefully, send Mr. Elyakin back under his.

snoopdog

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.

Only Donkey's get elected in Ann Arbor, cannot use the slang term , it would get deleted ! Good Day

Craig Lounsbury

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 11:15 a.m.

until this town has enough conservatives sprinkled throughout to bring balance to elections it hardly matters.

Roadman

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 3:14 a.m.

The real donnybrook is expected in the Fifth Ward race where Ann Arbor Human Rights Commissioner Neal Elyakin, husband of Margaret Elyakin, and a WISD administrator will face off in the August primary against Mike Anglin. Elyakin has an uphill struggle against the popular Anglin but both campaigns are expected to be heavily financed and heighly motivated with staffed volunteers.

Roadman

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.

@bedrog: I do not know your real name. @demistify: I used "Margaret" rather than "Bunky", which is her nickname. Who are my "heroes in Gaza". The U.N., the Red Cross?

bedrog

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.

@demistify...Good points. Im less worried about the"government" getting ahold of my personal data than i am about 'roadman' and company getting and misusing it in irrelevant- to - defamatory ways. His entries on the concurrent thread on the 5th ward race are typical of his "are you still beating your wife" sort of faux -informed "engaged citizen " shtick....but there are sooo many other examples from this site.

demistify

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 10:10 p.m.

In campaigning against Elyakin, you list 3 items of information about him. I am baffled as to why you believe that they should be held against him: 1) He is on the Human Rights Commission. Most of us like the idea of such a commission. Of course, we also prefer the Ann Arbor view of human rights to that of your heroes in Gaza. 2) He has a wife named Margaret. Do you object to his being married? Or do you dislike the name Margaret? 3) He is a WISD administrator. The consensus is that WISD is doing a good job. Indeed, its millage was recently approved by a large majority of the voters.

bedrog

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.

your trove of readily shared personal information, on pretty much everyone it seems, is sort of creepy...especially since its often wrong or irrelevant , as in the occasion when you used my real name ( in vain) in your favorite context.

Roadman

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.

The possibility of Marcia Higgins being beaten by a GOP nominee is substantial. In 2005, Republican nominee Jim Hood, Jr. got 49% of the Fourth Ward vote against Marcia Higgins, who was initially elected as a Republican to her seat in 1999 when beating Larry Kestenbaum. Higgins is a ex-employee of the Ardesta Corpoation capital venture group formerly headed by Rick Snyder before he was elected governor. There are many Fourth Ward residents who have expressed a dislike for Higgins during her 11-year tenure as a City Council reperesentative. I anticipate many in Ann Arborites - inside and outside of the Fourth Ward - to be supporting her GOP opponent this November.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.

"Three Republicans emerge as potential contenders" Now THAT's funny. I spit a little milk up through my nose when I read that. Come election day, the highly educated electorate of Ann Arbor only look at Donkey or Elephant. Then vote Donkey.

EyeHeartA2

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 3:36 a.m.

Almost...Horseshoes and hand grenades? I guess Ingrid was the last Mohican.

Roadman

Tue, May 10, 2011 : 3:15 a.m.

Marcia Higgins almost lost to a GOP nominee in 2005.

DonBee

Mon, May 9, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.

What, the primary will not decide the members of the City Council in Ann Arbor? Nah, it will.