Political notebook: WISD administrator pulls petitions to run in 5th Ward race for Ann Arbor City Council

Elyakin was appointed to the city's Human Rights Commission in December 2009 by Mayor John Hieftje. He is the former president of the Michigan Jewish Conference, a Lansing-based group that advocates on behalf of the Jewish community in Michigan.

He also is past president of the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County, a founding member of Michigan Israel Business Bridge, and former consultant for the Israeli Ministry of Education.

Elyakin previously worked as a teacher for emotionally impaired students in Lansing Public Schools. He has a bachelor's degree in education from Michigan State University, a master's degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University and a special education director certificate from Grand Valley State University.

He could not immediately be reached for comment this morning.

Other council members up for re-election include Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward; Stephen Rapundalo, D-2nd Ward; Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward.

Tim Hull, a 25-year-old programmer at the University of Michigan, officially filed signatures this week to run as a Democrat against Rapundalo in the August primary.

Ingrid Ault, executive director of Think Local First, also filed to run as a Democrat against Kunselman, while another potential 3rd Ward challenger, Democrat Marwan Issa, has pulled petitions but hasn't filed. He's the technology director at Global Education Excellence.

The filing deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday.