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Posted on Thu, May 17, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.

Tyrone Bridges among candidates for ward 1 Ypsilanti City Council seat

By Tom Perkins

Tyrone Bridges is among the candidates vying for a council seat in Ypsilanti's ward 1.

Tyrone_Bridges.jpg

Tyrone Bridges

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

He will face Steve Pierce and Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson in the Aug. 7 primary.

Bridges' name wasn't mentioned in a previous AnnArbor.com article because his name was not included on the Washtenaw County clerk's website. But the Ypsilanti city clerk's office confirmed he did file his paperwork by the Tuesday deadline.

This is Bridges' third run at a ward 1 seat after unsuccessfully running against Ricky Jefferson and Juanita House in 2010, and Richardson in 2000.

Bridges said the same reasons that he ran for council on previous occasions still apply.

"We have a lot of constituents that have been underrepresented by our council people," he said, specifically targeting Richardson. "They don't know anything that is going on in this city until the time comes for a vote, and then (council members) come ask us for something."

Steve_Pierce.jpg

Steve Pierce

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Bridges serves on the city's human relations commission and works as a health care provider. He also is active in the community with the Parkridge Center and Behavior Workshop, which provides a computer repair program for low-income residents and youth mentoring programs.

Bridges said he is active in local politics and keeps people in ward 1 informed on what is going on in city politics.

Lois_Richardson.jpg

Lois Richardson

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

"A lot of people already think I'm a representative," he said. "I've been active for years, and that's what I bring to the table - I know what's going on in the community."

Bridges said he had mixed feelings about the tax proposals because he felt that the city needs the money, but he didn't trust the current representatives to spend it properly.

"One way or another we would have been facing the issues again," he said. "I supported (the tax proposals) because they would have done something for us, but at the same time, people on council, I wasn't comfortable with them spending the money they were going to get from residents."

Pierce, who runs Wireless Ypsi, was treasurer and volunteer for the Stop City Income Tax group.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.

Comments

ypsi 1

Fri, May 18, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.

If you don't like who is running XMO step up to the plate. If all you are is talk then why talk? No one ever said only Democrats can run in Ypsi. One has to be not all talk, no action.

KeepingItReal

Thu, May 17, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.

It is an absolute pleasure to see Bridges running again. Its time the voters of Ypsilanti bid farewell to Richardson. She has been an absolute bust for Ward 1.

Cheryl Weber

Thu, May 17, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.

I appreciate Tyrone bringing himself to the table again. He is everything he says and his actions to make great things happen speak even louder.

xmo

Thu, May 17, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.

Big News! Another Tax & Spend Democrat enters the Ypsilanti City Council Race Cann't we get some "Diversity of Ideas" in this race?

Jay Thomas

Thu, May 17, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.

Although the article doesn't list a party affiliation for Tyrone... I'm gonna take a wild guess and say he's a democrat.

Mark Hergott

Thu, May 17, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.

You have to be a Democrat in order to have met the filing deadline.