by P.D. Lesko

U.S. Representative John Dingell and his wife Debbie couldn’t save Second Ward Council member Stephen Rapundalo’s political hide. Dingell endorsed Rapundalo and donated $250 to his campaign. While challenger Jane Lumm spoke at her victory party about the widespread support her candidacy had enjoyed from the residents in the Second Ward, someone in the audience shouted out, “We did it without Dingell, or his money.” Another person chimed in, “And without PAC money from AT&T and DTE.” (On November 4, 2011 A2Politico reported that Stephen Rapundalo had taken PAC money from DTE, dubbed one of the nation’s worst corporate tax dodgers.) In fact, Rapundalo had many of the same political backers as had former powerful Third Ward Council member Leigh Greden when he lost his seat by a six vote margin in a 2009 political stunner.

It was reported in the media that Second Ward City Council member Stephen Rapundalo had barricaded himself in his “private residence,” and “was not welcoming the media.” Someone who was at Rapundalo’s told A2Politico that former Third Ward Council member Leigh Greden tabulated the results, becoming increasingly forlorn as it was clear Rapundalo was going to lose to Independent candidate, and former Republican City Council member, Jane Lumm (right). Lumm did what campaign worker Tom Weider predicted she would do prior to the election: she won handily, by 60 percent.

For some at Lumm’s election night celebration held at Paesano’s, there was as much joy in winning the election and there was in beating Stephen Rapundalo and, by inference, beating the local political machine, headed by County Commissioner Leah Gunn. Just as Gunn and former Second Ward City Council member Joan Lowenstein couldn’t manage to oust Third Ward incumbent Council member Stephen Kunselman in the August 2011 Democratic primary by supporting local political insider Ingrid Ault, the two women and their political friends couldn’t keep Rapundalo in office.

John Hieftje, in an act some politicos interpreted as desperation, went door-to-door with Rapundalo in the final days of the race. The two men targeted homes with Jane Lumm’s campaign signs displayed and, according to an irate Second Ward resident who contacted A2Politico last week, “proceeded to stand on my porch and lie about Jane Lumm’s voting record.” According to the elderly woman, Mayor John Hieftje pressured her to remove Lumm’s yard sign. “It was shocking,” she said, “and I was just more determined than ever to vote for Jane.”

Democrats and Republicans crowded into the private party room at Paesano’s on Washtenaw in the Second Ward to listen to Lumm’s soft-spoken victory speech. Standing on a chair, she looked out over the crowd, grinned, and then talked about what it meant to her to see such a gathering of individuals from across the political spectrum. She recognized her two campaign co-chairs, former Republican Mayor Ingrid Sheldon, and former Democratic City Council member Leslie Morris.

Morris, smiling, said, “This is a good night.” It was a political understatement. Lumm’s election is poised to upset not only hundreds of millions of dollars of projects that the local political machine wants to push forward, despite public protests, as well as protests from environmental groups, but projects that have the political backing of Michigan’s governor and Representative John Dingell.

First Ward Council member Sabra Briere went to Rapundalo’s house and, one presumes, finding out he’d lost, made her way to Jane Lumm’s event. Briere’s husband, attorney David Cahill, endorsed Lumm, and donated to her campaign. Briere endorsed neither Rapundalo or Lumm. Third Ward Council member Stephen Kunselman, who beat his Republican opponent by a large margin, did not have a victory celebration but instead found his way to Lumm’s party.

It is the first time an independent candidate has won a seat on City Council in over two decades. The last to try was Hatim Elhady in a run against Fourth Ward Council member Marcia Higgins. Lumm is expected to be a fiscal watchdog for an administration that is notoriously inclined to spend money first and ask questions later. Her election throws into doubt the future of the Fuller Road parking garage project for the University of Michigan, which John Hieftje sold to Council as a train station. When it became clear that there was neither the state or federal funding to operate a commuter train, members of Council, including Stephen Kunselman and Mike Anglin, began to question the city’s involvement. Lumm has said she will not support the project.

Lumm has also made clear that while she supports the arts, she is not in favor of spending public money on art—particularly when police and firefighters are being cut. Lumm is also opposed to the new pedestrian crossing ordinance which has resulted in numerous accidents on several major roads. Without Stephen Rapundalo, John Hieftje and his slate of Council members who run together, donate money to each other’s campaigns and vote in lockstep, no longer enjoy an eight vote super-majority.

Lumm’s victory has fired up the political opposition to the current Mayor and Council majority who, their opponents point out, have dragged the city deep into debt and are not focusing city spending on basic services such as police and fire. Sumi Kailasapathy ran against First Ward Council member Sandi Smith in 2010 and lost by a slim margin. Kailasapathy was at Lumm’s victory party and had worked on Lumm’s campaign, passing campaign literature. She was elated by Lumm’s large win.

“Look out Sandi Smith,” said Kailasapathy. “Here we come.”

Fourth Ward Council member Margie Teall has said she does not intend to run for re-election. However, like County Commissioner Barbara Levin Bergman (both loyal members of the local political machine), who has repeatedly stated she did not intend to run for re-election and then stood for office, Teall could still be persuaded to seek another term on City Council.

It is clear that Council members whose terms expire in 2012—including John Hieftje and Sandi Smith— can expect to be challenged. It is also clear that the local Republican party will continue to run challengers against the Democratic primary winners. Republican City Council candidate John Floyd was at Paesano’s. He has twice run against Fifth Ward Council member Carsten Hohnke.

Lumm has said that she hopes her win will inspire other political candidates to run as independents. It’s not clear whether 2012 will bring out more independent candidates, but Ann Arbor can look forward to more contested races. If Lumm’s race and victory are any indication, the local political machine will have increasing difficulty keeping their political allies in office.

Council member elect Jane Lumm will take office as soon as the vote is certified which, county officials say, could be as early as this week.