Ward 2 Challenger’s Fundraising Letter Misleads Voters About Incumbent’s Record
KIRK WESTPHAL’S FUNDRAISING letter, has raised a ruckus among Ward 2 residents who found claims made about incumbent Ward 2 Independent Jane Lumm misleading. The letter is on Westphal’s campaign stationary and signed by Downtown Development Authority Board member Joan Lowenstein along with former County Drain Commissioner Janis Bobrin.
For starters, the letter claims (in boldface): “…We’re supporting Kirk Westphal, the only Democrat running for 2nd Ward Councilmember of November 5.”
Westphal is the only Democrat running in the general election because our local elections are partisan. He was the only Democrat who ran in the primary election.
In the letter’s penultimate paragraph it states that, “Our incumbent councilmember does not view business growth as a good thing.”
Westphal repeats the unfounded claim in his answers to questions from the Ann Arbor League of Women Voters for inclusion on their Vote411.org candidate page.
He writes: “My opponent’s voting record shows an irresponsible desire for more spending but no economic development.”
When asked if he stood by these assertions, Kirk Westphal refused to comment.
Jane Lumm responded to questions about Westphal’s assertions by pointing out she had supported the formation of an economic development task force in May 2013.
“Sorry I can’t help — really have no idea why Joan Lowenstein and Westphal would write something so outrageous. It’s just ridiculous. I voted for Sally Petersen’s creation of an Econ. Development Task Force,” explained Lumm via email.
The video record from the May 20, 2013 City Council meeting presents a record of the vote on resolution 13-0515, Resolution to Form the Ann Arbor Economic Collaborative Task Force.
In the video Jane Lumm thanks Council colleagues Sally Petersen and Marcia Higgins for bringing the resolution forward.
Lumm says, “I think it’s an excellent step forward.”
She goes on to say that the Ann Arbor Economic Collaborative Task Force fulfills Council’s desire to move forward with economic development.
Lumm ends her speaking turn by saying: “I’m glad to be supporting this.”
In the video viewers can watch her vote in favor of business growth.
Not only is Westphal’s letter misleading, it raises questions about his credibility as a candidate for office in Michigan’s 5th largest city.
Westphal’s letter accurately portrays Lumm’s May 2013 refusal to vote in favor of the 2013-2014 city budget. Lumm voted against the 2013-2014 budget, which passed 10-1.
AnnArbor.com reported that, “Lumm reminded her peers on council they listed public safety as a top priority heading into this year’s budget process. She said she didn’t see that reflected in the budget. The (police) chief has identified the path forward — proactive rather than reactive policing, but that needs funding and staffing that we consciously decided tonight not to provide for. Because of that, I’m sorry, I can’t support this budget.”
Kirk Westphal and Joan Lowenstein are not the first Ward 2 politicos to misrepresent Lumm’s voting record.
In the 2011 Ward 2 Council race, incumbent Stephen Rapundalo claimed that he “led the successful overhaul of the city’s outdated and expensive labor contracts” while his opponent “voted to support the rich labor contracts and buyout provisions that have cost taxpayers much over the years.”
As proof of this claim Rapundalo cited Jane Lumm’s August 4, 1997 vote for a police contract which had below inflation wage increases of 1.5 percent.
Records provided by city officials show the wage increases Lumm supported in 1997 were significantly less than the wage increases the police received in their 2009 arbitration award under Rapundalo’s watch.
Rapundalo also claimed Lumm did nothing to reform employee benefits or improve efficiency while she was on Council in the 90s. Records showed Lumm pushed to modernize benefits and for advance funding of retiree health care (June 2, 1997 City Council minutes, pages 23-24).
Jane Lumm ended her email about the Westphal campaign’s efforts to misrepresent her record on economic development with this: “Last time w/ Rapundalo I had to spend so much of my time defending myself against their claims — it’s what they do, and KW’s fundraising ltr. is out of that playbook. Wears ya down…”
Joan Lowenstein’s endorsement may not hold very much water.
After coming a distant fourth place in a four-way race for Ann Arbor District Judge in the August 5, 2008 primary, Joan endorsed Chris Easthope, the eventual winner, for judge. The Second Ward was the only ward that Chris lost – despite the Lowenstein endorsement.
Lowenstein is even less a political force five years later.
What is interesting is that the letter contains the name of Albert Berriz
Berriz is the CEO of McKinley Properties and one of the largest contributors to the GOP in Michigan. He is also the right-hand man to former GOP state chair Ron Weiser.
I find it interesting that Berriz, Joan Lowenstein and Mike Henry are supporting the same candidate.
Progressive Democrats such as Tom Wieder spearheaded the Jane Lumm campaign in 2011.
Also, Mike Anglin, Jack Eaton, Sumi Kailasapathy and Vivienne Armentrout – all prominent Democrats – are backing Lumm’s re-election.
Westphal is a pure political hack in the mold of Jeremy Peters or Al McWilliams
His entry into Ann Arbor politics was when he was a graduate student at U-M and approached Hieftje, who was teaching a class he was in and sought out some role in An Arbor government. Hieftje obliged him and since that time he has been a most loyal yes-man to Hieftje and has seen his political career soar, serving on the Environmental Commission and later on the on the Planning Commission.
Westphal has been the quintessential rubber-stamp to Hieftje.
He lacks the in-depth knowledge and experience in municipal affairs that has made Jane Lumm an iconic figure to most Ann Arborites – especially those in the Seecond Ward.
Westphal is not a leader – he will be another rubber-stamp to Hieftje if he gets elected.
Do not be fooled by the impressive endorsements that Westphal has garnered. He is a mere pawn of Hizzoner John Hieftje.
It’s pretty clear that Kirk Westphal and Hieftje see eye to eye about development issues. One look at the video Westphal did for his graduate degree and the Hieftje-worship is almost palpable. The list of supporters on the letter is a who’s who of people who would love to have another rubber stamp on council in place of Lumm who asks questions. His endorsers are many of the same people who endrosed Leigh Greden and Stephen Rapundalo. They both lost their respective races and I think people in Ann Arbor are finally beginning to wise up about such things.
Joan Lowwnstein is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
One might also say she never bothered with the sheep’s clothing.
Yeah, Lowenstein should run herself if she thinks
Lumm can be be taken down.
The fact that Albert Berriz is behind this effort along with AADP chair Mike Henry is really interesting to say the least.
The group supporting Jane Lumm’s opponent and their message is so very familiar. Let’s recall that many of these same folks tried to characterize me as being against everything. We know how successful that campaign was (64% to 35%).
The campaign letter claims that Ann Arbor is “not just a ‘basic’ city, we are extraordinary.” In fact, over the last decade while this group has guided our City, we have failed to provide core services and failed to maintain essential infrastructure. Our neighborhoods suffer periodic episodes of severe storm flooding. Many neighborhoods experience sewage backups from our aging and inadequate waste water system. Our roads are simply terrible. Our police department does not have sufficient staffing to allow for enforcement of our pedestrian ordinance, or any other part of our traffic code. What is extraordinary about our town is the failure of its leaders to accomplish the fundamental tasks of local government.
Jane Lumm has led the effort to bring Council back to the task of governing the City we currently have before day dreaming about the City we might someday have. We cannot plan for growth until we have an assured supply of pollution free drinking water and the storm and waste water system to accommodate the new burden on our systems. We cannot afford new expensive projects until we address our unfunded retiree liabilities. We must have real leadership, of the kind Jane Lumm demonstrates, to avoid the recent habit of kicking down the road the substantial and expensive problems we have.
When they say our city is extraordinary I imagine they are referring to all of the awards and best of lists that have been won. Here’s another: The Golden Sewer Award. It’s a golden tube with a large hole in it. Thank you for pointing out that all of the awards in the world don’t make up for pothole pitted roads, exploding sewer pipes and police who are stretched so very thin.
JoLo strikes again! The best line was the “only Democrat” pitch. OMG! This letter reads like they think people are idiots. Oh I forgot, the mayor and his political allies including JoLo actually do think people in Ann Arbor are idiots, sulkers and elderly Republicans. It’s hard to believe anyone would let anyone on the DDA Board within 100 miles of a local campaign at this point. But there you have it, they know better. Westphal is either terribly naive or terrible impressionable. Either way it’s going to be hard for him to win this race with this kind of support.
Once again, thank you for this reporting. I downloaded the letter. I went to the city webpage and watched the video. Kirk Westphal owes Jane Lumm an apology. Who cares who wrote the letter. It had his name on it. He is responsible. Shame on him.