by P.D. Lesko

THE LAST TIME Julie Grand ran for City Council, she told a room full of voters at a Democratic candidate forum: “And I don’t know that we can get every road paved in the neighborhood. I don’t know that we can fix all of the water problems.” One AnnArbor.com reader responded to that statement rather pointedly: “Translation: Let’s spend all our money on the fauxny street lights and bike racks for downtown, and the neighborhoods be damned… I smell a Hieftjeite…..” Grand spent a good deal of her campaign lambasting her opponent, Ward 3 Council member Stephen Kunselman.

At the League of Women Voters debate, in July 2013, Grand attacked Kunselman openly. She said, “Voters are being given a choice this election between a proven communicator who has exhibited thoughtful leadership,” Grand said, referring to herself, “and an elected official who promotes an us-versus-them mentality that focuses on creating problems rather than solving them.” She didn’t stop there, but rather went on with her personal attack: “It’s time for a change in city politics by electing someone who is fair, thoughtful and balanced, rather than re-electing a man who admitted that he doesn’t come prepared to his own City Council meetings.” The finaly statement was subsequently reported to have been a falsehood.

When Ward 2 candidate Kirk Westphal ran against incumbent Independent Jane Lumm in 2013, he attacked her personally, as well. At a neighborhood candidate forum, he suggested she was a Tea Party Republican, and in a letter to donors written for him by DDA Board member Joan Lowenstein and former Drain Commish Janis Bobrin, donors were misled to believe that Jane Lumm was against economic development. Lumm’s voting record disproves this assertion.

Welcome to Ann Arbor politics brought to you by the Maximum Growth Party: Throw mud and see what sticks.

These politicos support public-private partnerships, corporate welfare over funding education, focus on development, developer subsidies, support outsourcing jobs as opposed to job creation and put urbanism before safety and planning before filling potholes. As Kirk Westphal put it in 2013, “You can’t wait until every pothole is filled before you plan.” Aren’t city leaders expected to plan to fill potholes?

The Maximum Growth Party members need “data” and claim to make “data driven decisions.” Yet they support giving millions  in general fund and public school tax dollars to Ann Arbor SPARK without ever having seen audited financial statements, or audited job creation/retention numbers. Franklin Roosevelt might have referred to members of the Maximum Growth Party as “Make A Deal Democrats.”

Yet, even with the endorsements of Congressman John Dingell, State Representative Jeff Irwin, State Representative Adam Zemke, County Commissioner Andy LaBarre, County Commissioner Conan Smith, County Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt, Mayor John Hieftje, Councilmember Marcia Higgins, Councilmember Christopher Taylor, Councilmember Margie Teall, Councilmember Chuck Warpehoski, Former County Commissioner Leah Gunn, Former Councilmember Jean Carlberg, Former Councilmember Tony Derezinski, Former Councilmember Carsten Hohnke, Former Councilmember Joan Lowenstein, Former Councilmember Stephen Rapundalo, Former Councilmember Sandi Smith and  Former Councilmember Wendy Woods, Kirk Westphal didn’t beat an Independent candidate in the November election in the People’s Republic of Ann Arbor.

Westphal captured 41.6 percent of the vote, two percent more than former Ward 2 Council member Stephen Rapundalo when Lumm beat him in 2011. Rapundalo: a former Republican who, as a sitting Democratic Council member, donated to Rick Snyder’s campaign in 2010. Rapundalo: who mistakenly sent a terribly damaging email to the editor of the local paper.

Democrats voted for Jane Lumm; they donated thousands to her campaign, endorsed her candidacy and put her back in office.  Perhaps Ann Arbor voters agreed with Council member Lumm that all of the potholes should be filled.

Frankly, based on media reports of their respective negative campaigns in 2013, as well media reports of their repeated personal attacks aimed at their opponents, voters should be concerned that Kirk Westphal and Julie Grand may not be able to collaborate, if elected. Kirk Westphal treated Council member Lumm with contempt and disrespect as he campaigned in 2013. In three months of campaigning, Julie Grand focused on slinging mud at her opponent as opposed to talking about her ideas. She campaigned against the incumbent not on her own qualifications and political vision.

Ann Arbor is one of the smartest cities in the country; it’s the fifth largest city in Michigan. Our city needs local pols who can sell us on their ideas and impress us with their solutions to the challenges the city faces, not shock us with their gutter politics and mudslinging. As Julie Grand said in a televised debate during her campaign when referring to Council member Kunselman, “…I deserve better — all of us deserve better.” Yes, we do.