IN A SHORT press release sent out on June 20, 2014, Leon Bryson announced that he would not campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the Ward 5 City Council primary election scheduled to be held August 5. Bryson had collected and submitted the necessary 100 signatures to qualify for the ballot. He had hoped to challenge the incumbent, Chuck Warpehoski, who is finishing up a first term marred by angry public outbursts and insults aimed at Council members with whom he frequently disagrees. At the most recent Council meeting, Warpehoski called a colleague’s use of parliamentary procedure to table a resolution “a commitment to ignorance.”
While Bryson’s letter went out on June 20, sources told The Ann Arbor Independent that he’d decided to withdraw well before that date.
The press release states:
“I have decided to withdraw from the race for the Ann Arbor City Council, Ward 5 seat. As much as I wanted to represent you and our city, I have learned that I am not yet ready to take on this position. As I campaigned for office, it became clear to me that I needed to know more about city issues and local politics in order to serve residents in the most effective way.”
In January 2014, Leon Bryson was set to run against Warpehoski, whose outbursts and churlish behavior at the Council table have made him a vulnerable political target, according to political insiders.
Then, on February 25—after his partner was summarily fired from his job with the city—Bryson sent an email to friends and supporters in which he said he had decided not to run for City Council. In February he wrote: “After long and careful consideration, I have decided not to pursue the Ward 5 City council seat at this time….I was looking forward in beating the odds in unseating the incumbent, however, I have decided not to pursue this at this time. However, I intend to continue to be a part of local politics, especially during this campaign season.”
On April 11, Leon Bryson sent out a press release announcing his intention to challenge Warpehoski. Bryson had turned in his 100 signatures on April 8. The race was on again.
While Leon Bryson had won the support of several on City Council and was collecting campaign donations, including a $1,000 donation from local developer Dennis Dahlmann, the campaign was hard hit by the loss of key volunteers.
Bryson’s June press release said he was returning all of the money donated to his campaign.
Ward 5 Council member Mike Anglin accompanied Bryson on door-to-door visits in Ward 5.
“Leon was very good at the door,” said Anglin. “People loved him.”
In his June press release Leon Bryson states:
“I will always be deeply indebted to everyone who supported my candidacy. The amount of energy and commitment displayed throughout this campaign from the volunteers was absolutely amazing. It is the people that make representative government work….I wish my opponent Councilmember Warpehoski the best.”
Should Bryson receive more votes than the incumbent, he would win the election. An independent candidate could still emerge, and thanks to a recent federal court decision which struck down the city’s residency requirement, would not have to live in Ward 5.