Mayoral Candidate: Two Interviews With Sally Hart Petersen—Then and Now

“I am running for Mayor of Ann Arbor because it is time for new leadership, new knowledge, skills and abilities to leverage the economic growth ahead of us into improved city services for all residents.”—Sally Hart Petersen

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Sally Hart Petersen is not employed by U-M and neither is her husband, Tim Petersen. However, Arboretum Ventures, where Tim is the Managing Director, was a founding member of SPARK. Tim was also Managing Director of U-M’s student-run Wolverine Venture Fund. In 2013 and 2014, Wolverine made over $28 million in investments in start-ups already funded by Arboretum.

IN 2012, SALLY Hart Petersen, a political newbie, ran a savvy campaign against a well-liked, if frequently absent, incumbent: Tony Derezinski. While the two candidates raised about the same amount of money, for some inexplicable reason, Derezinski held on to thousands of dollars of donations. He had floated the idea to the local media of a mayoral run. Petersen won and like that the Ward 2 resident was learning the ropes of life as a City Council member.

During that 2012 campaign, Petersen did an interview with A2Politico.com. We have the answers to those questions, as well as her answers to a set of questions sent to the mayoral candidates. In addition, there is Council member Petersen’s voting record over the past two years. We thought it would be interesting to intersperse these various sources.

“Q2014” is the question we asked her in our mayoral candidate questionnaire. “SP” is Council member Petersen’s answer as a mayoral candidate.

“Q2012” is the question asked of Sally Petersen in 2012. “Sally Petersen” is the answer she gave when running for City Council in 2012.

Q2014: Why are you running for local office? 

SP: I am running for Mayor of Ann Arbor because it is time for new leadership, new knowledge, skills and abilities to leverage the economic growth ahead of us into improved city services for all residents including better roads, more police, and better value for the tax payer dollar.

Q2012: Why now? Why run for City Council at this moment in time?

Sally Petersen: Running for City Council is something I have thought about for quite some time. But it was about a year ago on a long marathon training run, the switch finally flipped. Maybe I was just dehydrated at the time =), but I found myself debating city issues in my head on these long runs and the belief grew in me that I could contribute something unique to the City Council table. I am a Democrat with an MBA; a combination not currently represented on Council. I expect that my experience in business and non-profit leadership will prepare me well to tackle the City’s challenges with a focus on bottom-line fiscal sustainability and transparency.

Q2014:  How often per week do you walk, bike or take transit to work?

SP: Today, my office is my kitchen, so I guess you could say I walk to work every day. I typically drive to meetings downtown; the #14 bus doesn’t run between 8:57am and 3:36pm. Occasionally, I run to City Hall during the day  to pick up mail or pay bills. As Mayor, I would have an office in City Hall.

Anticipating that I would spend most of my day at City Hall or elsewhere  downtown, I could carpool or use the public transportation that is available

during rush hours.

Q2012: There is a political push afoot to hand the $10 million dollars in perpetual millage money paid by taxpayers to AATA to a county-wide transit authority. Do you use AATA regularly? Would you favor handing over our millage money to such an authority which may or may not use the same amount for transit within the city limits?

Sally Petersen: I do not use the AATA and I don’t think I am the intended customer. As a stay-at-home (but never actually “at home” for very long), I put about 200 miles on my car per week within or just outside the city. I don’t think any transit system other than my own auto could support my needs. That said, who are the intended and projected customers for a regional transit system? I am not an expert on transit systems, but through my discussions with Ward 2 residents I have learned that the current hub and spoke model of transportation may not be feasible if the City hopes to expand coverage.

PETERSEN ENDORSES: 2014 AAATA MILLAGE: Hub and spoke system is retained after $4.4 million millage enhancement passes.

Q2014: There have been questions from officers within the AAPD about the integrity of the city’s crime stats. Would you support an outside audit of the AAPDs crime reports and crime data?

SP: I have not heard that the integrity of the AAPD crime reports and data is being questioned. If the motivation to question the numbers is to advocate for more police officers, then I don’t think we need an audit to determine that.

There are at least three reasons we need more police.  One, the fact that Part One crimes are down does not justify not hiring more police.  One only needs to see that among Part One crimes, the number of CSC crimes has actually more than doubled in the last 10 years.

The fact that the victims “typically know their perpetrators” is not a reason to ignore this statistic. Two, heroin abuse is a national issue, and we need more undercover detectives to address and eliminate this in Ann Arbor.

Three, economic reports are encouraging and we need to prepare for more activity downtown. More beat cops and more detectives will encourage the   perception and reality of safety downtown and elsewhere in this City.

Q2012: Would you vote in favor of a budget that further reduced the city’s police and /or fire staffing levels? What are your thoughts on public safety funding and staffing?

Sally Petersen: I don’t think we need to reduce the public safety staffing levels because the levels of overtime indicate we are still understaffed. But I am not sure we need to increase to the level the national standard dictates either. What is the optimal number of staffing for a city such as Ann Arbor where the incidence of violent crime and fire may also be below the national standard? The maximum number identified by the national standard ma be different from the optimal number for Ann Arbor. Answering this question for our constituents would be a priority for me if elected to City Council.

PETERSEN VOTES:

MAY 10, 2013

Increase police staffing by three officers?

Petersen votes: No

MAY 19, 2014

Hire two more police officers (in addition to three new officers in proposed budget)? 

Petersen votes: No

Q2014: Describe the present relationship between U-M and Ann Arbor city government. How should that relationship change (if at all)?

SP: The University of Michigan will have a new President and the City will have a new Mayor. It’s time for a new attitude toward town-gown relationships.

For too long the City has been resentful toward the University for not paying property taxes. As Mayor, I would lead the effort to overcome this by finding common ground with the University on areas of mutual interest.

These include transportation, job creation, and quality of life. I am confident that the University will come to the table to discuss these issues if this City eliminates the words “Payment in Lieu of Taxes” or PILOT from our vernacular.

Q2012: The saying goes that it’s not possible to “cut one’s way to profitability.” Would you favor crafting and implementing a PILOT (payment in lieu of property taxes) program to collect revenues from the non-profits that do business in Ann Arbor to increase tax revenues?

Sally Petersen: One of the reasons it is difficult for the City to collaborate with the U is that there are few areas of mutual interest. Regular communications do occur at the functional level, between the AAPS and DPS, and between our respective transportation and constructions divisions. But I sense that the tone of these communications is typically reactive and defensive, with both parties protecting their turf, so to speak.

But that’s not to say that the City should be at the University’s mercy in collaboration either. We need to recognize that our goals are not necessarily mutually exclusive either. If the City and University of Michigan worked together better, perhaps opportunities for GILOT (Goodwill in lieu of taxes) could be explored with some innovation and creativity. It is time for the University and the City to work together to create an intentional culture of collaboration and innovation.

Q2012: There have been long-time complaints of ethical lapses on the part of City Council members in their campaign fundraising, appointments of friends and business associates to city boards and commissions, and voting on resolutions that impact their full-time employers. Would you support an ethics ordinance like the ones in San Diego and Chicago?

Sally Petersen: This is my first foray into city politics and I have not been privy to ethical lapses among City Council members…. Back in 1991, the first course I took at Harvard Business School was Business Ethics. I learned quickly that you cannot “teach” ethics and I don’t think you should try to legislate it either. Either one is an ethical being or not, and while there are always shades of grey, ethical people tend to rise to the top, are easy to identify, and should be easy to elect!

PETERSEN SPONSORS:

2013

Resolution to Support Education on Professional Standards of Conduct for City Officials and Direction to Council Rules Committee to Draft Appropriate Standard of Conduct

 

Q2012: Council member Derezinski supports the new pedestrian ordinance that requires motorists to stop and allow pedestrians entering a crosswalk to cross the street. A law that has resulted in much confusion on the part of drivers and multiple accidents on major roads. Do you support the new ordinance?

Sally Petersen: State law requires motorists to stop for pedestrians as they enter a crosswalk. What the city tried to do was to broaden the defintion of “approaching a crosswalk”, and yes, this was confusing until they repealed that portion of the ordinance. Pedestrian Safety is a key component of my message. Whether it is state law or a city ordinance, requiring motorists to stop is not easily enforceable, and does not protect pedestrians or drivers. I think we need to just use commone sense, regardless of who has the right of way.

PETERSEN VOTES:

December 3, 2013

Repeal the pedestrian crosswalk ordinance?

Petersen votes: Yes

Petersen Key Votes 2012-2014

• Repeal of pedestrian safety ordinance: Voted Yes
• 14-story high-rise at 413 E. Huron: Voted Yes
• Limit the Downtown Development Authority Tax Capture: Voted Yes
• Increase police staffing: Voted No
• Elimination of Percent For Art Program: Voted Yes
• Edwards Brothers property purchase: Voted Yes
• Designating up to 12,000 square feet of Library Lot as future park: Voted Yes
• Remove $943,000 from public art fund: Voted Yes
• Restore leaf collection and holiday tree pickup: Voted No
• $100,000 for warming center for homeless: Voted Yes
• Expand curbside compost collection year-round: Voted No

Petersen Key Legislation

2013:

• Resolution to Form the Ann Arbor Economic Collaborative Task Force
• Resolution to Amend Funding for Art in Public Places (Replaced Percent for Art money which had been taken from the Street Repair Fund, as well as the Water and Sewer Fund)
• Resolution to Support Education on Professional Standards of Conduct for City Officials and Direction to Council Rules Committee to Draft Appropriate Standard of Conduct
• An Ordinance to Amend Section 10:148 of Chapter 126 (Traffic) of Title X of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Ordinance No. ORD-13-31) (Repealed the Pedestrian Crosswalk Ordinance, Vetoed
• Resolution Directing City Administrator to Evaluate Deer Management Options for Council Consideration

2014:

• Resolution to Affirm the Continuing Public Purpose of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Local Development Financing Authority and Approve Application to MEDC for Extension of its Term (Extension of the funding for Ann Arbor SPARK)