Ann Arbor Politicians Trot Out the “Young People” as a Campaign Issue—A “Young Person” Responds

Editor: Democratic candidate for mayor Christopher Taylor has repeatedly commented on the need to encourage “young people to choose Ann Arbor.” We sent our 17-year-old high school intern, Micaela Stevenson, to the League of Women Voters mayoral forum to listen to Taylor’s ideas. As it turns out, one of the main impediments to attracting “young people” may be Taylor himself.

by Micaela Stevenson

Christopher Taylor says:

Apr. 21, 2014: “We need to encourage young people with better transit, a vital downtown, and a political culture that is open to them.”

May 1, 2014: “It is vital that the city be open and welcoming to young people.”

June 15, 2014: “I’d like more young people to choose Ann Arbor as a place to live.”

Oct. 21, 2014: “…I am absolutely committed to an Ann Arbor that welcomes and retains the young, young professionals, young workers, young families.”

SOME BOYS NEVER  grow up— their toys just get more expensive. Mayoral candidate Christopher Taylor falls into this category.  At the League of Women Voters forum, it was evident that Taylor is stuck in a mind-set most often associated with 16-year-old boys (a demographic with which I have plenty of experience, both good and bad).

During the forum held on October 8, 2014, mayoral candidates met to discuss issues concerning how they would run the city of Ann Arbor as its next mayor.  While both candidates offered different ideas, as I sat there listening it became increasing obvious that the man who will probably be Ann Arbor’s next mayor is stuck in the limbo of adolescence.

Arrogance is common among teenage boys, including ones whom I’ve have met. It comes with their innate sense of invincibility. While Council member Taylor is more mature than his 27-year-old opponent Bryan Kelly, a defining characteristic of Taylor’s performance at the LWV forum was his ability to pontificate. First, he referred to his wife as a “townie,” as if she were a mail order bride. No name, just “my wife the townie.”

He began the forum by stating all that he has done for Ann Arbor, primarily as a lawyer and City Council member. When Council member Taylor was prompted to stop speaking by the moderator, he continued on. He launched into his community involvement and family, as if continuing to speak was not only warranted, but necessary. Throughout the forum, he continuously violated the time limit with no regard for his opponent or the women in charge.

I can tell you that teenage boys can be selfish. Not all of them, but some of them. Throughout the forum, Council member Taylor continuously violated the time limit with no regard for his opponent or the moderators. To make matters worse, he didn’t answer the questions he was asked. He veered off topic and failed to answer questions. Taylor pussyfooted around issues, pontificating about some issues on a broad scale then failing to go into detail about others.

Council member Taylor is a classic Handsomecrat. I listened to him and was dazzled by his charming smile. It made me want to believe that he knows what he’s talking about. But when I listened to the words he said I couldn’t help but compare him to many of the boys I interact with on a day-to-day basis at my high school.

They are boys who tweak the truth to make it appear to be something other than what it is.

Make no mistake, Council member Taylor appears to be a kind man with a solid understanding of how to raise a family. However, while listening to him and watching him at the League of Women Voters forum, I came to the conclusion that his arrogance will make him an ineffective mayor. His competitive nature could, potentially, keep him from collaborating with others to induce the real change that is needed in Ann Arbor and tackle the real challenges.

The forum ended and I sat there. I wanted to trust Christopher Taylor. I went there expecting to trust Christopher Taylor. The truth, though, is that this “young person” just doesn’t. Like teenage boys, who often have “something to prove,” Council member Taylor struck me as a man who is running for mayor to either prove something to himself or to others whom he wants or needs to impress. I went to the forum looking for a candidate who’s running because he wants to effect real change in his community. The candidate who really cares about “young people” and sees them as more than a political prop dragged out during elections.

Micaela Stevenson is The Ann Arbor Independent’s high school intern.