by P.D. Lesko

Along with a press release that seeks to clear up misconceptions about what the proposed amendment to Ann Arbor’s Charter in order to create an elected/appointed utility board, and explains Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2), the group released candidate scorecards rating the mayoral and City Council candidates on their support for Ann Arbor for Public Power. Mayor Taylor was awarded an overall score of a “C,” and challenger Yousef Rabhi earned an “A.” Council candidates’ overall scores ranged from an “F” (Ward 2 candidate Sandy Aldrich) to an “A” (Ward 4 candidate Dave Zeglen). Two Council candidates declined to answer the A2P2’s survey (Ward 1 candidate Rebecca Arends and Ward 2 candidate Teesha Montague).

The A2Indy reported in April 2027, that A2P2’s 501(c)4 nonprofit status had been revoked by the IRS Charitable Division in Nov. 2024 for failure to submit federal income tax returns for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. The FAQ page that accompanies the July 2026 A2P2 Scorecard states that, “Ann Arbor for Public Power, or A2P2, is a 501(c)(4) grassroots nonprofit.” It is not.

IRS Charitable Division records show that A2P2 submitted its required 2025 and 2024 990-O income tax returns. The revocation of its nonprofit status (requiring the group to pay state and federal income taxes on all revenue) has not been reversed. Federal income tax returns are still missing. Furthermore, campaign finance forms submitted for the Ann Arbor for Public Power Ballot Question Committee the same month (January 2026) as the 2025 990-0 income tax return, show an over $60,000 discrepancy in total revenue. The 990-0 declared $87,882 in total receipts and the campaign finance disclosure declared $24,915 in total receipts. There are no records of how the additional funding was obtained.

In the press release, A2P2 officials say: “Ann Arbor could soon begin exploring a public power option for the entire city. Volunteer petitioners are gathering signatures to qualify a proposed city charter amendment for the November 3 ballot. Approval would create a board to oversee a municipal electric utility, or muni.”

A2P2 officials quote themselves: “This is a big step for public power for all of Ann Arbor,” said Brian Geiringer, executive director of Ann Arbor for Public Power, or A2P2. “It doesn’t commit the city to taking over DTE, but it sets up the electric utility board in 2028.”

“There is a lot of disinformation circulating on social media,” said A2P2 president Sean Higgins. “We want voters to make an informed choice.”

Voter approval would set up a process for creating a nine member muni board in November, 2028. Five board members, one from each city ward, would be elected by voters, with four others appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council. One appointee would be a representative of organized labor.

In June, two current Council members came out publicly against A2P2 and its proposed amendment to the City’s Charter. “The proposed charter amendment would create a new municipal electric utility and a new governing board with significant authority, including powers related to contracts, borrowing money, acquiring property, and hiring staff. Many of these responsibilities are currently exercised by City Council,” said Council member Dharma Akmon on her Facebook page.

At the recent City Council candidate forum for Ward 1, a person circulating ballot question petitions for A2P2 was in the audience and asked the incumbent, Cynthia Harrison, if she would sign the petition. Harrison said she had not signed the petition and, indeed, had not heard of A2P2. The group’s 2024 990 federal income tax return, submitted in March of 2026, lists Cynthia Harrison as a member of its governing board.

In her answer to the A2P2 survey question, “Has the candidate publicly expressed support for placing or advancing a public power ballot initiative in Ann Arbor?”, Harrison said, “At this time, I do not support the A2P2 proposal. Ann Arbor residents deserve reliable, affordable, and clean energy. However, the financial risks of the ballot initiative are too great, and I worry about burdening Ann Arbor with debt and making cuts to other services and City programs….Right now, Ann Arbor’s financial situation does not support municipalization.” This earned her a score of “F” in response to the question.

In comparison, Mayoral challenger Yousef Rabhi said, “I helped to start Ann Arbor for Public Power nearly a decade ago….I am on the Advisory Board and have attended and spoken at countless A2P2 events. I fully endorse the proposal.” His answer to the question earned him an “A.”

Ward 4 candidate Aidan Sova earned a score of “F” in response to the same question for an answer that criticized the current Mayor and Council and A2P2: “City Council should have commissioned a comprehensive, independent study long ago to determine the true acquisition costs and legal realities of a public buyout. Establishing a municipal utility board before completing this rigorous feasibility study may put the cart before the horse….Moving forward with structural charter changes without a clear financial roadmap risks consuming the very resources needed to run our city. That is not fiscally responsible.”

The July A2P2 press release included five main points. One of which was this one: “Approval of the board does not cost the city money unless Council approves funding.”

Mayor Taylor’s non-answer to the question “Has the candidate publicly expressed support for placing or advancing a public power ballot initiative in Ann Arbor?” not only earned him an “F” but a footnote of rebuke, as well: “Note from A2P2: Not only has the candidate not publicly committed to the 2026 Ann Arbor for Public Power ballot initiative, he is actively spreading false information about it.”

The A2P2 candidate scores were calculated based on the following criteria:

1. Independence from utility-affiliated money
2. Support for publicly owned or municipal power
3. Position on advancing a public power ballot initiative
4. Track record on energy affordability, reliability, and equity
5. Position on large-scale, high-impact energy users such as data centers

To view an individual candidate’s scores and answers to the A2P2 survey, click here.