“I WILL FIGHT for you as hard as I fought to get on the ballot,” said Bob Dascola in his closing statement at the League of Women Voters debate. Dascola faces two other Democrats in the primary election: Julie Grand and U-M student Sam McMullen.

Dascola’s City Council campaign has been a hard road full of free publicity. The Ann Arbor barber who has worked downtown for 44 years has seen his campaign written up dozens of times by local news sources.

First, City Attorney Postema decided to defend an unconstitutional city charter clause to try to keep Dascola off the ballot. Postema lost. Then, Dascola’s name was left off of 392 absentee ballots sent out to Ward 3 voters. City Attorney Postema decided returned ballots would be counted anyway. A federal judge said, “No.”

Judge Lawrence Zatkoff then instructed Stephen Postema to produce a motion explaining why Zatkoff should not find Ann Arbor in contempt for leaving Dascola off the ballot.

Stephen Postema’s answer: “Because, Judge, you never explicitly told us Dascola’s name had to appear on the ballot after you determined Dascola could run for City Council.” It’s a shocking response, according to local legal experts. Bob Dascola talked with The A2Indy about his run for Council.

A2Indy: Why are you running for local office?

Dascola: I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, I have worked here for 44 years, and have either lived in the city or commuted in to work. I have served on a variety of city commissions and committees and enjoyed the opportunity to give something back to the community. Being on council would enable me to make even more of a positive impact on our town.

A2Indy: How often per week do you walk, bike or take transit to work?

Dascola: I walk to work almost every day and if the weather is bad or sidewalks are icy I take the bus. By not bringing my car into the downtown, there will be one more parking place for shoppers.

A2Indy: If elected, how would you propose addressing the ongoing problems associated with aggressive panhandling, drug use and other public safety issues that are often linked to the city’s homeless/transient population?

Dascola: This is an ongoing problem and a few years ago I was on a panhandling taskforce under the downtown marketing taskforce trying to come up with some solutions. It’s important for people to know that they can call the police to report aggressive panhandling and something will happen. Also, bringing back beat cops in the downtown will help to remind the panhandlers that aggressive panhandling isn’t ok.

A2Indy: Please identify two services (leaf collection, downtown beat cops, i.e.) which have been cut for lack of funding which you would like to see restored?

Dascola: I have been talking to the people in the 3rd ward and yes, bringing back leaf collection is high on the list, and I would support this. Bringing back downtown beat cops would definitely help with the on going issue of safety and aggressive panhandling.

A2Indy: 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?

Dascola: Yes. Because we are at a minimum number of police officers, some crimes aren’t being reported.

A2Indy: Would you support a $15 minimum wage for Ann Arbor and Michigan?

Dascola: I support asking for a higher minimum wage, but we have to be careful not to get too far ahead of the market. Remember, too, that it is the State Legislators not the city council that will set the minimum wage for Ann Arbor.

To find out more about Bob, visit his website: http://bobdascola.com/. Visit Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dascolaforcitycouncil

Ward 3 City Council Candidate: Julie Grand

PLEASE NOTE: Julie Grand did not return The A2 Indy’s candidate questionnaire by the deadline.

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 2013 campaign lambasting her opponent, Ward 3 Council member Stephen Kunselman. She’s running a different campaign this time around. However, Grand has said she is considering her “legal options,” should her opponent win a close race.

Julie Grand’s campaign strategy  focuses on a platform that includes “improving core services, public engagement and healthy neighborhoods.” Voters can also look at the overall condition of the city’s parks as a partial basis to judge Grand’s actual work: she was Chair of the Park Advisory Commission.

Julie has said, “she truly enjoys listening to a diversity of opinions regarding challenges and the solutions within our community.”

In answer to what makes her the best candidate, Grand focuses on her Master’s degree, Ph.D., her experience on PAC. She says she’ll be able to “hit the ground running.” She supports “downtown development” and “extraordinary neighborhoods.”

To find out more information about Grand, visit her website: http://votegrand.org/