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City Council
Local Politico to City’s Voters: You’re “Xenophobic,” “Old,” “Selfish” and “Stingy.”
by P.D. Lesko
DDA Board member and former Second Ward City Council member Joan Lowenstein (right) is having a really tough time of it, politically speaking. Should you care? Absolutely. It's a better show than "Real Housewives," but with…
New Ward 2 Council Member Jane Lumm Scores Spots on Powerful City Council Committees
by P.D. Lesko
City Council committee appointments are out, and it looks as though newly elected Second Ward Council member Jane Lumm worked some black magic to get herself spots on two of the most powerful Council committees.
For…
Ann Arbor Crosswalk Ordinance Mess Gets National Attention
by P.D. Lesko
On The Atlantic's web site, writer Micki Maynard quotes David Askins of The AnnArborChronicle.com explaining how the pedestrian crosswalk ordinance mess has gotten so out of hand. Askins, with a straight face one presumes,…
Why Is Ann Arbor’s State Senator Accepting Free Meals From the City’s Own Lobbyist?
by P.D. Lesko
In September 2011, MLive political analyst Susan J. Demas outed Democratic State Senator Rebekah Warren (left) as one of only four Michigan legislators who had accepted more than $1,800 in free food and drinks from lobbyists…
Rep. John Dingell’s Endorsement Can’t Save Local City Council Member: Lumm Beats Rapundalo
by P.D. Lesko
U.S. Representative John Dingell and his wife Debbie couldn't save Second Ward Council member Stephen Rapundalo's political hide. Dingell endorsed Rapundalo and donated $250 to his campaign. While challenger Jane Lumm spoke…
Will Ann Arbor Voters Press Delete and Dump Another Politico Because of An Email Scandal?
by P.D. Lesko
In June of 2009, the now defunct Ann Arbor News broke a story that revealed Ann Arbor City Council members were abusing email during open meetings to mock and make fun of constituents, to script debates and to rig votes, such…
Neighborhood Candidate Forum Shows Just How Much Is At Stake in Ward 2 Election
by P.D. Lesko
A Ward 2 neighborhood association packed the house at Thurston Elementary School on Wednesday October 26, 2011 for a candidate forum between incumbent Ann Arbor City Council member Stephen Rapundalo (left) and challenger…
Sierra Club Endorses Jane Lumm in Ann Arbor Ward 2 City Council Race
by P.D. Lesko
Despite her continued opposition to the city's Greenbelt millage, money that city officials have used to purchase thousands of acres of land (tip o' the keyboard to Rita Mitchell), including farmland, in the area…
In Ward 3 Debate, Kunselman Goes After DDA & Alleges Political “Cronyism” A Problem in Ann Arbor Government
The Ann Arbor chapter of the League of Women Voters sponsors candidate debates each election cycle for City Council races. On October 5, 2011, the League gave Third Ward Democrat Stephen Kunselman the chance to strut his political stuff…
Evidence Surfaces That Council Member Rapundalo’s Web Site Misleads Voters About Opponent’s Voting Record
On September 15th, former Second Ward Council member Jane Lumm (pictured right), who is challenging current Second Ward Council member Stephen Rapundalo, dropped what A2Politico described on September 15, 2011 as an endorsement "bomb."…