by P.D. Lesko YOU PROBABLY DON’T know it, but sitting through a candidate forum in Ann Arbor is like watching paint dry. The same 50-60 people (many of whom are candidates in other races, office holders, political appointees or people…

Please note: Kai Petainen is a member of The Ann Arbor Independent’s Editorial Board by P.D. Lesko ANN ARBOR SPARK is once again under fire for discrepancies in its job creation claims. Forbes.com writer Kai Petainen uncovered a…

ANN ARBOR CITY Council members recently passed a resolution urging the State’s Attorney General to stop defending Michigan’s ban against gay marriage. In 2011, Ann Arbor City Council went on the record objecting to a Republican-backed drive…

CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE Powers was hired in 2011. His job performance during the past 3 years has not yet been evaluated by City Council. The Charter requires Council to evaluate both the City Administrator and the City Attorney annually.…

By P.D. Lesko LOOKING FOR WHAT is called a reliable voter? Look for a white woman aged 70 and above (a Baby Boomer), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Looking for the least reliable voter on whom a candidate should think twice about…

by P.D. Lesko IT’S USUALLY DEATH and taxes that define the inevitable. However, in the city’s 2013 National Citizen Survey, comments about roads and taxes dominated the open-ended question responses. Respondents were asked to record…

K. INGRID AULT ran for Ann Arbor City Council and lost to incumbent Stephen Kunselman. Ms. Ault’s ideas and vision for the city did not appeal to the voters of her Ward. Ms. Ault was then appointed to the Parks Advisory Commission. The…

CURIOUS ABOUT RUNNING for the School Board or another public office next year? Wish you knew more about the ins and outs of throwing your hat in the ring? This year ten candidates are set to run for Ann Arbor City Council. However, in…

NANCY KAPLAN, A current member of the Ann Arbor District Library Board of Trustees, recently launched a run for Ann Arbor City Council to represent Ward 2. Kaplan, a retired physical therapist, was elected to the AADL Board of Trustees in…

LEON BRYSON, a Ward 5 resident,  has taken out nominating petitions, and is gathering signatures to have his name put on the ballot for the August 5 primary election. Bryson, a Democrat, earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from…