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Woods Announces Primary Challenge

Well, if you hadn’t heard the rumors that were making the rounds yesterday, it’s official now; 5th Ward city council member Wendy Woods, who defeated apathy in last November’s hotly contested race, will be launching a primary challenge to Mayor Hieftje. Her stated reason for running, “a need to get more people involved in city government,” isn’t all that informative. But we question whether students are among those that she’d like to see involved in a meaningful way; Woods has consistently taken a paternalistic view of students, suggesting that an off-campus housing complex should have residential advisors to keep an eye on the tenants and opposing an outdoor festival sponsored by a bar on the grounds that some “young people” tend not to be “responsible.”

13 Responses to “Woods Announces Primary Challenge”


  1. “May you live in interesting times.”

    posted by DaveCahill on March 17th, 2006 at 8:30 am

  2. “It’s better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period?”

    posted by FAA on March 17th, 2006 at 8:59 am

  3. Anyone who uses the phrase “young people” should not get the vote of anyone under 30 … ocme to think of it, they shouldn’t be running.

    Don’t you all have any better candidates there? What about a wacky Green-Republican coalition to take over the city council…?

    posted by Daniel on March 18th, 2006 at 4:55 pm

  4. I took a class with Wendy Woods when I was an undergrad at the SNRE. She wasnt a great teacher at all, and expect everyone to agree with her at all times. I am Asian, and I was not a great fan of her harping on and on how she was an African-American woman, and hence oppressed, and how she was o wed a tenured professorship etc. I shudder at the thought of mayor Wendy Woods. But, I bet, “liberal” Ann Arborites will vote her in, just to show how cool and liberal they are. Will vote her in just cuz she be a sistah.

    posted by Anon on March 19th, 2006 at 11:23 pm

  5. Re: Anon.

    I’ve met Wendy a few times at local Democratic Party events, and while I’m not a terribly huge fan of hers and feel that she could be more responsive to her constitutents (which would be me), I would hope I could get my point across without resorting to stereotyping and just plain rudeness.

    I, for one, wouldn’t vote for Ms. Woods simply b/c she’s an African American woman, and I doubt that most of my friends make decisions based on race when voting for people, either.

    I think your post says more about you than about Ms. Woods or the Ann Arborites you condemn.

    posted by Young OWSider on March 20th, 2006 at 11:24 am

  6. All of you bad mouthing Wendy Woods is just plain wrong. She will do a lot better job than our current Mayor has done. Anyone who is a true Democrat would vote for Wendy Woods.

    posted by Ann Arborrite on April 9th, 2006 at 7:51 pm

  7. “true Democrat” in this town means… ?

    posted by Brandon on April 9th, 2006 at 7:59 pm

  8. Ann Arborrite:

    As I said, Wendy is a perfectly competent person and I don’t really have any complaints. Well, I guess my one complaint would be that she isn’t terribly proactive when it comes to dealing with her constituents. But that’s not strictly her problem–I’d say that most, if not all, of our council members aren’t terribly active when it comes to seeking input from the voters.

    Why do you think Wendy would be better than the current mayor?

    posted by Young OWSider on April 9th, 2006 at 8:22 pm

  9. Dear Anon,

    I have never taught a course at SNRE that would lend itself in any way to a discussion of my ethnicity, nor have I ever utilized the classroom in the manner you suggest. I have never held nor ever sought a tenured or tenured-track position at the University of Michigan.

    You simply are mistaken on both counts.

    posted by Wendy Woods on April 10th, 2006 at 2:22 am

  10. Wendy, when and where is your first campaign meeting going to be?

    posted by DaveCahill on April 10th, 2006 at 12:43 pm

  11. Hello Ann Arbor! The 313, an improv group featuring Larry Joe Campbell (According To Jim), Keegan-Micheal Key (MAD TV), Nyima Funk (MTV’s Wild N Out), and Joshua Funk (MTV’s Wild N Out) is coming to Ann Arbor to perform. We’ll be at The Improv Inferno July 28 and 29, 8and10pm.
    THESE SHOWS ARE TO BENEFIT THE WENDY WOODS FOR MAYOR OF ANN ARBOR CAMPAIGN !!!!!!

    posted by Nyima Funk on July 9th, 2006 at 6:25 pm

  12. Man, you’re hittin’ yer target demographic here.

    posted by Brandon on July 10th, 2006 at 10:07 am

  13. Go WENDY! current Mayor isn’t very immpressive.
    Some of his appointments to boards are quetionable.
    you’ll have my vote Wendy.

    posted by JB on July 22nd, 2006 at 6:27 am

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