Primary Colors

The News went looking for some council primary drama, but all they found were mostly unopposed races and a couple of candidates who couldn’t be reached for comment, one of whom lives within a block of the dump that we lived in when we first moved to A2.

15 Responses to “Primary Colors”


  1. Council candidates tend to file at the very last minute. So I think things are getting off to an early start.

    In addition to the primaries for mayor and Fifth Ward Council member, I expect primaries in the Third Ward (an open seat; Jean Carlberg is retiring) and the First Ward (where John Roberts has done nothing since he was appointed last fall).

    The most interesting info in Tom Gantert’s article was this, about Stephen Kunselman, who is running in the Third Ward: “He was the Sumpter Township administrator before resigning in 2003 amidst turmoil.”

    Does anyone know what *that* is about?


  2. The revolution will not be televised. Or covered in the newspapers. Or on the blogs. Or on the radio. Or via email. Or on IM. Or by stereoscopic view camera.


  3. So when/where are you running, Dave?


  4. I’m a First Warder. I suppose I could beat Roberts. Heck, even a *potted plant* could beat Roberts. However, I don’t want the job. Cutting services and being in a constant state of low-level fiscal crisis isn’t my idea of a good time.


  5. How many signitures do you need to register as a candidate and when is the deadline?

    As a sometime fifth-warder, I’ll never forget the year the Republicans ran a guy named John Birch back when I was in high school. I mean, even though it was the mid-80s, and they used his middle initial in the campaign posters, it didn’t help.


  6. “I’m a First Warder. I suppose I could beat Roberts. Heck, even a *potted plant* could beat Roberts.”

    Ha! That’s what keeps most people I know from running— if they won, they’d have to be on the council!


  7. The deadline is May 16. You need 100 signatures in your ward to run for Council.


  8. well, it just so happens I’ll be arriving at the Amtrak station from Chicago on April 28th and be in town until the 11th of May … but I imagine the pay wouldn’t allow me to attend all the meetings if I had to fly in from Trier.

    I’ve got to go give a paper at the Kalamazoo Medieval Congress anyway.


  9. Ok, I know there have been earlier threads on dog parks in Ann Arbor.

    We all know the opinions of those against them, but if someone is out there reading this, and is thinking of running, and would be willing to get some real movement on the dog park issue (yes I know the city claims this summer, but can we really believe them after so many years of stagnation and resistence?) or perhaps an off-leash amnesty in a certain area of an existing park until said puppy park exists, I would volunteer some time to make signs, go door to door, and help with their campaign.


  10. There is now a primary in the First Ward. Ron Suarez, a self-employed software person, is circulating a nominating petition. He was active in the Howard Dean campaign here in Ann Arbor, and is running the local Democracy for America website.

    I signed his petition this evening at a Dem social event. Susan Greenberg, the chair of the Party, eagerly signed it shortly after I did.


  11. So did I.

    For those who care about such issues, he is anti-couch ban.


  12. Yes, he told me that he thought couches were a lifestyle issue.


  13. Couches on porches remind me of growing up in rural Indiana–right next to the Coke machines.


  14. I know everything about steve…just ask me


  15. okay, tell us about steve…

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