ann arbor is overrated.

We usually slack off on the endorsement thing, but if you live in the 5th Ward, consider making it to the polls on August 8th and voting for incumbent council member Chris Easthope in the primary. Yes, you read that right — Chris “Greenway Resolution” Easthope, who, along with Leigh “Porch Couch Ban” Greden, has improbably become one of our favorites on the council.

Easthope is running against Sonia Schmerl, who has attempted to paint him as a tool of development interests, pointedly pledging that “she will not accept contributions, meals or gifts of any kind from contractors, developers or lobbyists that do business with the city.” She has not, however, promised to decline contributions from homeowners, neighborhood groups or landlords who may perceive new development as a threat to their own financial interests.

The very first plank of Schmerl’s platform provides a good idea of what she stands for: “Neighborhoods are the fundamental strength of our community. They shouldn’t be cut out of the action on decisions affecting our future.” In the past year or so, neighborhoods have displayed their fundamental strength by opposing public parks, sidewalks, apartment buildings, a high school and the redevelopment of a blighted strip mall. Schmerl is also a fan of “secret meeting” conspiracy theories to explain why the Calthorpe planning process came to conclusions that differ from those of the neighborhoods.

The strange thing is that, a few months ago, no one would have even thought to call Easthope pro-development in the slightest. He voted against the Downtown Development Authority three-site plan and sponsored the famous greenway resolution.

We like Easthope because we watch a lot of council meetings and he seems like a reasonable guy. When Joan Lowenstein argued that an outdoor NCAA celebration might attract underage drinkers, Easthope pointed out that the council had little grounds to disallow the event when it had approved the very similar Oktoberfest. He also supported the lease-postponement ordinance that gives renters more time to assess their options.

We have no idea how strong of a challenge Schmerl presents, but we see her “Real Greenway Now” signs all over our neighborhood. So if you’ve never voted in a local primary before, consider this your chance to unleash your inner political geek.