Comments on: Incumbents Win Ann Arbor Dem Primaries

By: Marvin Face

Marvin Face — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:09:32 +0000

I wish we had a Jane Lumm in the 5th!

By: DrData

DrData — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:08:25 +0000

I hope she puts up an IT savvy website that allows for contributions on-line. If so, I might make an out-of-ward contribution to her campaign. If it requires a check, envelope, stamp I’ll be less inclined.

Since the students will be back for the November election, it might be useful for her if she paints herself as the progressive candidate. Kind of an odd description for a former Republican candidate, but fairly accurate.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:47:27 +0000

Thanks Jack!

By: Jack Eaton

Jack Eaton — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:39:35 +0000

Re [12], Alan, keep an eye on the Neighborhood Alliance election page: [link] We will link to her site as soon as she has one. We will also post a link to the incumbent's site, if he develops one.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:21:53 +0000

Does Lumm have a campaign website?

By: David Cahill

David Cahill — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:45:50 +0000

Congrats to Lumm for being willing to run!

Tom, are the petitions due at 5:00 or 4:00? I remember some kinds of filings have to be made at 4:00.

By: Ruth Kraut

Ruth Kraut — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:32:01 +0000

I came back from vacation–and to the election results. And though it might not seem like it, since all of the incumbents won, I was super happy to have a choice of two good candidates in my ward (both of whom ran a serious, cordial and informative race), and I wish that all of our city council elections were contested.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:33:55 +0000

Re (6), I think of Tom Wieder as “Mr. Democrat”. I too am a lifelong Democrat – I was even the president of a Democratic club in San Diego County, and as the chair of the 2nd ward Ann Arbor Democratic party in the early 90s, I probably recruited people to run against Jane. (Mists of time, etc.)

It has become clear in recent years that ordinary partisan labels no longer describe what we can expect from our council members. There may be a solid unanimity of Democrats on council but there are certainly many differing policy positions held by one bloc or another. In the absence of useful partisan labels, it makes sense that an Independent can run for council and be supported by people from both major national parties.

By: Peter Zetlin

Peter Zetlin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:28:39 +0000

That’s great that Jane Lumm will run. Stephen Rapundalo got 573 votes and Tim Hull 420. Not that big a gap.

It should be possible to run a strong campaign against Mr. Rapundalo. His rather famous work on the Library Lot Advisory Committee, his lackluster results as chair of the Labor Commmittee, and, for a lot of 2nd ward voters, his taking the wrong side when he voted to re-purpose Huron Hills Golf Course– his record could work against him. Hopefully, these issues will get some attention in the campaign.

I’d like to see changes on council, and Ms. Lumm would be welcome.

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:59:41 +0000

Re: [3] The link to the Civic News Ticker item is here: [link] In light of [6], the pertinent part of the News Ticker item reduces, I think, to this:

Incumbent Stephen Rapundalo is already on the ballot to represent Ward 2 on the Ann Arbor city council, having won his Democratic primary on Tuesday against challenger Tim Hull. Lumm previously served on the city council from 1993-98, winning election as a Republican. During that span she served with a fellow Republican in the other seat for Ward 2 – first Peter Fink and then David Kwan. In 2004, Lumm ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Ann Arbor as a Republican. That much she has in common with Rapundalo, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor as a Republican in 2000. Rapundalo switched parties in 2005, winning his first term to represent Ward 2 in the November 2005 general election against Republican Tom Bourque.