I agree, and encourage more students to run for office.

Jeff Irwin and Yousef Rabhi ran as studets and have done a decent job on the Board of Commissioners.

I used to work in the same law office as Eric Jackson who was elected to Ypsi City Council as a student in the 1970s and served two terms. He went on to become publisher of the Panama News.

I remember your support for Hatim Elhady in 2009.

“re #18: So, it is better that it is that they just outright lie and claim to be Democrats instead, as they do now?”

While I do not agree with the Mixed Use Party on most issues they have addressed, I am still happy to see students organize to run for local office. With something like 40,000 students in a city with a total population of 114,000, students should have a voice at the table. Organizing their own party allows students to identify the issues they want the City to address. If they elect or even come close to electing any candidates, it will have an impact on city policy decisions.

I would note that I supported Hatim Elhady, a student candidate in the 2009 4th Ward race. I was impressed that he was trying to find common ground between neighborhood residents and students. I also endorsed Tim Hull in the 2011 2nd Ward primary. I believe Mr. Hull had graduated just prior to running. I thought he, too, could bring a student perspective to Council. I encourage students to become involved in local politics to raise issues of concern to them that Council is not addressing.

That is a very good question.

The Mixed-Use Party has established a website to inform the public about itself: http://www.mixeduseparty.com

The name “Mixed-Use Party” is derived from one of the key platforms of the party – a zoning plan which includes regulation of offensive characteristics such as noise, shade, and pollution but eliminating such regulation on non-offensive characterstics, such as commercial-use or living arrangements.

I would encourage you to attend one of their monthly meetings, as Kerry D apparently has.

Ingrid Sheldon was a better mayor than John Hieftje.

@Jack Eaton:

The Mixed Use Party is more popular than you may think.
I will be backing their efforts this November. They have made good points and deserve to be heard and considered.

Jaclyn Vresics is planning a run in the First Ward and has pulled petitions. She is articulate.

I have attended some of their meetings and feel they are a credible alternative.

Vote Mixed-Use this fall!

I forgot to mention a couple of things. Just a couple of years ago, the Republicans in Ypsilanti City got a charter amendment on the ballot for nonpartisan local elections. The amendment was defeated.

Also, at least 20 years ago, I remember encountering Ingrid Sheldon when she was campaigning for City Council. I noticed that she did not have “Republican” on her lit. She confessed that she didn’t think she could win if she identified herself as a Republican. I said she should be proud of her party. She went on to win as a Republican. Those where the days when the Republicans weren’t actively evil, just misguided.