In Ward 5, Democrat Chuck Warpehoski was elected over Republican Stuart Berry, winning with 10,371 votes (81.49%) compared to 2,281 votes (17.92%) for Berry. The incumbent Democrat, Carsten Hohnke, did not run for re-election.

The four other city council races, also for two-year terms, were not contested. Democrat incumbents Christopher Taylor (Ward 3) and Margie Teall (Ward 4) were on the ballot, along with Democrats Sumi Kailasapathy (Ward 1) and Sally Hart Petersen (Ward 2). Petersen had defeated incumbent Tony Derezinski in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. Kailasapathy prevailed in the primary over candidate Eric Sturgis. The current Ward 1 councilmember, Sandi Smith, did not seek re-election.

The 11-member city council includes the mayor and 10 city councilmembers, two from each ward.

From left: Incumbent Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje and Albert Howard, who is running as an independent. (Photos by the writer.)

The two men answered questions at an Oct. 10 candidate forum moderated by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. Issues ranged from the city’s relationship with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority – which Howard described as a “shadow government” that he would dissolve – to nonpartisan elections, current challenges and a long-term vision for the community.

Howard repeatedly criticized Hieftje for a lack of transparency and fiscal responsibility, and for not focusing on public safety issues. He supported moving to nonpartisan elections, and for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program for the University of Michigan.

Hieftje, who was first elected mayor in 2000, defended his view that the city is one of the safest and most robust in Michigan. He said that he personally has been “extremely approachable” and that the city government itself is open and accessible. He advocated for an expanded transit system, and a focus on quality-of-life issues.

The office of mayor has a two-year term. In Ann Arbor’s council-manager system, the mayor is the eleventh member of the city council, with limited responsibility beyond that of a city councilmember. The mayor enjoys a power of veto over council actions, which can be overridden with an eight-vote majority. The mayor also makes nominations for most city boards and commissions, which then require confirmation by the council. The mayor has certain powers during emergencies, and serves as the ceremonial head of the city. Day-to-day management of the city is the responsibility of the city administrator – currently Steve Powers – who is hired by the city council.

The Oct. 10 candidate forum was held at the studios of Community Television Network in Ann Arbor, and is available online via CTN’s video-on-demand service. The forum included candidates for Ward 5 Ann Arbor city council – Stuart Berry and Chuck Warpehoski. The Ward 5 portion of the forum is reported in a separate Chronicle write-up.

Information on local elections can be found on the Washtenaw County clerk’s elections division website. To see a sample ballot for your precinct, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Opening Statements

Each candidate was given the opportunity to make a one-minute opening statement.

Albert Howard: He looked forward to the opportunity for viewers to vote for him on Nov. 6 as the 61st mayor of Ann Arbor. There are three issues that are paramount with the current mayor’s administration, he said: A lack of transparency, a lack of fiscal responsibility, and a lack of taking initiative on immediate priorities. He wanted to bring light to the fact that even though the 60th mayor was sitting to his right, the language of Hieftje’s administration – especially in “referendums and addendums” – is not advantageous to the people. There’s more hidden behind this protocol than we know, he concluded.

John Hieftje: The city is doing well, he said, considering that it’s coming out of one of the worst financial climates since the 1930s. Ann Arbor has made it thus far by increasing efficiencies, he said. Unlike many cities, Ann Arbor hasn’t raised taxes – except for what he characterized as a very small increase so that the city could take over sidewalk maintenance. Otherwise, the city has maintained all services, he said. There’s low unemployment and new companies are coming to the city, he said – and there’s very robust job growth in the city’s future, according to UM economists. When you talk about things like local government, you need to look deep down and see what’s actually been going on, Hieftje said. He encouraged viewers to look at the city’s website. “Everything is out there,” he said – about the city’s budget and other information. The city does everything they can to make sure they are approachable and open to all citizens regarding anything that’s going on at city hall, he concluded.

Challenges

What are the biggest challenges that the city faces over the next two years, and how would you act on them?

John Hieftje: Certainly the budget will continue to be a priority – it will continue to be a priority for a very long time, both for Ann Arbor and every city in the state and nation. He said he would not trade Ann Arbor’s budget position with any other city, particularly in Michigan. Ann Arbor continues to do very well and has a solid budget position. As far as basic services, he noted that Ann Arbor is in the top 20% of safe communities in the United States, based on FBI statistics. He pointed to a December 2011 article in the Ann Arbor Observer with the subhead “Crime Is Down – Way, Way Down.” If you look at it over decades, crime is going down – Ann Arbor is one of the safest cities of its size, he said.

Talking about leaf pickup, the city still picks up leaves, Hieftje noted, but not in the same way that it used to. [Stuart Berry, the Republican candidate for Ward 5 city council, had earlier in the forum mentioned that residents were upset that the city had stopped leaf pickup. The city previously designated two days on which residents could sweep their leaves into the street, and they would be collected using converted street sweepers, front loaders and large-capacity trucks. The city now uses a "containerized" approach that's integrated with the weekly compostables pickup.] There were some problems with the previous approach, he said, and almost every city in Michigan has moved away from doing it that way. It was a good decision, he said. In looking back, there were choices that had to be made as budgets were cut, but that was a choice that stood out as a simple one.

Albert Howard: It’s vital that the current administration and the next mayor not hide by using the language of subliminal, subtle signals, he said. The current mayor has had more Freedom of Information Act requests from the media than other mayors. The mayor rarely issues press releases, Howard said, and has never vetoed an action by city council during his administration.   Alluding to Hieftje’s mention of FBI statistics, Howard said that the local 911 dispatchers are the people who handle calls about crime – and they make the determination about whether that crime will be in a particular category. The current mayor must be held accountable for transparency, he said, and for creating statistics that aren’t relevant to the city’s condition.

[That Hieftje has never exercised his veto power is a common belief – one held even by many long-time political insiders. The Chronicle is not aware that Hieftje himself has ever challenged this notion when it's been mentioned publicly – and he did not dispute it at the candidate forum. However, based on city council minutes from early in his tenure as mayor, Hieftje once vetoed a change to the ordinance that regulates the city employees retirement system. The change involved a calculation of final average compensation. The council subsequently overrode that veto. Minutes indicate that the council voted for the ordinance change on April 16, 2001, the mayor vetoed it on April 23, 2001, and the overriding vote came at the council's May 7, 2001 meeting.]

Relationship with the DDA

Are you satisfied with the relationship between the city and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority? What are your thoughts about the DDA’s Connecting William Street project?

By way of background, in 1975 the state legislature authorized the Downtown Development Authority Act (Act 197 of 1975), which enabled cities to set up DDAs with the purpose of protecting and revitalizing their downtowns. The Ann Arbor DDA was established in the early 1980s, and renewed by city council in 2003 for another 30 years. It is governed by a board that’s appointed by the city council, based on nominations by the mayor, who by statute also serves on the board. The DDA is funded by tax increment financing (TIF) – that is, it “captures” a portion of the property taxes in a specific geographic area that would otherwise be collected by taxing authorities in the district. The tax capture is only on the increment in valuation – the difference between the value of property when the district was established, and the value resulting from improvements made to the property. In Ann Arbor, the DDA also operates the public parking system under contract with the city.

Earlier this year, the city council also directed the DDA to embark on another project – now called Connecting William Street – focused on developing a plan for five city-owned properties along William Street, between Ashley and Division. Four of the parcels are surface parking lots; the fifth is a parking structure at Fourth & William. For more background, see Chronicle coverage: “PAC: Downtown Park, More Input Needed” and “Planning Group Briefed on William St. Project.”

Albert Howard is running for Ann Arbor mayor as an independent.

Albert Howard: The DDA is part of a “shadow government” that the current mayor has established, Howard said. The DDA board is selected by the mayor, he said. It needs to be dissolved, Howard said, adding that he would work with city council to shed light on this shadow government that is taking taxes away from the city. The DDA is getting the benefit of the city, but is a separate entity – and it’s not healthy for the city, he said. Howard said that the original architect of the DDA, Louis Belcher, now says contends the way the DDA is currently operating was never the way he intended for it to be run. Belcher stated this on AnnArbor.com, Howard said. [He was referring to the transcript of a radio interview with Belcher conducted by Lucy Ann Lance, which was written up as a post on AnnArbor.com.]

John Hieftje: Responding to a previous statement by Howard, Hieftje said the FBI statistics are reported by the police department at the end of each year, and it’s a duty that’s taken very seriously. Regarding the DDA, he noted that such authorities exist across the state and were established so that downtowns had a way to renew themselves and make themselves vital – as shopping malls became more prevalent. Ann Arbor has done a tremendous job of keeping its downtown vital, he said. It’s probably the best downtown in the state or maybe the Midwest, Hieftje noted, and the DDA has played a very strong role in that. “There’s nothing shadowy about the DDA,” he said. Downtown development authorities exist in other cities and states. Northfield Township has a DDA, he noted – they are very common. All you have to do is visit downtown Ann Arbor and compare it with other downtowns across the state. That’s one of the great things that people cite about the city as a reason for living here, he said.

Traffic & Population Growth

Is the city’s planning for traffic growth keeping up with plans for the growth in population, with respect to parking, safety and other aspects?

John Hieftje: The population has been stable for quite a long time, he said, although he believes it’s starting to grow a little now. [The 2000 census recorded Ann Arbor's population at 114,024 compared to 113,934 in the 2010 census.] There’s been a lot of growth outside the city, he added. But the city is growing jobs, and the community will continue to do that. So the city needs to make a decision, he said – do we want to continue to grow jobs? If so, then there will be increased traffic congestion, pollution and the need for more parking structures. But the answer to that is more transit, he said. The city needs to expand transit – otherwise, the trade-off is traffic, pollution and congestion. It’s a simple equation and something that’s being looked at very closely, he said, adding that it’s something the whole community is engaged in right now. The question is how to expand transit. Is it bus or rail? Everything the city can do to get commuters out of cars and on foot, on a bike, a bus or train – all of those things will help avoid a future of traffic congestion, he concluded.

Albert Howard: A woman was recently riding a bicycle, he said, and was hit by a vehicle – so she was in intensive care. It was because of a local law that was set up by the current mayor, he contended. This woman was hanging on for life, he said. Now, the city has traffic growth and population growth, but what about the safety of the citizens? Howard asked. Did the current city administration conduct an investigation with the state regarding the city’s crosswalk laws? This is now being considered for revamping, he said. The population is growing, but the safety of the citizens is a priority, he said.

John Hieftje: Later in the forum, during his time allotted for another question, Hieftje responded to Howard’s comments. He noted that the woman – who he described as “tragically hit on her bicycle” – was on a road controlled by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation. That accident had nothing to do with the local crosswalk law, he said. If you’re in an intersection and are hit by a car, particularly on an MDOT-controlled road, that’s always been a traffic problem, he said. People need to be responsible for the people in front of them “and put the brakes on.”

Albert Howard: During his closing statement, Howard responded to Hieftje’s remark by saying MDOT is not responsible for the woman being hit. The mayor set up a unique system of crosswalk paths – that was done by this administration, he said.

Nonpartisan Elections

Should Ann Arbor follow the lead of many other municipalities and abandon partisan tags for mayor and city council, particularly to take top vote-getters in a nonpartisan August primary and into the November general election?

For background on this issue, see “Column: Ann Arbor – A One-Party Town” and “Column: Let’s Put Life into City Elections.”

Albert Howard: The current mayor has been in office for 12 years, and the system needs to change. Hieftje has taken advantage of the system, he said, and the system needs to be revamped. If there’s a mayor who’s been in office for 12 years, then something needs to change. A lot of people he speaks with – including a lot of Democrats – describe Hieftje as a “word mayor,” but not an effective leader, Howard said. The voters are consistently unhappy with the majority of things that the current administration is doing. When the system changes, the mayor will change, he said. The mayor is in the system because the system has not changed, Howard concluded.

John Hieftje: Party labels give voters a really good starting place and a good road map to begin assessing candidates, he said. There are basic values that people are looking at in candidates, and party labels are helpful in that. Ann Arbor happens to be a Democratic town, he said, but for most of its history, it was a very, very Republican town. “Perhaps someday it will switch back that way.” It’s been in this cycle since about 1990, he noted, but in the city’s history, very few of its mayors have been Democrats.

Long-Term Goals

Looking ahead 10-20 years, highlight one or two projects that you’d like to support now to achieve your future vision of Ann Arbor.

Incumbent Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje, a Democrat, is running for re-election.

John Hieftje: With ever-rising fuel prices and rising carbon levels, transit is the thing that the city needs to plan for now, he said. It takes decades sometimes to put proper transit systems in place, and the city needs to work at that.

Not all of the city’s workers or residents will be able to afford a $30,000 hybrid in order to keep up with rising gasoline prices, Hieftje said. It’s vital to look at long-term transit issues. At the same time, the city also needs to protect the environment in other ways, he said. Ann Arbor is known as one of the greenest cities anywhere, and we need to continue to work on that, he said. We need to keep Ann Arbor clean – noting that Ann Arbor has the cleanest urban river in the state. Focus needs to remain on quality-of-life issues, he said, because in today’s economy, that’s what attracts the businesses of the 21st century to the city.  Ann Arbor needs to continue to be the award-winning city that it is by concentrating on the environment, transportation and quality of life – bringing all that together to make it a place where people want to continue to live and visit, he concluded.

Albert Howard: He’d like to see the relationship between the city and the University of Michigan become closer. He’d like to see payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program. He said that the university has $11 billion worth of property. Howard noted that the billionaire Sam Zell, who spoke recently at UM, said the university should consider privatizing so that it would pay taxes that the city rightfully deserves. There should be some closer relationship so that the city will be fruitful and profitable, Howard said.

Open-Ended Question

What question wasn’t asked tonight that you’d like to address?

Albert Howard: The mayor should be accountable for the words that come out of his mouth. Howard would like to see accountability with the statistics that the mayor cites. He’d like to see more transparency – not making the media file Freedom of Information Act requests, not a mayor who’s been in office 12 years without issuing a veto, and not a mayor who only rarely issues press releases. The people want a mayor who is approachable, who goes to town hall meetings and who holds town hall meetings, he said. “This mayor has not had any town hall meetings – he always sends other people.” The people want face-to-face meetings. The mayor is a very intelligent man, Howard said, but he needs to be accountable and approachable.

John Hieftje: Hieftje responded that he’s had open office hours almost every week he’s been in office, except for a few when he’s been out of town. He said he attends meetings for any and every group who’d like him to come. He’s attended several town hall meetings, including some regarding the budget. “I think I’ve been extremely approachable.” If someone can’t come to his office hours, he said he’ll make arrangements to meet at another time to hear their concerns. That’s very vital to city government, he said. The mayor and councilmembers need to be “just what they are – which is your neighbors, the person who’s in the same boat as you are.” He said he learns so much from talking with residents and neighborhood groups. He said he’d be attending another neighborhood meeting the following night. He’s happy to meet with people anywhere in the city, “whether it’s by ones or twos, or tens or twenties.”

Closing Statements

Each candidate had the opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

Albert Howard: He said he wanted to talk about the current mayor and the administration that the mayor is responsible for. It’s important to bring transparency, fiscal responsibility and a focus on immediate priorities – the city’s public safety, the proper amount of police and fire personnel and equipment. The administration should be open and accountable, he said. The mayor has to realize that the picture he’s painting is not a realistic picture. The statistics he talks about aren’t realistic. There was recently a sexual assault downtown near campus, Howard said. The week before that, a woman was raped in her bed. The mayor is not being realistic – the numbers don’t match, and the words don’t connect. He needs to be held accountable.

Regarding the DDA, Howard reiterated an earlier point about Lou Belcher, who was mayor when the DDA was originally established. Belcher has  said the way that the DDA is operated now is not the way it was intended to operate. The current mayor needs a reality check, Howard said – and Hieftje’s words are going to catch up with him. The city is unsafe because the priority of the city is not paramount, he added. This can’t be ignored – and a light needs to be shined on it. Howard urged viewers to visit his campaign website: AlbertHoward.org.

John Hieftje: He began by noting that a recent article in the press had the title “Why does Ann Arbor continue to win so many awards?” Certainly that has a lot to do with the way the city is run, he said, and it has a lot to do with being one of the safer cities in North America. It also has a lot to do with the city’s beautiful park system, a vibrant downtown, and the fact that the city is fixing all of its roads and bridges now, with the most robust road repair program in memory underway. That road repair will continue in the next building season, he said, adding that the East Stadium bridges will be opening next month.

So many things are moving forward as we come out of the greatest recession and economic downturn since the 1930s, Hieftje said, and he’s very excited. When you talk about why Ann Arbor wins awards, you also have to look at the people. There are so many people engaged, he said. People at the Rotary Club who plant 1,000 trees each year. People in nonprofits who work hard to make sure the community is providing services to those who need them the most.

Ann Arbor is one of only two communities in Michigan that continues to contribute general fund dollars to pay for human services, and that will continue, he said. The city’s human services funding has not gone down during the Great Recession, he said. The city is moving forward in many different areas. In the last few months, the city has hired 13 new police officers. Hieftje described them as young officers who are eager to work in this city and who are excited about what they can do.

Hieftje noted that Howard had mentioned a couple of recent crimes. For one, a suspect has been arrested, Hieftje said – it had been reported in the printed press on Sunday. For the other sexual assault, some believe that it might not have occurred. [The UM Dept. of Public Safety later issued an update stating that the incident did not occur.] In general, sexual assault is down this year and it was down the year before, he said. We have a very safe city and Ann Arbor continues to be one of the very best cities to live in North America, Hieftje concluded.

The Chronicle would not survive without regular voluntary subscriptions to support our coverage of local government – we hope you elect to subscribe. Click this link for details: Subscribe to The Chronicle. And if you’re already supporting us, please encourage your friends, neighbors and colleagues to help support The Chronicle, too!

Howard might still appear on the Nov. 6 ballot – but not as a Republican. On Friday, May 18, Howard pulled petitions to run for Ann Arbor mayor with no party affiliation.

Candidates who are not affiliated with a political party (independents) have until July 19, 2012 at 4 p.m. to file petitions to appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

For a line-up of candidates in the Aug. 7, 2012 partisan primaries, see Chronicle coverage: “Ann Arbor City Races Set.”

Simone Lightfoot draws a number out of the hat, held by League of Women Voters member Judy Mich, to determine speaking order. From left to right (front to back): Albert Howard, Ahmar Iqbal, Patrick Leonard, Simone Lightfoot, Larry Murphy, Andy Thomas. (Photos by the writer.)

Candidates were asked about bullying, their candidacies, technology, transportation, and partnerships between AAPS and other entities. The forum was sponsored by the local League of Women Voters, and broadcast live from the studio at Community Television Network (CTN).

The video can be re-played online through CTN’s video-on-demand service.

League member Susan Greenberg opened the forum, introducing the six school board candidates – Albert Howard, Ahmar Iqbal, Patrick Leonard, Larry Murphy, and incumbents Simone Lightfoot, and Andy Thomas.

Election Day is Nov. 8. Voters will be asked to choose up to two candidates to serve four-year terms on the seven-member board. Board members not standing for election this time around are: Deb Mexicotte, Glenn Nelson, Irene Patalan, Christine Stead and Susan Baskett.

Greenberg explained that the League of Women Voters is open to all citizens over the age of 18, male and female, and referred the public to the League website for membership information. She added that one purpose of the League is to assist voters in making informed choices at the polls, and as such, it holds forums such as this one.

Finally, Greenberg noted that the questions for Monday’s forum were selected by a committee of League members from suggestions sent in by the community, and introduced forum moderator Judy Mich.

Mich welcomed “viewers, voters, and candidates” and provided some information on how the forum would be conducted. She explained that  the League’s policy is to alternate the person who first responds to a new question, and then allow each of the other candidates to respond to the same question. For the opening and closing statements, candidates drew numbers to determine their speaking order.

Candidate responses are presented in the order in which they were given. For previous Chronicle coverage of the candidates, including more about their backgrounds, see: “Forum for Six AAPS Candidates“

Opening Statements

Moderator Judy Mich invited each candidate to give a one-minute opening statement, in an order chosen at random out of a hat before the meeting.

Opening: Albert Howard

Howard said he was speaking from the heart, and that he hopes to see parents, teachers and students united in their goals. He noted that the restaurant chain McDonald’s trains people as teens to be able to understand how to work there, and that AAPS should be able to train its students effectively. Howard summarized his campaign as advocating for “transparency, safety, and spirituality.”

Opening: Larry Murphy

Murphy noted that he and his wife moved from their cottage on Whitmore Lake to Ann Arbor for the schools, and that he believes the schools are at critical crossroads. Noting that AAPS has made cuts in the number of teachers, raised class sizes, and increased the number of split classes (classes that contain students of two grade levels), Murphy argued that the district has significant problems. He asserted that he is the candidate who is offering specific solutions, and pointed voters to his website to review his “fresh ideas that can be implemented.”

Opening: Patrick Leonard

Leonard thanked the LWV and CTN for hosting this forum, and introduced himself as a product of AAPS and the University of Michigan. He said he has two family members who currently work in the district, and that he has worked for AAPS Rec & Ed for three years. Leonard credited his volunteer work with district elementary schools as inspiring him to run for the school board, saying that he was surprised at how unprepared some students were for grade-level work. His focus, he said, would be the achievement gap, along with increasing transparency and improving communication.

Opening: Andy Thomas

Thomas began by saying that it’s been a “pleasure and a privilege to serve on the board,” and that he is running for re-election because the schools face dangerous and difficult times ahead. He said that he has fought to preserve programs that make AAPS extraordinary, and listed his priorities as: creating an environment where all students can learn and experience excellent teaching; providing multiple paths to success for different students; demonstrating financial stewardship; and ensuring the district has a robust curriculum to prepare children for a rapidly changing world.

Opening: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot began by noting that on Nov. 8, voters will have the opportunity to select two trustees and said that she wants to be their “number one.” She pointed out that she is also a product of the AAPS, and a parent in the district, and that she understands the community – both the appeal and the challenges. She urged voters to consider the values and experience of each candidate, as well as “what has influenced [their] experiences.” Saying that she is an “independent voice” on the current school board, Lightfoot noted that she had voted no on the superintendent salary increase, as well as on the 2011-12 budget. She closed by saying that, despite differences of opinion on some issues, she does greatly enjoy working with her fellow trustees and that she would like to continue to do so.

Opening: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal noted that he is also a product of Michigan public schools all the way through college at the UM, and that he currently lives in northeast Ann Arbor with his wife and two children. He said he wants to see better schools, and that kids should be given the best opportunities possible. Iqbal asserted that his financial experience separates him from his colleagues and gives him a unique perspective. He pointed out that the district’s budget of approximately $185 million is more than some municipalities and universities.

Bullying

Question: The state of Michigan has yet to enact an anti-bullying law. Tell us some of what the district has in place to prevent bullying and how these policies can be improved or more effectively enforced.

Bullying: Albert Howard

Howard gave an example of action the Huron High School principal had taken in response to Howard’s complaint that he witnessed coaches swearing at players at a Huron football game. The principal had assured Howard that there are rules in place that do not tolerate such behavior, and Howard was grateful for his response. Howard urged the public to continue to “put pressure on people who can make a difference.”

Bullying: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal said that bullying is a “sensitive subject these days,” noting the diversity of Ann Arbor. He asserted that administration needs to be assertive and firm and to have a policy in place that discourages any form of harassment, including name-calling and cyberbullying. Iqbal added that all rules regarding bullying need to be open and fair, and that all students should have the opportunity to gain the most from their classrooms.

Bullying: Patrick Leonard

Leonard said this was a subject he was passionate about, and that he had witnessed bullying in the schools firsthand five years ago as a student at Pioneer. He would like to develop a plan with stricter sanctions for bullies, and more educational resources for teachers to help them address bullying. He agreed that bullying in athletics is a “major issue,” and said he would like to look at ways to educate coaches and athletes. Noting that the cultural diversity of AAPS makes it one of the best districts, Leonard urged the district to work toward implementing anti-bullying policies.

Bullying: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot said that she had experienced bullying firsthand as a parent dealing with a situation with her daughter, and that it’s important to carefully define bullying. She noted that the board has policies on bullying, and has been open to revisiting those policies to “reflect current times.” She suggested that the district should weigh in on laws and regulations being crafted at the state level, and enlist students in finding solutions. Lightfoot also agreed that sanctions and trainings are important tools to address bullying.

Bullying: Larry Murphy

Murphy asserted that bullying is underrated by the population as a whole. He explained that he asks his own children every month or so, “Are you treating your fellow classmates with respect?” just to be sure they are not the cause of bullying. Saying he would support bullying laws being put on the books, Murphy acknowledged that implementing them could be difficult.

Bullying: Andy Thomas

Thomas said he would like to share two success stories and one challenge. First, he noted that many elementary schools hold diversity celebrations as part of ongoing bullying prevention, and argued that the awareness these celebrations bring carries over into older ages. Secondly, he mentioned that last year, he had the privilege of attending Huron’s challenge day, which he described as “a marvelous opportunity for students to come to grips with issues that had been dividing them.” As a challenge the district faces in this area, Thomas pointed out that a climate survey was conducted in the district a few years ago, but the data have not been used to do anything beyond make a report to the board.

Candidacy

Question: Most voters in the school district do not have children in the schools. How can you effectively represent them as well as the causes and constituencies that have made you seek election? What skills and strengths do you bring to the position?

Candidacy: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal said this was a good  and engaging question. Everyone in the community has a stake in its schools, he began, asserting that, “Education is a pillar and strong asset of a community.” As evidence of his skills and strengths, Iqbal noted that he has a background in environmental education consulting and finance, and is connected to many community organizations, such as Ann Arbor SPARK, the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Regional Chamber and other groups, which the district should engage to leverage their skills. As an example, Iqbal pointed out how AAPS can take classes in Hebrew through the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor.

Candidacy: Patrick Leonard

Leonard said he has always had a collective vision, and realizes the importance of education even to those who do not have kids. He is the only one of the six candidates who is not an AAPS parent. He noted that board trustees are public servants, who serve everyone in Ann Arbor. Leonard argued that he has ties the community, and is actively involved in working with and engaging constituents.

Candidacy: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot noted that even people without students in AAPS are affected by the decisions the board makes, and pointed out that property values are key to the district’s funding. Community members, she said, have the opportunity to “weigh in with their expertise.” Lightfoot argued that her background in public policy helps her be an effective trustee, and noted that she also has military experience, which taught her to understand strategy, tactics, and goal-setting. Finally, she said that she has also had experience working in social justice – some things, she said, “impact all of us, whether we have children or not.”

Candidacy: Larry Murphy

In door-to-door canvassing, Murphy said, he has met a lot of people who say that their kids have already graduated. “And to them I say – you’re a taxpayer.” It’s not enough just to balance the books, Murphy argued. In his business, he said, he is very careful about only spending money where it is “value-added.”

Candidacy: Andy Thomas

Thomas argued that education of critical to the quality of life for people of all ages. He noted that his engagements with the community have included people of a wide variety of ages, incomes, and life experiences. Thomas said he has worked with Washtenaw Literacy, helped serve food through the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and formed the Karen Thomas Memorial Fund, a reading support program for elementary schools that engages community volunteers to work with students. This engagement with the community, and with people of all ages, Thomas argued, is necessary for the school board.

Candidacy: Albert Howard

Howard repeated his message of “transparency, safety, and spirituality.” He said he liked Iqbal’s mention of the Jewish connection, and noted that he speaks “the blessing” to his children almost every morning. Howard noted that Ann Arbor-Detroit is almost like one city, and the it’s the number one city in the nation for fatherless children. “We must instill into these children their purpose.” Howard said, “Once a child has the love of their family, nothing can stop them.”

Technology

Question: What is your evaluation of the technology level of the AAPS – plusses and shortcomings? There has been talk of a special technology millage to be put before the voters next year. As a board member, would you favor such a millage request and campaign for its passage?

Technology: Patrick Leonard

Leonard supports the tech bond. He said that everything in technology is changing, and that because of this, technology will be needed that cannot be predicted. Technology, Leonard argued, is becoming a vital component of the education system, and that in order for children to receive a stellar education, the district needs to be able to incorporate it. Other schools already have this, he said, and AAPS needs it for its students to remain competitive.

Technology: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot supports the tech bond. She noted the challenges, as a trustee, of being clear on the infrastructure needs of the district, as times move quicker than technology can be refreshed. At the same time, she said, board members still hear voters say they are tired of paying bonds and millages. She noted that she had benefited from great technology when she went through AAPS as a student herself, and asserted that now also “as a trustee, I know we need these things.” Still, she said, while supporting the bond, she “will also support the things the community contends we need.”

Technology: Larry Murphy

Murphy does not support the tech bond. If there were a bond to hire more teachers, Murphy said, he would support that. He questioned whether some of the improvements outlined in the technology plan are necessary, such as a four-year replacement cycle for computers, and “wiring all classrooms for audio.” He said he cannot support the bond as it’s currently been explained.

[Ed. note: Individual Michigan school districts are prohibited from soliciting dedicated funding for operational expenditures, such as teacher salaries, but are allowed to request voter funding of capital improvements, including technology improvements. Before the passage of Proposal A in 1994, individual districts were allowed to solicit funding directly for the general fund; now, any new general fund millages can only take place at the county level. AAPS is one of ten individual districts that make up the Washtenaw Intermediate School District.]

Technology: Andy Thomas

Thomas supports the tech bond. He noted that Murphy raised a reasonable question when he asked why the district is planning for laptops and other computers to have an expected life of only four years, but noted that “if you have been in a classroom and seen the way they’re used – they get a lot of wear and tear.” Thomas also pointed out that AAPS has “issues with extending the warranty,” and argued that four years is a good lifespan. Computers, he argued, offer an opportunity to better leverage the teachers the district already has by offering online classes.

Technology: Albert Howard

Howard supports the tech bond, “as long as this technology supports the child’s language.” He argued that technology can’t be something that intimidates children, but should “bring them peace.” He said he’s all for giving a teen a tangible assignment on a laptop, but that he does not want the district to get caught up in the competitiveness of technology.

Technology: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal does not support the tech bond, except as a last resort. He began by saying, “We all support technology,” and then listed three issues he sees with the tech bond as it’s currently laid out. First, Iqbal questioned how any technology, or any expenditure, impacts children’s ability to learn, and said the district needed to look into this more. He pointed out that the current technology plan is significantly shorter (in number of pages) than the previous technology plan, even though it earmarks a larger amount of money.

Secondly, Iqbal argued, “The issue of the tech bond is a larger, managing issue.” He likened the tech bond to a way of capitalizing operating expenses like books and paving parking lots that the district would otherwise pay for out of its general fund, and said that the tech bond would capitalize expenses until 2025 for “things that may not last that long.” Thirdly, Iqbal argued that there is a “tipping point on how much the community wants to pay.”

[Ed. Note: The tech bond, if approved by voters, would issue bonds in three series, beginning in 2012, 2015, and 2019. In each case, the expected life of the technology products to be purchased would be longer than the length of time it will take to pay off that series of bonds, which is also a legal requirement. See The Chronicle's coverage of the technology bond being considered for more details: "AAPS To Float February Tech Millage" ]

Transportation

Question: Changes in school bus service, particularly routes and placement of stops, has been a big issue this fall. Are you supportive of these budget-cutting decisions? Will it really create a net savings of $1 million? Can you suggest other resolution?

Transportation: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot said that AAPS does not know yet whether outsourcing transportation to the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) has saved the district money, but that the board will hear from WISD soon. Unfortunately, she said, the district has “had to move ahead and add more responsibility onto the WISD” in the meantime. Lightfoot argued that the district needs to enlist “the experts,” who she defined as parents and students, who know the neighborhoods the best. She said AAPS needs to make changes in transportation, but to do so will need to do a much better job of listening to parents.

Transportation: Larry Murphy

Murphy said he agreed with Lightfoot that transportation needs to be reworked, and that the district has to do a better job than before. He suggested using neighborhood busing, where one bus picks up all students, K-12, from the same neighborhood. Arguing that neighborhood busing is a “promising idea” that would “save a ton of money on fuel,” Murphy acknowledged that the downside is having twelfth graders and kindergartners on the same bus. Still, he said, that issue could be mitigated by using assigned seating, and would still be better than students walking in dark, icy conditions. Murphy said he has a meeting scheduled with the Dexter administrator responsible for organizing neighborhood busing in that community.

Transportation: Andy Thomas

Thomas said that on a policy level, the board did what it needed to do. He pointed out that the business of the district is to educate, not to provide transportation, and that busing is not mentioned anywhere in the strategic plan. With that said, Thomas acknowledged that the implementation of the new busing system had been difficult, and that the district had a lot of problems with the WISD, including not answering the phones and not accurately measuring distances. He said the AAPS administration is working with the WISD to address the issues.

Transportation: Albert Howard

Howard said that Thomas’ response to this question bothered him, and that the safety of children comes before the budget. “Without the children,” Howard argued, “there would be no buses.” Saying this is a sensitivity issue, Howard said the district needs to step outside the box and do what might be unusual. He argued that the outsourcing of transportation has meant that there are children who are now not going to school.

Transportation: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal argued that safety is the number one priority, and that AAPS does not need parents with anxiety about their children crossing busy roads or walking without sidewalks. He questioned how this problem came about, and said that parents demand accountability. “How did we cut this out of our budget?” he asked. He argued that AAPS total budget increased by $2 million from last year to this year, from $183 million to $185 million and that even with this increase, transportation was still cut.

[Ed. Note: In a phone call with The Chronicle, AAPS deputy superintendent of operations Robert Allen confirmed that the total 2010-11 AAPS budget was $185.3 million and the total 2011-12 AAPS budget was $183.62 million, a decrease of $1.68 million.]

Transportation: Patrick Leonard

Leonard said that there was poor decision making on the board’s part, and a lack of community engagement regarding busing. He asserted that parents at Arrowwood Hills, Foxfire, and Carrot Way wanted answers, “and we were not there.” Leonard pointed out that Dexter is a much smaller school district and argued that a one-tier system of busing all students together (as suggested by Murphy) would be difficult to implement in AAPS. Instead, Leonard advocated for bringing back neighborhood stops as the district has offered in the past. “We need to expand” he said, “and not function myopically.”

Partnerships

Question: Alliances are encouraged between the system and/or individual schools with other non-profits as well as with for-profit corporations. With what AAPS partnerships are you familiar and what do they bring to our students, teachers, and schools?

Partnerships: Larry Murphy

Murphy said he is familiar with the Mitchell-Scarlett partnership with UM. He asserted that another partnership opportunity is with parents, and pointed out that he just added a parental involvement section to his website. “We need to find a way to encourage more parental involvement to pick up the slack,” he said, and to encourage the AAPS administration to accept help from parents.

Partnerships: Andy Thomas

Without a doubt, Thomas said, the greatest resource we have in the Ann Arbor community is UM, and that until a couple of years ago, AAPS was not using that resource effectively. Now, he said, AAPS has Spanish language program at all the elementary schools, and the partnership at Mitchell and Scarlett to address the achievement gap. He also said that the district is looking to Google in terms of possible tech partnerships. Finally, Thomas argued that the district must not overlook the partnership it has with the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, saying, “We need to encourage people to make up some losses.”

Partnerships: Albert Howard

Howard repeated, “Transparency, safety, spirituality,” and stated, “The body of Christ is the answer to a lot of the problems the school is facing.” He pledged his support to help those who need it, saying his congregation would do anything it could do to help. Using the example of how the United Arab Emirates donated money to the public schools in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado devastated the high school, Howard said that AAPS should not be afraid to reach out to the “big three” [automakers], or to UM.

Partnerships: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal asserted that collaboration is an important way forward. He suggested that AAPS should explore partnering with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority to solve its transportation problems. He also suggested that language-teaching partnerships should be expanded to other local organizations, similar to the partnership with the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor, which allows students to study Hebrew for high school credit. Iqbal asked how the district can better partner with UM. He suggested that AAPS leverage UM’s input to bring down the cost of creating wireless networks across the district. Lastly, he noted that the Rotary Club, of which he is a member, has worked with Ann Arbor Tech (formerly Stone school).

Partnerships: Patrick Leonard

Leonard noted that partnerships can be used to generate revenue. But he also said partnerships can bring curriculum to the district, such as the Spanish language program in place at the district elementary schools, and the teaching and learning collaboration at Mitchell and Scarlett. Teachers, Leonard said, believe that the collaboration with UM will improve MEAP scores. He suggested that AAPS can create more discourse between districts, and even create interactions nationally. The main question to ask, he argued, is: “How can we embrace collaborating to improve student learning?”

Partnerships: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot noted AAPS partnerships with the UM depression center, the Neutral Zone, and the health community in Ann Arbor. She argued that AAPS is “rich with opportunities,” and has more than one institution nearby. Lightfoot argued that AAPS needs to do a better job at leveraging its brand and its expertise. Saying the district has some outstanding teachers who have done some outstanding things, Lightfoot said she would like to increase peer-to-peer teaching and alliances regarding achievement. “We have a lot to do about achievement,” she asserted.

Closing Statements

Each candidate was invited to give a one-minute closing statement, in an order chosen at random out of a hat before the meeting.

Closing Statement: Patrick Leonard

Leonard thanked the League, and then said he wanted to close by talking about the achievement gap – “That’s why I’m running,” he said.

He noted that the overall graduation rate of AAPS students is 90%. But disaggregate groups such as African-Americans, Latinos, and economically disadvantaged students have much lower graduation rates. “We are only as good as our collective body of students,” Leonard said, “not a select group.”

He encouraged voters to visit his website, and attend his open chats at Amer’s on Church street every Monday from 4-5 p.m.

Closing Statement: Larry Murphy

Murphy noted that his motto is “More teachers, less overhead.” Nothing is more fundamental, he said, than to create reasonably-sized classes where teachers can teach. Describing his candidacy as “pushback for [enacting] the teacher cuts,” Murphy said the district is digging itself into a hole, “one shovelful at a time.”

“My campaign,” he said, “is not just about the children – it’s about the children and the teachers.” He asked everyone for their votes, and closed by saying he is a logical choice because what the district needs and what he has are one in the same.

Closing Statement: Ahmar Iqbal

Iqbal said that what is at stake in this election is the AAPS brand, which has worldwide recognition. The number one challenge, he asserted, is to manage the budget, which he noted, is larger than some municipalities or universities.

He closed with a series of questions – How do we address issues of equity, if teachers are willing to stay after school, but there is no bus to take kids home? How do we have a longer school year? How can we have foreign language from day one? How can we hire more teachers?

“Everything should be on the table,” he said, asserting that if the district can find local sponsors for computers, sports, etc., it needs to “think outside the box.”

Closing Statement: Andy Thomas

Thomas thanked the LWV, and said he wanted to close by sharing some personal information about himself.

He said he’s lived in Ann Arbor for nearly 40 years, has a son in the AAPS, and is a retired health care administrator. Thomas added that he is also a widower, and has started a fund in his wife’s name to increase literacy, the Karen Thomas Memorial Fund. Thomas noted that he has a long history of working in the community, and that with him, “What you see is what you get.”

He asserted that he is an independent thinker who will listen to multiple points of view, and who believes in data-driven decision-making. As a parent and community member, Thomas said, he does hold certain fundamental values – that children deserve the best education the community can provide, that all children achieve up to their potential, and that students are prepared for a challenging and uncertain future.

As a sitting board member, he said, he is proud of his record and is running on it. He pointed out that he voted against the superintendent salary increase, but strongly supported Patricia Green as the new superintendent; voted in favor of three collective bargaining agreements that saved the district a total of $5 million; supported the special education millage; successfully argued against principal-sharing in the elementary schools; and opposed the elimination of high school busing.

Closing Statement: Albert Howard

Howard again began with, “Transparency, safety, and spirituality.” Saying he wanted to speak to the households, he asserted that they have a purpose, but must realize that God is their only source. He then told students they needed to find their place and ask their parents for help finding their purpose.

He blessed their households, and said he cares for them. “I want you to be my son, my daughter,” he said. “If Jesus is not in your life, I ask you to let him into your life.” He noted that he “came up in this district” and attended Perry Elementary, Clague Middle School, and Huron High School. Saying he was speaking as a father, wanting students to succeed, Howard offered, “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.”

He then thanked everyone, and wished them a nice evening.

Closing Statements: Simone Lightfoot

Lightfoot noted that she supported extending school hours, holding year-round school, and changing start times. Since being appointed in 2009, and elected in 2010, she said, she has tried to be a voice of reason on the board.

She noted that she is committed to having uncomfortable conversations as necessary, and recognizes that the district does not have the luxury of having one issue. “We have a myriad of issues,” she said, and the board “needs someone who can handle multiple people vying for multiple issues.”

Lightfoot pointed out that she has extracted a commitment from the district to create an achievement gap elimination plan, and been instrumental in having automatic algebra enrollment for 8th graders. She said the district needs leadership who can handle the planned and the unexpected; needs bonds and millages while also needing to look beyond those funding sources; needs to be transparent; and needs to bring the community together.

Coda

Moderator Judy Mich noted that there were some topics that the League had run out of time to include, including: the candidates’ relationships with the new superintendent; the new International Baccalaureate program being run by the WISD; how the district is addressing the achievement gap; and schools of choice. “Perhaps if we leave these topics to you, you will take care of them,” she said.

Greenberg thanked the candidates for participating, and CTN for making the debate possible. She noted that the debate would be re-broadcast on Channel 19, and that viewers could contact CTN for the schedule. She closed by encouraging all Ann Arbor citizens to vote, and reminding everyone that all voters are not required to have valid photo identification at the polls.

Next candidate forum: The AAPS PTO Council has invited the six candidates to each make a brief statement at its Launch Party on Mon. Oct. 10 at Slauson Middle School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Candidate Photos

Albert Howard

Ahmar Iqbal

Patrick Leonard

Simone Lightfoot

Larry Murphy

Andy Thomas

The Chronicle could not survive without regular voluntary subscriptions to support our coverage of public bodies like the Ann Arbor Public School Board. Click this link for details: Subscribe to The Chronicle. And if you’re already supporting us, please encourage your friends, neighbors and colleagues to help support The Chronicle, too!

Two seats on the Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education are up for election on the Nov. 8, 2011 ballot, each for four-year terms. The seats are currently held by Simone Lightfoot and Andy Thomas, who are both seeking re-election. Challenging the incumbents are: Albert Howard, Ahmar Iqbal, Patrick Leonard, and Larry Murphy.

All candidates are either alums of AAPS or have children currently enrolled in the system. Advanced degrees are held by Iqbal (MPP from Harvard University), Murphy (MBA from the University of Michigan) and Thomas (MBA from the University of Michigan.)

The six have a range of occupational backgrounds. Howard is senior pastor at Ann Arbor Different Church. Iqbal is CEO at Maize & Green Capital Partners, an energy financing consultancy. Leonard is a marketing research analyst with Joyce Julius and Associates. Lightfoot is a regional urban initiatives consultant with the National Wildlife Federation, and is climate change and sustainability manager for the NAACP. Murphy is the owner of Precision Controls Co., an automotive supplier. Thomas is a retired health care administrator.

Incumbents Thomas and Lightfoot can count their current positions on the AAPS board as public office experience. In the 1990s, Lightfoot also ran unsuccessfully for Ann Arbor city council and for Washtenaw County clerk. Howard was a Republican candidate for president of the United States in 2008 and is running again in 2012. Iqbal ran unsuccessfully for ethnic vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party in 2011; he serves as fundraising chair of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote and as a board member of Pakastani Association of America. Murphy served on the board of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority in the 1990s and currently serves on the Scio Township zoning board of appeals. [.pdf of 2012 AAPS board candidate profile information]

In a phone call with The Chronicle, LWV president Nancy Schewe described the format of the forum. Each candidate will be invited to make a short opening statement. Then, LWV members will ask roughly five or six questions created by a LWV committee, giving each candidate a chance to answer each question in a rotating order, with no rebuttals. Candidates will then be allowed to make brief closing statements.

Schewe added that though the LWV forum does not currently allow the public to suggest questions or interact with the candidates at this time, the LWV is “thinking about developing a way to include audience participation in the future.”