From left: Democrats Andy LaBarre, Yousef Rabhi, and Conan Smith await the start of the Oct. 10 League of Women Voters candidate forum. The Republican candidates for Districts 7, 8 and 9 in the Washtenaw County board of commissioner races did not attend the event. (Photos by the writer.)

Due to redistricting that takes effect this election cycle, the county board will shrink from 11 districts to 9. Ann Arbor is currently represented by four commissioners, but will have three main districts – 7, 8 and 9 – in the newly constituted board starting in January 2013. [.pdf file of 9-district county map] District 2 will also include a small portion of Ann Arbor, but the incumbent in that district, Republican Dan Smith, is unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election.

In District 7, Andy LaBarre won the Democratic primary and will face Republican David Parker in November. The incumbent, Barbara Bergman, is not seeking re-election.

The incumbent in District 8, Democrat Yousef Rabhi, is running against Republican Joe Baublis and seeking his second term in office. And in District 9, Conan Smith – a Democrat who was first elected in 2004 and has served as board chair over the past two years – faces Republican John Floyd.

In various ways, the Ann Arbor Democrats running for the county board expressed their views that government can be a positive force in people’s lives. LaBarre stressed support for human services, parkland and public transit, while Rabhi emphasized the importance of building a resilient, sustainable community. Smith cited the role of the county board as a convener of community leaders, bringing together people throughout the county to tackle problems like the “human and economic calamity” in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township. Smith also noted that he expects the new board for the first time will have a majority of commissioners under 50 years old, and will be a “majority minority” board – with more racial diversity than in the past.

All terms for county commissioner are for two years, beginning in January of 2013. Several other district races are contested for the county board, but the League of Women Voters forum included only the Ann Arbor districts. That’s a function of the venue. The forum was held at the studios of Community Television Network in Ann Arbor, and is available online via CTN’s video-on-demand service. 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 one minute to make an opening statement.

Andy LaBarre: He began by thanking the league and noting that the district he’s running to represent (District 7) includes portions of eastern and northern Ann Arbor. He cited three main reasons for running. The first is to try to improve on the county’s human services system. The second reason is to build on the county’s work in preserving its green spaces, and to ensure that people have access to vital parkland throughout the county. The last reason is to ensure that the county has a budget that continues to reflect the values of residents in Washtenaw County. He’s a native of the county and grew up here. He hopes to give back to the community.

The three main Ann Arbor districts in the new district map of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, which was adopted by the county apportionment commission last year. This is the first election cycle for the redistricted county board, which will drop from 11 to 9 districts.

Yousef Rabhi: He also thanked the league and viewers, saying it’s important to be informed about how local government works. A lot of important decisions  are made at the local level. He was born in Ypsilanti and grew up in Ann Arbor, and has lived here his whole life. He’s seen the community’s many strengths, and in this tough economic time, he saw the community come together to make some tough decisions. The county went through a strenuous budget process, he said, and the board ended up balancing a budget that had originally projected a $17 million shortfall for this year. The unions came together, the different departments came together, the entire community came together to make that happen, he said. He’s proud of the accomplishments they’ve made, and he hopes the voters of District 8 will return him for a second term.

Conan Smith: Smith echoed the comments of thanks to the league. He described the county level as a somewhat invisible layer of government, noting that it’s important to understand what values drive the decisions that are made at the county board of commissioners. He’s also a lifelong resident of Washtenaw County, and said he hopes to die here – he lives in his grandparents’ house. He said he’s been honored to serve as chair of the board for the last two years, and to have chaired the budget committee for two years before that, as the county first began its serious struggle with the declining economy. Throughout that process, he said he helped the county maintain a keen focus on human services, protecting our environment and rebuilding prosperity through economic development programs. “We’ve got a long way to go yet,” he added, and he hoped they would be able to talk about some of those issues later in the forum.

Experience

Why have you chosen to run for county commissioner? What education and experiences make you well-qualified for this position?

Andy LaBarre, candidate for the Washtenaw County board of commissioners in District 7, representing parts of northern and eastern Ann Arbor.

Andy LaBarre: He said he liked to think his undergraduate degree, with a major in political science, and his master’s degree in public administration help qualify him from an educational standpoint. For six years he worked for Congressman John Dingell, including two years as his district administrator running the Michigan offices. Now he’s the vice president for government relations at the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce. He again cited his three reasons for running: Strengthening human services, protecting the environment and parkland, and ensuring that the community’s values are promoted in the county budget. He felt that Conan Smith had said it well when Smith had described county government as often invisible – but it’s very important. The county does a great job, LaBarre said, and he thinks they can do an even better job in the future.

Yousef Rabhi: Having grown up in Washtenaw County, Rabhi feels he knows this region and the people here. He has a passion to serve locally. When he contested his first primary in 2010, he won by one vote. It shows the passion with which people participate in democracy, he said, and he’s proud to represent this city and county, because they can do so much great work. He’s running because he believes in sustainability. That doesn’t just mean the environment, he added. It also means building a resilient economy in the county – it means economic development. It also involves civil liberties and equality. Those are the values of this community, he said, and the values that he promotes on the county board. He’s had a wonderful first term, and he hopes to come back.

Conan Smith: Saying he loved Rabhi’s story about winning by one vote, Smith noted that his own grandfather – Al Wheeler – won the Ann Arbor mayor’s race in the 1970s by a single vote. [Wheeler was the city's first, and only, black mayor, and was elected in 1975. But it was his re-election in 1977 that resulted in the single-vote victory over Republican Lou Belcher. The election was challenged in court and ultimately led to a special election in 1978 that Wheeler lost to Belcher.] As a young boy at the time, Smith said, that was the beginning of his training in public service.

Smith noted that his family has been in elected office in Washtenaw County for generations. His mother, Alma Wheeler Smith, served as a state senator and state representative, and his wife, Rebekah Warren, is a current state senator representing Ann Arbor. He has served on the county board for six years. As far as education, he has a humanities background, majoring in creative writing at the University of Michigan. He’s now doing master’s degree work at Wayne State University in conflict resolution. The county board is a place with the potential to bring together a variety of diverse perspectives to tackle complex problems, Smith said, whether that’s homelessness, economic decline, or other issues. He believes his skill set around negotiation and building consensus can serve the whole of Washtenaw County.

Duties of the Job

Explain the responsibilities of the job and describe the perfect county commissioner.

Washtenaw County commissioners, from left: Democrat Yousef Rabhi and Republican Dan Smith. Smith, who represents District 2, is unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election and was simply attending the Oct. 10 candidate forum as an observer.

Yousef Rabhi: The main role is to balance the county budget, he said – that’s the first and foremost responsibility. Beyond that, commissioners must ensure that the county provides services that are mandated by the state. But in Washtenaw County, commissioners have taken on a slightly different role, he said. There’s what they have to do, but also what they can do – because the values of this community are such that they want to provide extra human services, and to be at the forefront of sustainability. So the core function of county government is to balance the budget, he said, but it can be done in a responsible way, and in line with community values.

Conan Smith: There are two things that make a perfect county commissioner, he said. The first is the capacity to bring your values to the table. And as Rabhi had indicated, Smith said, commissioners really need to understand the people they represent and the community at large. The second attribute is the capacity to come with an open mind. That includes listening carefully to the professionals on staff, to the community members who are experiencing challenges that the board is trying to resolve, and to the colleagues who bring different perspectives from a whole array of experiences – so you can work collectively to find the best solutions to those problems. It’s been his long belief that the board is stronger and smarter when they work together, and that no single commissioner has the answer. When they work as a team and learn from each other, Smith said, “we can do amazing things.”

Andy LaBarre: He said that Smith and Rabhi had given great answers. Not having served on the board before, he said he could imagine that the perfect county commissioner would be someone who does the things that have been highlighted in terms of the duties of the job and bringing an open mind to it. He would add that the best thing a commissioner can do is to remember that they represent their district at the county – they don’t represent the county to the district. They serve as a conduit of information to the county and to constituents, not one way or the other all the time.

Customer Service

The role of the government is to provide customer service. What services does the county provide, and how can its service be improved?

Conan Smith: The county is a vast system and provides services across an incredible array of areas, he said. For example, the county is the arbiter of building inspections and health code, and provides services like the jail and corrections through the sheriff’s office. There’s a long list of services that the county provides, he said. But he described the county’s main role as facilitating and convening. The service that county commissioners provide is bringing together local government officials, business and civic leaders into a place where people can decipher problems and resolve them collectively.

Andy LaBarre: All units of government can always do a better job with customer service in terms of listening to citizens and constituents, he said. If you were to judge Washtenaw County against any other county in the state, you’d find that Washtenaw does a remarkable job. So we can build on those existing strengths, he said, and realize that the county government has a “pretty terrific” workforce that excels at what they do and are true professionals. Commissioners can talk to the staff about ways they think that they can provide even better customer assistance.

Yousef Rabhi: He said that LaBarre is right – the basis of good customer service is having staff on the ground who know what they’re doing, who are dedicated and passionate. People don’t work for the county because of the big paychecks, he said. They do it because they’re dedicated to public service. The people working for the county are phenomenal, he said. The county provides excellent service, but there’s always room for improvement. But it’s the staff on the ground who know the best ways to provide even better customer service, he said. “We have dedicated folks working for the county, and I trust them.”

Collaboration

If elected, how would you work with other units of government to reduce redundancies and costs?

Andy LaBarre: He suggested approaching every conversation as a possibility to do that, and keep an open mind about the needs of specific units of government. He’d try to put himself in other people’s place, to the degree that he can, and understand their concerns. You’d keep that issue at the forefront of every conversation. Openness and a willingness to listen will also help, he said.

Incumbent Conan Smith, candidate for the Washtenaw County board of commissioners in District 9, representing western Ann Arbor and parts of the city’s north and south sides.

Yousef Rabhi: There’s a lot that the county has already done, he noted. When he first ran for county commissioner, foreseeing that there would be a large budget gap, he was amazed to see what was already being done. During his first term, it’s been amazing to see the work that the county has done to address this issue. One example is the sheriff’s office consolidating the county’s dispatch operations with the city of Ann Arbor. That saved Ann Arbor taxpayers a half million dollars just in the first year, Rabhi said. So they’re working on making government more efficient, consolidating services that will better serve the residents of Washtenaw County.

Conan Smith: Looking at redundancies and costs might be the wrong approach, he began. We ought to be looking at the outcomes that we’re seeking as a community. For example, in land use planning there is a high level of redundancy across all local units of government. The reason is that it’s a very community-centric set of decisions that need to be made, he noted, so that’s OK. Because there is that duplication, it costs more, but it actually serves the people better. The question that we have to ask ourselves always is this, he said: How do we deliver a service in the optimal way that satisfies the citizens? So in the case of dispatch consolidation, that’s an excellent example, he said – better service is being provided through that consolidation. The best decisions – about when to cut, when to invest more, and what services to deliver at what level – are made by keeping the citizen in the forefront, he concluded.

Goals for Next Term

Complete this sentence: If I could achieve one goal in my upcoming term, I would like to …

Yousef Rabhi: He would like to try to eliminate the county’s energy and heating budget. The county government spends about $1 million each year on heating and powering its buildings. The county can make a significant step to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and help balance the budget – if they start investing in renewable energy and in creative ways to bring down that $1 million cost. He realized that eliminating the cost probably isn’t possible, but there’s a lot they can do. Any step the county can take to make its buildings more energy efficient – to install solar hot water heaters or solar panels on the buildings – that will all make a dent, and will have an impact on the budget in the long term, he said. When he ran for office the first time, he said, he talked about the future of Washtenaw County. His decisions on the board aren’t just about today, he said – they’ll also affect the county in 10 or 20 years.

Conan Smith: His single biggest goal is to see the board become a consensus leadership organization. He noted that commissioner Dan Smith, a Republican from the northern part of the county, was in the audience at the CTN studio that night. They come from different value perspectives and experiences, he said, but they have found ways to work together on a number of complex policies. The board hasn’t had enough time to develop “holistic solutions that all the residents of Washtenaw County can see themselves in,” he said. He’d like to see the board work as a team more aggressively on that kind of leadership, so they can present a united front against problems – like poverty on the east side of the county, the environmental issues that Rabhi has raised, and the economic issues that LaBarre had mentioned.

Andy LaBarre: He’d like to try to put in place slight reforms to the way that the county budgets for human services, so that it covers a longer timeframe or broader set of circumstances. For a generation, this county has routinely dedicated funds, time, and resources to human services. Those services are important to the county government and the citizens it serves. In his first term, he’d like to see if the county can provide that service better, more efficiently, and in a way that helps more people get the outcomes they seek.

Fracking

Fracking has come to Washtenaw County. What role should the county play in addressing this issue, in terms of information, regulation and protection for current residents and those in the future?

Background: Fracking is a term used to describe the drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing, used to extract gas and oil. Concerns have been raised recently about the practice coming to Washtenaw County, though it has not yet been used here. See Chronicle coverage: “County Board Tackles ‘Fracking’ Concerns.” The county does not have jurisdiction to regulate the practice.

Conan Smith: The county’s regulatory framework is fairly limited, he said. Smith added that he’d defer to Rabhi, who he said is more versed on this topic. The county’s major role can be around convening community leadership and educating folks about the issues involved with fracking. It’s an obviously destructive practice, he said, and one that perpetuates a carbon-based economy that people are trying to get away from. Anything that can be done to bring alternative practices into play is a big step forward, he said. Reducing reliance on natural gas and oil by increasing the availability of renewable energy in the community and the government’s use of renewables is one good step, for example. Also, he added, the county can help funnel citizens and civic leaders to the appropriate people at the state level who have the tools to address these issues.

Yousef Rabhi, incumbent Democrat for District 8, brought a copy of the county’s budget summary to the Oct. 10 candidate debate. District 8 includes much of central Ann Arbor.

Andy LaBarre: The county board should act as a way to get information out, he said. Fracking is remarkable in that liberals, conservatives and people all across the political spectrum don’t want it happening locally, he noted. It’s the wrong way to go in terms of energy development, he said – doing what’s been done for 150 years, but expecting new results. The county can funnel pressure on people in the state house and senate to act on the issue, he said. He said he knows there are some legislators who recognize fracking for what it is and are looking to put an end to it. He joked that he had a sneaking suspicion he was sitting at the table with someone who’s married to such a legislator. [Conan Smith's wife is state Sen. Rebekah Warren.]

Yousef Rabhi: Saying he agreed with LaBarre and Smith, Rabhi said that if the county did have a role in setting policy, he’d be in favor of banning fracking in Washtenaw County today. It’s not a good practice, and isn’t good for the future of the world, he said.

Michigan is guardian of the world’s largest fresh water supply, he noted, so it’s not good to be using fracking as a practice that’s so destructive of the water supply. Unfortunately, at the county level not much can be done from a regulatory perspective, he said. But they can do a lot in terms of educating the citizenry about the effects of fracking. It’s come to light is that companies that are trying to frack are going door-to-door and handing people checks in exchange for mineral rights. The county needs to let people know the effects that this will have in the future. He noted that as chair of the board’s working session, he convened a session about fracking earlier this year. He brought in four representatives from different sectors to discuss the issue. It’s an ongoing issue, and the board needs to keep the discussion going, he concluded.

Regional Efforts

What’s the county’s role within southeast Michigan? What does Washtenaw County have to give or gain from regional relationships?

Andy LaBarre: We have a lot to give, he said. It was heartening to see Conan Smith at this summer’s Mackinac policy conference, he said, representing Washtenaw County at the table with Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County and Detroit. Southeast Michigan won’t prosper without Washtenaw County’s involvement, he said. The county brings brainpower, a willingness to work – a lot of unique things to the region. The more that Washtenaw County can engage the region, and the more that others in the region can participate in that, “the better off we’ll all be.” It could be specific projects like the Detroit Region Aerotropolis or public transportation, or it might be things like how to share educational resources among the various communities. Washtenaw County must assert itself in a good way as a full and valued partner, he said.

Yousef Rabhi: If you look at a density map of the region, you see the cities of Detroit and Ann Arbor are the two core urban areas of the region, Rabhi said. That should be very meaningful. As the county participates on a regional scale, “we have to understand that our values aren’t going to be the same values as the folks we’re participating with,” he said. “It’s going to be a struggle – it has been a struggle.” But as long as Washtenaw County representatives can stand up for their values and participate in the regional process, he added, they can help impact the whole region. If they can be leaders and teach people about the priorities of this county – things like alternative transit and green infrastructure – that will help move this region forward. Those are the things we’re doing well in Washtenaw County, he said, “and we need to share that with the rest of the region.”

Conan Smith: This issue is one that he’s been proud to see Washtenaw County grow over the last three or four years. The county was an outlier for metro Detroit for a long time, and now they’re at the center table or center stage, in some cases. Washtenaw County really is the crucible of talent for metro Detroit, he said. The University of Michigan draws young, brilliant people from all over the country here, and trains them to be the best in the world for their field. Then because of the lack of connectivity to the rest of the metro area, he said, those kids move off to Austin or Chicago, San Francisco or Miami – “anywhere but Detroit, unfortunately.” So Washtenaw County’s connectivity to Detroit is all about keeping talent here. That talent turns the county into a regional and state “prosperity center,” he said, and it translates the state of Michigan and the metro Detroit area into a national and global economic powerhouse.

Open-Ended Question

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

Yousef Rabhi: He wanted to pose this question: How can we continue to provide excellent human services in Washtenaw County? The answer is by continuing strong partnerships with the local nonprofit service providers, he said. For every dollar of county resources that is spent or contributed to nonprofit service providers, the county can make $12 of services available. That’s a great investment in the community, he said, and a great partnership that’s been going on for a long time. Those partnerships need to be built even stronger, and he hopes to continue that effort. The county has an integral role in helping provide those human services to county residents. He noted that his opponent in the election believes that the private sector is the best way to deal with human services. “I think that’s absolutely false,” he said. The private sector is profit-driven. How can you make a profit off of homelessness or hunger, off of people who are struggling? That’s not the right route, he concluded.

Conan Smith draws a number to determine the speaking order of the candidate forum. To the left is Yousef Rabhi.

Conan Smith: How do we tackle the “intensifying human and economic calamity” that’s happening on the east side of Washtenaw County? In the city of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, there have been massive job losses and incredible declines in property values, he noted. The ability of those communities to provide the core services that people have come to rely on has been nearly obliterated. The county has a very important role in convening the forces that can turn that boat around, Smith said. It might mean leveraging the county’s own human services investments around poverty and hunger, or pulling together the economic development expertise at Ann Arbor SPARK or the downtown development authorities. It might mean just being an ear for folks who are having serious problems, he added, and connecting them to resources that all units of government – national, state and local – have to offer.  Smith said we’ve got to put more of our energy, resources and attention toward those two communities, “which are in very, very dire straits.”

Andy LaBarre: He wished he’d been asked if he were a supporter of countywide transit. “I would have said yes, I am.” He also highlighted what Smith and Rabhi had said in terms of the community’s needs, and the ability to build up the economy on the county’s east side and in other areas. Part of the solution involves a viable countywide transit system, he said. “That’s something worth fighting for.” It’s worth talking to the public about the benefits and costs, and why it’s an investment worth making. He hopes to get a chance to help do that as a commissioner.

Closing Statements

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

Andy LaBarre: If you watched the entire forum, you would have seen a lot of agreement between him and the incumbents. That’s not to say that they won’t have disagreements in the future, but one common bond they have is a belief that county government can be a very positive force in people’s lives. It can help them do great things as a county and as a community, he said. He’d work hard to make sure that happens. As a county commissioner, he wants to be someone who’s approachable to residents, who listens to them, and always tells them the truth – “even when it’s something that perhaps they don’t want to hear.” When it’s the truth, it needs to be said.

He looks forward to the last month of this campaign. “I look forward to the day after the campaign very much as well.” Between now and then, he hopes to talk with more voters, explain his positions, hear their thoughts and concerns. If he’s successful, he hopes they’ll look back in a year or two and feel they made the right choice in electing him.

Yousef Rabhi: For his first term, Rabhi said he’s been humbled to serve the people of his district. It’s been a phenomenal experience, he’s loved it and he hopes to come back for another two years. He noted that in his opening statement he talked about sustainability, and he wants to continue that theme, and also about what makes a resilient community. An earlier question asked how his educational background applied to the job of county commissioner. He said he didn’t answer it then because he wanted to save it for his closing statement.

Judy Mich with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area moderated the candidate forum.

He studied at the University of Michigan, focused on the environment, “so I studied sustainability every day. “But it wasn’t just about the science of sustainability. It was about the social science and the humanities behind how we create a sustainable future.” He learned that there are three pillars to sustainability: economic, environmental and social. That’s at the core of why he’s running. He hopes to create a more resilient community through economic development, investing with funds from Act 88, developing strong economies on the county’s east side and in the county’s agricultural communities.

Regarding environmental sustainability, the county can invest in green energy and alternative energy installations on county buildings. And social justice means making sure that the county provides equal services to all residents in the county. At this forum, he noted, three people are running for county commissioner – who come from different backgrounds. LaBarre works at the chamber, coming from an economic development background. Rabhi cited his own background in sustainability, and pointed to Smith’s background in the humanities, a perspective on human services and social justice. “This is a great group of people,” Rabhi said, and he hoped residents in their respective districts would consider supporting each of them.

Conan Smith: Smith began by saying it’s always great to be on stage with Rabhi. “He is a real gentleman.” Smith is finishing his eighth year on the board, and said he’s hopeful that he can come back and be a part of the next board. It will be a very different board of commissioners, he noted. The group is certain to lose Leah Gunn and Barbara Bergman. Both women have given more than a decade of service to the board, and are not running for re-election. He described them as extraordinary women who have provided leadership through the hardest times. For the first time, to his knowledge, the board will have a majority of commissioners under the age of 50, he said, and it will be a “majority minority” board. It will be a very different set of perspectives brought to bear on the issues that the board has been grappling with.

That said, he added, the board is shaping up to be an extraordinary set of leaders that he’s eager to be a part of. Both LaBarre and Rabhi have a great vision of what Washtenaw County can be as a government and as a facilitator, he said. They share a core set of values that’s echoed by Democrats and Republicans alike on the county board, as it relates to taking care of people who are most in need throughout the county. He’s been impressed by his colleagues over the past two years, and expects even more from the board next year. He hopes to be among them, and asked residents on the west side of Ann Arbor for their vote.

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U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-District 15) paid a visit to the Jan. 14 meeting of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party.

Appearing at the meeting of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Party to establish that they’d be asking for support in the upcoming August primary, for election to the 22nd circuit court, were local attorneys Carol Kuhnke, Doug McClure and Erane Washington.

The non-partisan Aug. 7, 2012 primary will winnow the field down to two candidates for the one position that will be open on the 22nd circuit court – currently held by Melinda Morris, who is retiring. Candidates have until May 1 to file their nominating petitions.

For the position on the Michigan supreme court, the partisan connection is overt. One mechanism for ballot access is for candidates to be nominated through the convention of a political party. Three nominations can be made this year to the seven-member court. And Democrats will make their selection of nominees at a March 10, 2012 endorsement convention to be held at Detroit’s Cobo Center.

So last Saturday, Bridget Mary McCormack introduced herself to Ann Arbor Democrats as a candidate for one of the three Democratic Party endorsements for supreme court justice. She’s a professor of law at the University of Michigan, and co-director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic.

Also related to state-level party politics at the Saturday morning gathering was some measure of frustration expressed by Debbie Dingell. The wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-District 15) told the local Ann Arbor Democratic Party group that the state’s party leadership needs to give clearer direction to party members about the presidential primary to be held on Feb. 28.

The need for any direction stems from the appearance on the primary ballot of President Barack Obama’s name, despite the fact that he is not opposed in the primary, and that state party leaders did not want Obama’s name to appear. Michigan Democrats plan to select Obama as their nominee at a May 5 caucus. As it currently stands, national and state party rules don’t allow voters to participate both events – primary and caucus.

For his part, John Dingell quipped from his seat in the audience, “I’ve never voted in a Republican primary, and I ain’t about to start!” Earlier in the meeting, Dingell had dished out a well-polished series of pokes at the Republican Party, which included a lampooning of the field in the GOP presidential primary. Of the candidates, Newt Gingrich probably got the sharpest end of Dingell’s humor, when the Michigan congressman quipped, “As my old daddy used to say, even a blind hog can find an acorn.” Dingell also ticked through a number of achievements of Democrats in the last two years – including support for the auto industry and securing food safety.

Among the various volunteer sign-up sheets circulated at Saturday’s meeting was one to indicate willingness to help with the presidential campaign locally. In connection with that, David Cahill explained that the local party organization is now using the voter activation network (VAN) as its database.

The meeting was also an occasion for local candidates for office to introduce themselves. On the state level, Adam Zemke and Bob Davidow introduced themselves as candidates for District 55 of the Michigan house of representatives.

Incumbent county commissioners Conan Smith (new District 9) and Yousef Rabhi (new District 8) are both seeking re-election in the newly-configured nine districts – the board currently reflects representation of 11 districts. And Andy LaBarre told the gathering that he’s seeking election in the new District 7.

Also on the county level, Kathy Wyatt, executive assistant from the sheriff’s office,  announced that sheriff Jerry Clayton would be seeking re-election this year. The sheriff’s presence was required at a job fair that morning – new dispatchers were being hired in connection with retirements and the consolidation of dispatch operations at the county and the city of Ann Arbor.

Incumbent city councilmember Tony Derezinski (Ward 2) announced to meeting attendees that he’s running for re-election. Sabra Briere (Ward 1) also attended the meeting, but her council seat is not up for election this time around. She was re-elected last year – unopposed in both the primary and the general election. 

Michigan Supreme Court

The string of candidate introductions was led off by McCormack, who began, “My name is Bridget Mary McCormack and I’m running for the Michigan supreme court.” That was met with cheers and applause. She continued by saying she’s from Ann Arbor, and serves as associate dean for clinical affairs at the University of Michigan law school – which means she runs all of the practical legal education programs.

Bridget Mary McCormack, who's running for justice on Michigan's supreme court, pointed to Tony Derezinski, seated in the audience.

In the audience McCormack recognized Tony Derezinski, who was there to announce he is running for re-election to his Ward 2 seat on the Ann Arbor city council. She said, “Tony, you’re looking at me. You met me years ago, I’m married to Steve Croley.” She explained that Croley is also a professor of law at UM, but is currently on leave, serving as special assistant to the president and senior counsel to the president in the office of White House counsel. Derezinski, who has taught courses at UM law school and is a UM law school alum, responded with, “Good seeing you again!”

McCormack identified the Michigan supreme court election as a critical one for Democrats. She said Democrats have an opportunity to win the court. There are three seats in play, she said, and on March 10, the state party will endorse three candidates. By way of background, the two justices whose terms are expiring are Marilyn Kelly and Stephen Markman. A third justice, Brian Zahra, was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to the post in early 2011, and must therefore stand for election this year.

McCormack allowed that it’s not clear who will be endorsed at the party convention, but said she felt very strongly that voters have a voice in who the Democrats endorse.

McCormack continued with her self-introduction by describing her work as co-director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic – her students had exonerated five people in the first two years of that clinic. She also reported that she’d been working as a lawyer in the state courts for 20 years and is familiar with the ways in which the state courts do not work equally well for all people. If we elect good candidates to the supreme court, she said, we can fix that.

She said she’s been working hard and has been all over the state, trying to talk to as many people as possible. She hoped to have support on March 10 to gain the party’s endorsement so that she could work even harder over the following five months to win the race.

Because the supreme court contest is a “name-recognition race,” from the audience came the invitation to say her name again. She obliged. And the enthusiastic gathering eventually wound up in a group recitation of her name: “Bridget Mary McCormack.” Asked if she had set up a campaign website, she cautioned that election laws prohibit that kind of activity at this point and quipped that in her husband’s current absence during the week, her kids needed her to stay out of prison so they could be driven to and fro.

Also from the audience came what McCormack called a softball question: How many years in prison had been served by the wrongfully-convicted prisoners that her students had exonerated? All told, they’d spent over 128 years in prison, she said. That’s 128 years of prison that taxpayers had unnecessarily paid for. What’s worse, she continued, is that while the wrong person was in prison, the guilty person was still out there committing more crimes. She said she’d identified six additional homicides that had been committed while the guilty person had been free. The justice system can do better in all sorts of ways, she said.

From the audience also came a suggestion. “You have such a pleasantly youthful look. Be sure in every speech to mention 20 years of experience!” McCormack responded good-naturedly: “I’m actually super-old – ask my kids.” Asked how people could contribute to her campaign, she said the most important way is to tell people her name. And the most immediate way is to show up and have a voice at the endorsement convention on March 10.

After that, she said, she’d need “boots on the ground.” It’s a name-recognition race. The secret of the race, she said, is that the race can be won if every Democrat who shows up and votes for the president also knows who to vote for among the supreme court candidates. Saying her name everywhere you go is the most important thing you can do, she said.

Some among the gathering will be organizing a sign-making meeting, so that people can wave signs at the March 10 nominating convention.

When she was introduced as a candidate for the 22nd circuit court judgeship, Carol Kuhnke first addressed the importance of McCormack’s race. She said McCormack was right in identifying that name recognition is the key factor. Kuhnke said she’d worked at the polls for candidates for the supreme court for the past three election cycles, and there’s nothing more rewarding than doing that work. Working for supreme court candidates is easy, she said.

When people are on their way in to the polls, you can approach them and talk to them about the supreme court and they will stop immediately – because they realize they don’t know who they’re going to vote for and they don’t know who their candidates are, Kuhnke said. It’s much easier than working for a partisan candidate, she said. So she encouraged those who aren’t doing something else on election day to spend some time working for the supreme court candidates.

Erane Washington likewise talked strategy for the supreme court race, before discussing her own candidacy for the 22nd circuit court judgeship. She focused on the importance of absentee ballots in elections and the need to get a candidate’s name in front of the electorate before those ballots are sent out.

22nd Circuit Court

The circuit court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, including criminal cases like felonies and certain serious misdemeanors, as well as civil cases involving amounts greater than $25,000.

Carol Kuhnke, candidate for judge on the 22nd circuit court.

When Carol Kuhnke finished with her encouragement to attendees of the Saturday morning gathering to help work the polls for the supreme court race, she turned to her own race – for the position being vacated by Melinda Morris on the 22nd circuit court.

She introduced herself as a lawyer and a resident of the city of Ann Arbor for 15 years. She was excited about the opportunity to elect a new judge for the Washtenaw County circuit court, she said – it’s been almost 30 years since there’s been an open seat.

Kuhnke told the gathering she’d appreciate their support. She said she’s been a courtroom lawyer for 18 years, representing everyday people, helping them with their issues and problems. She’s spent her entire career in the court, and was now ready to do some work from the other side.

[Chronicle readers may be familiar with Kuhnke's name from her service as chair of the city of Ann Arbor's zoning board of appeals, which recently heard an appeal on the controversial City Place project on Fifth Avenue, south of William Street.]

Erane Washington introduced herself as a candidate for the Washtenaw County circuit court position. She said she’s been practicing law as a courtroom attorney for the past 18 years, and is a graduate of the UM law school.

Washington said she’d been a public servant for about 13 of those years, including working for the Washtenaw County public defender’s office for seven years. After that she worked as a judicial attorney for another six years. Most people in the legal field are familiar with her in her role as a judicial attorney.

Erane Washington, candidate for judge on the 22nd circuit court.

Washington’s current work is also in the courtroom, she said. She has a contract with the county for some defense work. She also has a separate practice in which she handles business, real estate and probate. She’s been appointed by the governor to several positions, she said, and knows a lot about the election process – one of those was to the state board of canvassers. She felt fortunate that in that capacity she’d had the opportunity to certify the election of Barack Obama as president.

Washington said she previously served as the Washtenaw Democratic Party vice chair. She’s very excited about the opportunity to have an election for the circuit court position. It’s been at least 25 years since there’s been an open seat, she said. Although it’s a non-partisan seat, it’s important to achieve an end result of electing a Democrat. She’s looking for people’s support.

She passed around her nominating petition, quipping that “Unlike Yousef, we need more than 50 signatures!” Earlier Yousef Rabhi had joked about the difficulty of gathering 50 signatures for his re-election to the county board of commissioners. Washington went on to explain that she’d need at least 1,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Doug McClure told the audience that he, too, like his friends Carol and Erane, is a candidate for the judgeship on the 22nd circuit court. He noted that the current open seat will be followed in two years by at least one more opportunity for the public to elect a judge with a real choice. By that he meant that once a judge achieves the bench, when they stand for re-election, their incumbent designation appears on the ballot – which gives them a large enough advantage that sitting judges are rarely challenged.

Doug McClure, candidate for judge on the 22nd circuit court.

Of the three candidates in the room, he joked, he is the oldest, which people could see from the way he looks. He’s been practicing for 25 years – his area of practice is environmental law. He’s lived in Washtenaw County since 1991, he said, and is very involved in the Washtenaw County Bar Association. Some of the work the association is doing in the county shows how much need there is for justice, he said. McClure was co-chair of that group’s judiciary committee for the last two years.

The first year, he had co-chaired it with Bob Carbeck. Their program had been on the indigent defense crisis. In Washtenaw County, McClure said, we are lucky because of “the great Lloyd Carr” but he quickly corrected himself – he’d meant to name Lloyd Powell, the Washtenaw County public defender. But in a lot of places in the state, poor criminal defendants don’t get adequate constitutional representation, he said.

Last year, the judiciary committee focused on access to justice. He’s trying to encourage lawyers to donate their time and do pro bono work. For a lot of family law cases, people are in court trying to represent themselves without a lawyer. Lawyers are duty bound to donate some of their time to work pro bono or at a reduced rate, he said.

McClure said that what we need as a judge is someone who is willing to work hard. He said he felt citizens would get that work ethic from him or Kuhnke or Washington – someone who would really pay attention and respect both sides and make a decision based on the facts.

District 55 State House

Two candidates for the Democratic nomination in the new District 55 of the Michigan house of representatives gave the meeting of Ann Arbor Democrats a chance to discuss Rick Olson, a Republican who has indicated he may switch parties in order to run for re-election in the newly-configured district.

Districts for the Michigan house of representatives in Washtenaw County.

District 55 wraps around the city of Ann Arbor like a phagocyte. The district was described at the meeting as “gerrymandered” – but the Republican legislature actually engineered it to be heavily Democratic.

That is taken by some observers to be a measure of Olson’s standing within his own current party.

Adam Zemke introduced himself as a candidate for the 55th District seat.

He described himself as a “numbers geek” – an engineer who likes to see how things are broken down to understand how things work. On Rick Olson, he drew a distinction between Olson’s desire to become a Democrat compared to Olson’s desire to have a “D” next to his name. Zemke described his favorite quote as one in which Olson said he did not change his philosophy with the same frequency that he changed his underwear.

Prompted then by Sabra Briere, Zemke went on to describe what his own philosophy is.

Adam Zemke, candidate for District 55 in the Michigan house of representatives.

Zemke described how he felt that education is the No. 1 form of economic development in Michigan. Right now we’ve had cuts in state funding for K-12 education and cuts in higher education, he said. It’s a big problem – it’s not encouraging kids to go to college. He saw that as detrimental to Michigan’s future.

Zemke said he’s pro-civil liberties – he wants to make Michigan more attractive to people no matter who you are. He’s pro-choice and pro-LGBT rights, he said. He thinks stem cell research is a great thing. Those are all things that Olson would not agree with him on, he said.

Zemke continued by saying he wanted to make sure that Michigan remains clean and free from invasive species. In Washtenaw County, he said, we’re smart enough to see through what the current administration is trying to do with respect to the environment.

Zemke said  he’s interested in hearing from people.

An audience member ventured that if she was previously in District 53, now represented by Democrat Jeff Irwin, that Zemke wouldn’t be a bad replacement. Zemke said he would like to think that’s true. The resident’s precinct – that’s flipping from District 53 to District 55, due to redistricting – is Ward 5, Precinct 11.

Asked by Mike Henry, co-chair of the Ann Arbor City Democrats, to comment on his experience, Zemke allowed that he is younger – 28 years old. And he said he’s been told he looks younger than that.

But he noted that he was just appointed to the Ann Arbor housing and human services advisory board. He reported that he’s served on the Washtenaw County community action board (CAB) and has been active in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Foundation to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. His introduction to politics came through former District 55 representative Kathy Angerer – he interned for her for a year, he said.

Bob Davidow, candidate for District 55 in the Michigan house of representatives.

Bob Davidow noted that he’d arrived late to the meeting, and he hadn’t actually planned to speak. But because he’s running for the same position as Zemke, he figured he’d introduce himself. He said that he and Zemke presented an interesting contrast – Zemke is 28 and Davidow is 73.

Davidow said he thought he had a lot of relevant experience. He felt he agreed with everything that Zemke had said.

To Zemke’s remarks, Davidow said he’d add that he thinks we need an additional source of revenue to support education. To that end, he’d support a graduated state income tax – though he allowed that would take a constitutional amendment to accomplish. We need revenue to support education, he said.

The economy can’t be revived by firing state employees and teachers, Davidow said. That has an impact on our ability to create a skilled and well-educated work force.

His experience is as a lawyer, Davidow said. He’s studied, practiced and taught law. He’s also a strong supporter of civil liberties.

County Board of Commissioners

In May of 2011, the reapportionment commission of Washtenaw County reduced the number of districts for the county board of commissioners from 11 to 9.

New Ann Arbor districts for the Washtenaw County board of commissioners.

The new districts for Ann Arbor, from west to east, are Districts 9, 8 and 7. Democratic candidates for each of those three districts, two of which are incumbents, attended Saturday’s meeting.

Conan Smith, current chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, is running for re-election in the new District 9. He confined his remarks to a simple, “Happy New Year!”

Yousef Rabhi, who also currently serves on the county board, told the group he’d brought his nominating petitions for re-election in the new District 8. It’s a little different from the district he currently represents, he said.

If you live downtown, south of the Huron River and east of the railroad tracks, or if you live on the south side of town in the Burns Park neighborhood or the Georgetown neighborhood, or south of the highway all the way to Ellsworth, then you’re in his district, Rabhi explained. He called it a “very weird district.” He said he would be passing around the petition – he needed “50 whole signatures.” It could be quite a challenge getting those, he quipped.

[The Chronicle encountered Rabhi in early October 2011, when he'd already pulled the petitions.]

Rabhi concluded by saying he was glad to see everyone’s shining face and that he was happy it finally snowed.

Andy LaBarre, candidate to represent the new District 7 on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners.

Andy LaBarre was the only non-incumbent candidate at the meeting. The current commissioner whose old district is most similar to the new District 7 is Barbara Bergman – who has announced that she’s not running for re-election.

LaBarre introduced himself as running to represent the new District 7 on the  county board. Following up on Rabhi’s description of District 8 as “weird,” LaBarre contended that District 7 was also weirdly shaped. It’s the northern and eastern part of Ann Arbor. If you’re in Ward 1, 2 or 3 of city council, he said, he’d like to talk to you, because he needed signatures on his petition. He said he’d strategically placed his information cards by the cookies on a table near the entrance.

The first kick-off fundraiser he’s doing will be on Feb. 27, LaBarre said. He’d be sending out invitations to that. He also wanted to hear from people and chat with them about the campaign he’s running. He described the board of commissioners as “an exciting unit of government, if you love units of government” – a remark that elicited a big laugh from the crowd. He noted that he needs 50 signatures, but he’d like to turn in 100 – to guard against some of them not being valid or to cause people to say, “Hey, look how popular Andy is!” A question from the audience elicited LaBarre’s clarification that May 15 is the filing deadline.

LaBarre acknowledged that the primary election is on Aug. 7, which might not be an issue for Rabhi or Smith, but certainly would be for him. He was alluding to Christina Montague, who is also running for the Democratic nomination for the new District 7 county board of commissioners seat.

Ann Arbor City Council

Sabra Briere, who represents Ward 1 on the city council and won re-election to her third two-year term last November, offered a Happy New Year, but told the gathering there were more important people to hear from than her.

Tony Derezinski, Ward 2 incumbent on the Ann Arbor city council.

Tony Derezinski reminded the co-chair of the Ann Arbor City Democrats, Mike Henry, that they’d seen each other the previous Saturday night – at the Elk’s club. Derezinski said they’ve got great bands there, and great food. He said he wanted to tell people he’s definitely running again for Ward 2 Ann Arbor city council. He said, “I’m a Democrat. For me, it’s not by convenience.” He noted that he was a Democrat when he previously ran for state senate and has consistently been a Democrat.

Derezinski’s remarks were most obviously connected to the previous discussion at the meeting of Republican Rick Olson’s possible decision to change parties in order to have a better chance of winning re-election in District 55. However, they could apply equally well to his former wardmate, Stephen Rapundalo, who lost his seat last November to Jane Lumm. Both Rapundalo and Lumm had originally won office as Republicans. Rapundalo later switched his party affiliation to Democrat, and Lumm won her most recent election as an independent.

Derezinski said there is a lot of work to do – it’s a great community, but we can make it better, he said. He said he’d been working with county commissioners Yousef Rabhi and Conan Smith on a lot of issues. “We have to be together,” he said.

As the Republican candidates tear each other apart, he said, Democrats would still have their work cut out for them. Derezinski offered his assistance to other candidates in their campaigns.

Derezinski said he felt that this election would be a tough one for President Barack Obama. He said he felt that Obama could win and would win, but it would take a lot of the same effort as the last presidential campaign. Derezinski said he felt the enthusiasm is beginning to be generated.

2012 Presidential Campaign

The 2012 presidential campaign figured prominently in the Saturday meeting for two reasons. Michigan Democrats are uncertain how to handle the fact that Barack Obama’s name will appear on the Feb. 28 primary election ballot, given that Obama will be chosen as the party’s nominee at a May 5 caucus. Also, local Democrats will be using the voter activation network (VAN) database, which is also used by the state and national level organizations.

2012 Presidential Campaign: Primary Versus Caucus

Although it’s a foregone conclusion that Obama will be the nominee put forward by Michigan, the level of turnout for Michigan’s nomination process will likely be analyzed by the popular media as an indicator of support across Michigan for Obama. And because Michigan could be a key battleground state in the November election, Democrats want the nominating process to be a show of Obama’s strength.

Debbie Dingell, wife of U.S. Rep. John Dingell.

Michigan’s secretary of state, Republican Ruth Johnson, placed Obama’s name on the Feb. 28 primary ballot – despite the fact that state Democratic Party  chair Mark Brewer had asked Johnson to leave Obama’s name off the ballot.

In 2011, the Republican legislature had revised Michigan’s election law so that Johnson appears to have had no choice but to print Obama’s name on the ballot.

The language of the election law does allow for the secretary of state to leave a name off the ballot: “A presidential candidate notified by the secretary of state under section 614a may file an affidavit with the secretary of state specifically stating that ‘(candidate’s name) is not a presidential candidate,’ and the secretary of state shall not have that presidential candidate’s name printed on a presidential primary ballot.” However, the language of the affidavit does not appear designed to fit the circumstance of someone who wishes to be a presidential candidate, but nonetheless does not want their name to appear on the ballot.

Michigan Democrats will select their nominee at a May 5 caucus. Democratic Party rules don’t allow participation in both the primary and the caucus. With Obama’s name on the ballot, it might seem reasonable for the Democratic Party leadership to encourage people to vote in the primary in order to show Obama’s strength. But that would preclude participation in the caucus.

At Saturday’s meeting, there was no definitive advice. Among the possibilities discussed was the possibility that the Democratic Party would waive or simply not enforce its rule on dual participation, and encourage people to participate in both events.

It was a point of irritation for Debbie Dingell, who took the podium briefly and laid out her frustration with the lack of clear direction from the state’s Democratic Party leadership. She did not espouse a particular solution, but called on a clear directive so that Democrats statewide would have a coherent strategy.

2012 Presidential Campaign: Primary Versus Caucus

From the local Obama campaign office, Ann Arbor attorney David Cahill addressed the gathering on the general topic of being strategic and methodical on the local level. He circulated a sign-up sheet for people to volunteer locally for the Obama campaign.

Cahill  asked how many people had visited the new Obama office on Eisenhower Parkway – not many raised their hands. So Cahill gave the address (455 E. Eisenhower Parkway) and more detailed instructions on how to get there – it’s non-trivial, he said. You look for the Olive Garden, he said, and you take the Olive Garden’s driveway and go up to the big parking lot behind the restaurant. The Obama office is inside the Concord Center. Go in the main door, he said, and down the stairs, turn to the right and go along the hallway – it’s Suite 65 on the left.

David Cahill explained to meeting attendees how to find the local Obama office and enlisted their support in data collection and entry.

What’s going on over the next couple of months, Cahill continued, is that they’re putting together the local organization. VAN stands for voter activation network, he explained – the nationwide Democratic computer database. It’s been operational since 2004. So the local organization is doing two things. First, they’re trying to locate “our own people.” So they’re phone-banking principally anybody who did anything for Obama in 2008, plus lists from other campaigns’ workers. In Washtenaw County, he said, there’s a large number of bad phone numbers. The work has been episodic during December, but it’s going to start up again in a week or so. So it’s not “cold canvassing,” he said. “We’re calling our own people!”

And once we get this “lovely pile of new information,” Cahill said, the data will need to be entered – that’s what he’s working on. Obama’s headquarters has said that every piece of data is supposed to be entered into VAN within 24 hours of collection. So Cahill is working on getting the data entered. VAN has some unusual features – if you’re idle for more than 10 minutes, it logs you out, he cautioned.

Cahill concluded by asking people to sign up if they were interested in helping on the Obama campaign locally.

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County commissioners are elected to two-year terms, with the next election occurring in 2012. District 7, covering the eastern portion of Ann Arbor, will be one of nine districts as of 2013 – the first year that the newly configured board is in place. Three of those districts – 7, 8 and 9 – will represent Ann Arbor. (Currently there are 11 districts, including four representing Ann Arbor.) [map of new county board districts] The new District 7 includes an area that’s now represented by Democrat Barbara Bergman, who is not seeking re-election.

Labarre is vice president of government relations and administration at the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, a position he’s held since April 2011. He is also a member of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, the SOS Community Services board, and Ypsilanti’s Depot Town Community Development Corp. advisory board. As part of his announcement, LaBarre released a list of several dozen supporters, including the four current county commissioners representing Ann Arbor – Bergman, Leah Gunn, Yousef Rabhi and Conan Smith – as well as 10 current Ann Arbor city councilmembers. [.pdf list of supporters]