Progressives of Washtenaw

Along with Judge Nancy Francis, POW! endorses Eric Gutenberg for 15th District Judge.  Eric was rated the highest of all candidates for 15th District Judge for technical qualifications including legal ability, legal knowledge, and legal experience in the Washtenaw County Bar Association’s Judicial Candidate Poll.

According to our most progressive local jurist, Judge Francis, “Eric has shown excellent judgment about when to choose compassion and when to push for the fullest disposition of the law. I believe he would be a very good judge.”  POW! Encourages Ann Arbor citizens to cast a ballot for Eric Gutenberg for 15th District Judge.

By Conan Smith
Since his election in 2000, Dan Minzey has presided over a Sheriff’s Department rife with budgetary and disciplinary problems. Unfortunately, Minzey has proven unable to handle these problems with any grace or efficacy.
Since taking office, Minzey has run more than $13 million over budget. That averages out to just over $1.7 million a year between 2000 and 2007. During that same period, the county has steadily increased the Sheriff’s budget to keep up with his overspending; but it never seems to be enough. In 1999, before Dan Minzey was Sheriff, the budget for running the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department (WCSD) was $21,784,861 (this was the last year that the Sheriff’s Department spent less than was budgeted). The 2007 budget for the WCSD was $35,976,210, (an increase double the rate of inflation) but Minzey still spent over 1.8 million more than that.
The greatest portion of Minzey’s multi-million dollar budget surprises have been for employee overtime. Of course, law enforcement is an unpredictable enterprise. Consequently, every year the county budgets for substantial amounts of overtime. However, under Minzey overtime expenses have routinely been well over expectations. One significant cause of this unbudgeted overtime is the unusually high number of Sheriff employees sidelined for disciplinary problems. Through much of 2007, eight deputies were on administrative leave and seven were still collecting paychecks while under investigation for various criminal charges. As a result, other deputies worked up to 70-80 hours a week; that’s a result that is destructive to both our finances and to the quality of public safety.
Unfortunately, our Sheriff has also lost some expensive legal battles. Minzey has racked up six figure legal expenses related to the two lawsuits he initiated, one of which he withdrew and the other of which he lost. Perhaps most frustrating is that these lawsuits were against the county itself, guaranteeing that the people of Washtenaw were on the losing side of the transaction. Also, as a result of an incident that ended in the death of Clifton Lee, Jr., the County and our insurers settled out of court for $4 million. Minzey’s missteps, and the actions of his team, represent a pattern of budget-busting blunders.
In addition to Minzey’s skyrocketing expenditures, he has steadfastly refused to answer even basic questions posed by the taxpayers about that spending. Most obvious is his continued refusal to address the questions of the Board of Commissioners.  During the spring of 2006, when Minzey was unilaterally sending inmates to county jails as far away as Leelanau County, the Board of Commissioners requested that Minzey attend a public meeting to discuss why so many inmates had to be sent so far away.  More precisely, the Commissioners were concerned that these inmates were being housed without contracts and outside of the county’s procurement policy. When Minzey would not attend a meeting, the Board prepared questions in writing – questions that Minzey never answered. Overspending and poor fiscal control in the Sheriff’s department is a problem, but nothing is more troubling than a public official who shirks his responsibility and refuses accountability for decisions made on our behalf.
Minzey’s disrespect doesn’t end with refusing to answer the Board of Commissioner’s questions about his spending. Minzey has similarly shirked his responsibility to answer questions from citizens. Throughout 2007 and 2008, a group of citizen volunteers – organized as the Citizen Review Board for Law Enforcement – has been attempting to get answers from Dan Minzey in response to citizen complaints to their body. Unfortunately, their repeated attempts to garner answers to simple questions have been met with silence or outright refusal to dialog. Perhaps most strikingly, Minzey has been absent from every public candidate forum during this election. His repeated reluctance to take accountability and offer answers to the public is troubling.
Of course, if you need a Sheriff to show up at the parade, he’ll be there. He’ll arrive all decked-out; complete with horses, police cruisers, armored personal carriers and plenty of glad-handed-pleasantries. However, if you want a Sheriff who can keep on budget, handle disciplinary issues appropriately and run a department that we can be proud of every day, Vote CLAYTON.
(Conan Smith is a Washtenaw County commissioner and guest writer for POW! .)

By Dana Barton

POW! endorsed  one of Steven Kunselman’s opponents in his first race for council in the 3rd Ward two years ago.  However, POW! enthusiastically endorses him this election cycle.

Steven Kunselman is a breath of fresh air on City Council.  While the “veteran” council members often vote in “lock-step” on most issues, Steve is not afraid to challenge the majority.  POW! respects that he is willing to take unpopular stands and pay the price of sometimes being ridiculed by his own colleagues.  Such was the case when he proposed that Ann Arbor citizens have the right to keep two hens in their back yards for fresh egg laying purposes.  The uproar was palpable.  And, a lesser person might have caved into the political pressure.  But, Steve stood by his principles and the constituency that asked him to bring this measure forward.  And, finally, with community support, he prevailed.  POW! applauds his courage!

While POW! doesn’t always agree with Kunselman’s positions on issues, we do endorse his stands on transparency in government, the need for downtown affordable housing,  the importance of preserving funding for parkland maintenance and his strong support of keeping recreational opportunities affordable for all Ann Arbor families.

Here’s to you, Chicken Man!

(Dana Barton is looking forward to having two hens in the backyard and fresh eggs for her omelets.)

Progressives of Washtenaw (POW!) has endorsed Patricia Lesko for the open council seat in Ann Arbor’s First Ward.  POW! had been poised to endorse incumbent councilmember Ron Suarez until his recent decision to withdraw from the race due to family and business considerations.  Suarez immediately endorsed Patricia Lesko and encouraged his supporters to vote for her.

Due to the timing of the decision to withdraw from the race by Councilmember Suarez, First Ward voters will need to write in “Patricia Lesko” on the Democratic primary ballot on August 5th.  POW! strongly encourages First Ward citizens to write in Patricia Lesko for First Ward council.

Patricia Lesko has a long history of working for the people of the First Ward as a PTO leader and as an activist committed to neighborhoods and citizen participation.  We are confident she is the best choice for First Ward voters and will represent all of the citizens of the First Ward, not simply the needs of developers, and downtown property owners and corporations.

The first ward has a long tradition of electing progressive activists as representatives on City Council.  Patricia Lesko will be a fine addition to the pantheon of First Ward progressive city

“When it comes time to stand up to the most powerful members of the community, to corporate developers and those seeking tax breaks at the expense of Ann Arbor homeowners and renters, Patricia Lesko can be counted on to look out for the interests of the people of our community, not the powerful.” –POW!

council members which includes Larry Hunter, Lowell Peterson, Ann Marie Coleman, Tobi Hanna Davies, Pat Dixon, Jean Robinson, Bob Johnson, Kim Groome, Ron Suarez and Sabra Briere.  These fine progressive activists have had the courage and the desire to stand up to the powerful members of our community and work on behalf of all the people, especially those with the least.  Patricia Lesko has the same strong commitment to the people of the First Ward.

Patricia Lesko has two children attending the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and she has owned and operated small book and magazine publishing businesses.  Patricia Lesko has a strong commitment to keeping our parkland preserved, maintained and publicly owned.  Patricia Lesko supports reasonable development which does not put at risk what is great about our city.  Patricia Lesko believes in open and transparent governmental processes to ensure accountability for taxpayers.  Patricia Lesko deserves the support of the people of the First Ward.
Write In Patricia Lesko for First Ward Council – August 5