Its Time for Change Ann Arbor! POW! Endorses Lesko, Nelson, Kunselman and Armentrout for Council
For the past several years Progressives of Washtenaw (POW!) has been concerned by the actions and attitudes of the prevailing council majority. Over the past two years POW! Has been a part of community-wide efforts to bring a change in leadership to our city. As part of our continuing efforts to open up our local governmental processes, and to facilitate citizen participation in local governmental decision making, we have endorsed four council candidates: Pat Lesko a write-in candidate in the First Ward, Stew Nelson in the Second Ward, Steve Kunselman in the Third Ward and Vivienne Armentrout in the Fifth Ward. We are convinced these are the best choices for Ann Arborites interested in changing the direction of the city government to be a more inclusive and transparent entity, a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
We believe these candidates will be strong supporters of small business and neighborhoods as members of council and deserve our progressive support in the primary election. They will also be hard working advocates for responsible expenditure of tax dollars.
Unfortunately, advocacy for greater citizen participation is seen as a threat by the large corporate business owners and the city administrator. These special interests see greater citizen participation as a barrier to meeting their goals within our community. For example, the city administrator and “veterans” on council supported the building of a palatial new $50 million courthouse at a time when foreclosures have skyrocketed in Ann Arbor and our high tax rates have caused an even greater burden on homeowners — especially those on fixed incomes. All of the candidates we endorse actively supported efforts to find and implement less costly and more efficient alternatives.
Over the past two years, the councilmembers POW! has supported )Councilmembers Mike Anglin, Sabra Briere and Ron Suarez) have stood up to fight the corporate and bureaucratic special interests in our community. While McKinley properties and other large landowners have pressured our council into approving large out-of-scale buildings that threaten the very nature of Ann Arbor, POW! supported councilmembers have fought for the interests of neighborhoods and a smart growth strategy. We believe that if POW! endorsed candidates are successful this year, a new council majority can be forged to support the interests of the entire community, not just the well connected and well heeled.
Strong corporate interests have recruited and are supporting candidates to oppose the POW! endorsed candidates. These special interests are against the interests of neighborhoods and taxpayers.
Don’t be fooled by any of the rhetoric. The opposition to POW! endorsed candidates is fueled by a desire to silence the voices of neighborhoods, small businesses and citizen activists. There are those that long for the old days when the city bureaucracy and the business elite of our community could do business unfettered by councilmembers looking out for the best interests of the entire community. Rest assured that if the POW! endorsed candidates are elected we will have a council allied in further opening up our governmental processes enabling everyone in our community to understand the goals and the plans of city government. If the moneyed special interests are successful in defeating the POW! endorsed candidates and other like minded councilmembers, we will return to the day when most city business was conducted in secret and the citizens, for the most part, were kept in the dark.
We need your help this Tuesday, August 5. Please vote to increase the voice on council for the citizen, the homeowner, the small business person, the future of Ann Arbor. Please cast your vote for council for Pat Lesko (write-in), Stewart Nelson, Steve Kunselman or Vivienne Armentrout on Tuesday, August 5.
(This article was written by the POW! Coordinating Committee.)