But that doesn’t mean it’s private. As I make sense of my ballot (and this  year’s ballot is a long one), I turn to people I respect to help me think through the issues.

Having done that, here are my thoughts about what we will see on the November 2012 ballot in Ann Arbor. Please share my thoughts if you find them useful, please argue with me if you think I’ve missed something.

Most of all, please vote and please bring a friend to vote.

-Chuck

P.S. If you’d like to keep up with my thoughts about issues before Ann Arbor City Council after the November election, please sign up for my email newsletter at www.voteforchuck.org

1. Know your ballot—your entire ballot!

Sure, you probably know who you’re voting for in the presidential race, but what about those other races? You can see what’s on your ballot ahead of time by visiting:www.michigan.gov/vote.  Print out the sample ballot, take notes on it, and bring it with you into the voting booth.

You can also visit the Michigan League for Women Voters website at www.vote411.org for more information about candidates and initiatives.

2. Judicial Picks

My friend, Mike Steinberg, has written his “Mike’s Judicial Picks for Non-Lawyers.” Mike knows his stuff, and I trust his judgment. I’ve included his full post at the bottom of this document, but the summary is:

Supreme Court: Bridget McCormack, Connie Kelley and Shelia Johnson.
Circuit Court: Kuhnke and Connors

Regarding the Circuit Court race between Connors and Woodyard, I think both are good candidates. I have a personal relationship with Woodyard, so he will probably get my vote, but I have tremendous respect for the work Connors has done.

3. Local Ballot Initiatives

Park Maintenance and Improvement Millage Renewal: I’m voting YES. This millage has been an important part of maintaining the high quality parks that are part of Ann Arbor’s quality of life and environmental stewardship.

Art in Public Places: I’m voting YES. For ten dollars a year for the average taxpayer, this proposal would provide a reliable funding stream for art that the public can enjoy. I believe art is an important end in itself, it is also part of nurturing a creative community that contributes to quality of life and economic vitality. Learn more at http://www.bforart.com.

Library Bond: This is the most contested of the local issues with good arguments on either side. I’m voting YES. In short, the arguments for are:

• The current library building faces significant limitations: it is facing significant, costly, and unpredictable system failures, it is not ADA compliant, and it is difficult to adapt to current demands for study space, meeting space, and technology use.
• The library has an important function as a community space and commons, a function that the current site serves only moderately well. In my work with ICPJ, I am often looking for community sites to host events that are are welcoming to a broad range of people (some people don’t feel comfortable stepping into a church basement for a lecture). The library is the best site we have for that, but its event space is small and often booked.
• There is little cost difference between a full renovation of the existing library and building a new library, and a renovation does not fully meet all the needs identified for a central library. And, with borrowing costs at historic lows and labor costs also low, it will never be cheaper to embark on this project.
• The current library board and executive director have shown exceptional leadership both in library operations and in the recent branch library projects they have undertaken.

That said, there are good arguments against the proposal. A renovation would be cheaper, borrowing costs will mean that the total cost of the project will be more than $65 million, and some people dispute the community center function of a library. Some people are also concerned that they are asking to fund a new library absent plans for the new building.

You can read the arguments for and against at:
PRO: http://ournewlibrary.com/
CON: http://protectourlibraries.org/, http://savetheannarborlibrary.blogspot.com/

4. State Ballot Initiatives

Proposal 1: Emergency Manager Law: I am voting NO. I believe the state’s current financial manager legislation provides adequate powers to address crises in municipal governments and I do not support giving unelected managers broad powers over elected local governments.

Proposal 2: Collective Bargaining: I am voting YES. I believe that the right to form a union is just that, a right, and it is appropriate to protect our rights in the state constitution.

Proposal 3—Renewable Energy: I am voting YES. I believe that climate destabilization is one of the greatest dangers facing our world today, and we need to take every opportunity we can to switch to a clean energy economy. This proposal would also create tens of thousands of jobs building, installing, and maintaining renewable energy infrastructure, and it contains controls to limit rate increases. Learn more at mienergymijobs.com.

Proposal 4—Home Care Workers: I’m still deciding on this one. People whom I respect differ on this issue. Jack Lessonberry has come out against it, and my good friend Dessa Cosma has written a powerful testimonial for why she supports it. Overall I think it’s a sound policy, but I’m not sure it meets the threshold for being in the constitution.

Proposal 5—Supermajority for Tax Increases: I’m voting NO. This is a very dangerous proposal, funded almost entirely by billionaire Matty Maroun and backed by far-right group Americans for Prosperity. It is opposed by Democrats and Republicans, business groups like the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and liberal groups like the Michigan League for Human Services.  By giving a minority of legislators veto power over tax increases it would make it virtually impossible to close loopholes or to fine-tune our tax system. Even policies such as Governor Snyder’s tax reform, which lowered taxes overall but increased them for some, would be blocked under this system. Learn more at: http://defendmidemocracy.com/

Proposal 6—Bridge Vote: I’m voting NO. Matty Maroun, the same billionaire who is bankrolling prop 5, is also bankrolling this one. Why? Because he owns the Ambassador Bridge and is trying to buy his way into the state constitution to make sure he can maintain his monopoly. I don’t think that border crossings should be in private hands, and there is broad, bipartisan support for a new bridge. Canada has offered to finance a new bridge so that Michigan taxpayers wouldn’t be on the hook for the costs.

5. Ann Arbor School Board

I’m supporting Deb Mexicotte. I’ve spoken with several people who follow Ann Arbor Public Schools closely and they have all expressed their respect for Mexicotte. As a Democrat, I tend to vote for other Democrats, and Dale Leslie is supporting Romney.

6. Ann Arbor Library Board

I’m voting for Rebecca Head, Nancy Kaplan, Margaret A. Leary, and Prudence Rosenthal. These four incumbents have provided superb leadership for the library and have my support.

7. Washtenaw Community College Board

I am voting for Morton and Landau. I had initially planned on voting for Figg and Landau based on the recommendations of the Huron Valley Central Labor Council. Then I saw that Figg did not respond to the League of Women Voters vote411.org site and he is banned from the WCC campus as part of a resignation in lieu of termination agreement.

That’s my take. I’ll trust you to figure out the partisan ballot on your own. Whatever you decide, please do vote. And please remember that citizenship starts with voting, but it doesn’t end there. Please stay involved year-round.

-Chuck

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MIKE’S JUDICIAL PICKS FOR NON-LAWYERS – 2012

It is very difficult for non-lawyers to differentiate between candidates in judicial elections because the judicial races are allegedly “nonpartisan” and therefore the candidates’ party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.  As requested, I have again prepared a list of my endorsements for the contested judicial elections on the Ann Arbor ballot.  As usual, I am picking the candidates who, in my opinion, are the most progressive.  Please note that I am endorsing candidates in my individual capacity, not as a representative of the organization for which I work.

MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT

VOTE FOR McCORMACK, KELLEY AND JOHNSON

         I cannot overemphasize how important the Michigan Supreme Court race is for those of us who care about civil rights, civil liberties, consumer protection and the environment.  Three of the seven seats are up for grabs and so is the direction of the court.  The corporate and ultra-conservative interests will spend an unprecedented amount in an attempt to maintain control of the court and it is up to us to make sure that does not happen by spreading the word.

Although no party affiliation is listed on the ballot for candidates in judicial races, political parties actually nominate candidates for the Michigan Supreme Court (strange but true).  This year my judicial picks are three women nominated by the Democrats: Bridget McCormack, Connie Kelley and Shelia Johnson.

Bridget McCormack is a brilliant law professor at U-M where she runs the Innocence Clinic. (She is also made the coolest judicial campaign commercial ever, starring the cast of the West Wing).  Vote for her and Wayne Circuit Court Judge Connie Kelley in the race for the 8-year term.  Vote for Shelia Johnson, an African American judge from Oakland County, for the partial term.

WASHTENAW COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (22ND Circuit)

VOTE FOR KUHNKE AND CONNORS

Carol Kuhnke, in my view, is the obvious pick for the open or “non-incumbent” seat.  She is a progressive, talented and experienced lawyer who would be the first openly lesbian judge ever elected in Michigan.  In contrast, her opponent, James Fink, is an anti-choice Republican who has financially supported Tea Party candidates and the ballot initiative banning gay marriage.  Some people like Fink because he supported efforts to address domestic violence when he worked in the Sheriff’s Department.  However, there’s no doubt that Kuhnke would be better on women’s issues and, unless Kuhnke wins, there would be no women on the Washtenaw County Circuit Court bench.  This is going to be a close race and we must get out the word.

I’m voting for Judge Timothy Connors for the “incumbent” seat. Tim Connors has served as a judge with distinction since 2001 and has made progressive rulings in several cases, most notably the high-profile case on behalf of women inmates who were raped by male prison guards.  Connors’ opponent, Michael Woodyard, is an assistant prosecutor in Wayne County with little support in Washtenaw County and little chance of winning.

Clip and bring to the polls:
Michigan Supreme Court
McCormack, Kelley and Johnson

Washtenaw Circuit Court (22nd Circuit)
Kuhnke and Connors

To view your ballot before going to the polls, go to www.Michigan.gov/vote.

Let me know if you have any questions and fell free to share with like-minded voters.  Happy voting! –Mike Steinberg (msteinberg@ameritech.net)

1. Where do you walk and/or bicycle in Washtenaw County, and for what purposes?
I bicycle to work year-round, usually with a stop along the way to drop my daughter off at daycare. Most of our shopping is done by walking or bicycling to the farmers market, People’s Food Co-Op, or other local businesses. My family’s normal Saturday routine is to walk to the Farmers Market to pick up our CSA share and do our food shopping, even in the winter.

2. Do you support Ann Arbor’s pedestrian safety ordinance as it now stands? Why or why not?
For all the controversy around the pedestrian ordinance, I think it’s important to remember that we’re all looking for how to promote safety for pedestrians and motorists. That’s our shared goal, and we should engage different perspectives to figure out the best way to meet it.

I think the concern about safe pedestrian crossings that led to the law is an important one. Safe pedestrian crossing at crosswalks is a real concern. I believe the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition did a great job engaging multiple stakeholders in a collaborative process to create the current pedestrian ordinance, which I consider to be the pedestrian ordinance “version 1.0.”

I do think the regulation needs to be fine-tuned to clarify what “approaching a crosswalk” means and to better address the challenges of crosswalks spanning multiple lanes. I’ve been in the situation where there are 2 lanes of traffic going one way and a car in one lane stops, but the other lane continues. That’s not safe for pedestrians or motorists. By engaging community voices to address these concerns we can come up with “version 2.0.”

Ultimately I think the city should continue to expand built-in pedestrian infrastructure that does not rely on driver compliance. The pedestrian islands on Stadium, the rapid flashing beacon on Washington, and the HAWK signal on Huron are good examples of investments that I see having more impact than signs and ordinances alone.

3. Do you support the planned “road diet” (conversion from 4 lanes to 3 lanes) on Jackson Road? Why or why not?
I live just south of Jackson Road, and when I drive it’s my route to work and to my daughter’s daycare, so I know how bad the traffic can get, how hard it can be for residents to leave the neighborhood, and how unsafe the road is. The ten-foot lanes on that road are too narrow, so buses and trucks are often outside their lanes. No wonder there were 70 accidents on a ¾-mile stretch of road over 3 years.

I have 3 priorities for Jackson Road.:
1. Safety
2. Neighborhood access
3. Traffic flow

1. Safety: Jackson Road is not a safe passage. The ten-foot lanes are too narrow for the large trucks that use the road; in fact, the Michigan Department of Transportation won’t even allow new roads to be built with lanes that narrow. Furthermore, the combination of the lack of bike lanes, a congested, high-speed street, and a hill that increases bicycle speeds makes the motorist, cyclist, pedestrian mix unsafe. We should do better, and I believe that the proposed lane change would improve safety.

2. Neighborhood access: It is already very difficult to make a left turn onto Jackson during the morning and evening rush periods, and for some residents, Jackson is their only choice. Neighborhood access is a key concern that I have not seen addressed well in the coverage of the proposed change, and one that deserves attention.

3. Traffic flow: Jackson is a busy arterial street, especially during the evening rush. I have been one of the frustrated motorists when traffic is backed up past the Fire Station at 5:45pm on a weekday. I see the traffic light at the intersection of Jackson & Maple as the worst cause of these backups. I often find myself caught behind vehicles holding up traffic as they try to make a left turn, so I am not convinced that the lane conversion will significantly worsen traffic issues.

I’ve talked about these concerns with residents who live on Jackson Road and in the surrounding neighborhoods. People who live on Jackson are overwhelmingly in support of the change; people who live just off Jackson tend to oppose it.

I support implementing the conversion and evaluating its impact over a 12-month trial.  Such a trial must have clear benchmarks for safety, neighborhood access, and traffic flow created before the change is implemented so that we can measure the extent to which the conversion achieved its intended purposes.

4. What ideas do you have for improving the pedestrian system in Ann Arbor, and how would you implement them if elected?

1. Continue to expand safe crosswalk infrastructure: the HAWK signals and rapid-flashing beacons have significantly aided safe pedestrian crossing, as has the expansion of pedestrian islands such as the ones on 7^th, Stadium, and Liberty. I believe that the city should continue to expand such safe-crossing infrastructure. In particular, I support the proposed installation of a HAWK signal on Jackson Road near Veterans’ Park.
2. Pedestrian safety ordinance version 2.0: The current pedestrian safety ordinance is an important step toward creating a legal structure that ensures safety for all travelers. However, as mentioned above, it needs some refinement. I would support a process of broad stakeholder engagement to identify improvements to the ordinance that will clarify ambiguous language and address the concerns of higher-speed and multiple-lane roads.
3. Implement the “complete streets” policy: While Ann Arbor’s overall pedestrian infrastructure is good, we still have many areas where the sidewalks are incomplete or nonexistent (e.g., Plymouth between Broadway and Maiden Lane, Washtenaw across from Whole Foods). While these may create inconveniences for able-bodied pedestrians, they can create insurmountable barriers for people with mobility impairments, especially in inclement weather. Ann Arbor should consistently strive to connect these missing pieces, as called for by the March, 2011 City Council resolution affirming the Complete Streets policy.

5. What ideas do you have for improving the bicycle system in Ann Arbor, and would you implement them if elected?

1. Expand bicycle infrastructure: As a seasoned cyclist, I feel fully comfortable riding in the street in our downtown in areas that lack bike lanes. However, I have spoken with many novice cyclists who do not feel comfortable on the streets where there are not dedicated bike lanes. The city should continue to expand our bike lane infrastructure and, when possible, to connect non-contiguous bike lanes (e.g., on N. Division). In areas without bike lanes the city should continue its practice of marking the street with “sharrows” to indicate shared bicycle/automobile lanes.
2. Review bike lane design and explore next-generation bike lane infrastructure: As a bicycle commuter I greatly appreciate our bike infrastructure, but some of it does not make sense to me. Why are the bike lanes on 1^st Street on the left side of the lane? As the city plans bicycle infrastructure, it should review its functionality with cyclists to ensure  practicality. Additionally, there are some exciting bike infrastructure innovations emerging. These can be as simple as adding striping between bike lanes and parking spaces so cyclists don’t ride in the “door zone” to more elaborate separated bike lanes, sometimes with their own signals. The city should stay abreast of these innovations and evaluate whether they would be appropriate for local implementation.
3. Expand and demarcate biking and pedestrian access on the Border-to-Border Trail (B2B): Both cyclists and pedestrians complain about the challenges of sharing a narrow mixed-use path on sections of the B2B, especially in Gallup Park. Cyclists feel frustrated by groups of walkers who take up the whole path, while pedestrians complain about cyclists whizzing past in a way that feels unsafe. We should explore ways to ensure that the B2B accommodates all uses. For example, in Madison, WI, sections of nonmotorized trail have a center stripe separating cyclists from walkers.

For both pedestrian and bicycle concerns, I would promote improvements by:

• Contributing to and soliciting citizen and expert feedback for the city’s nonmotorized plan;
• Advocating for the needs of cyclists and pedestrians when reviewing road plans;
• Championing specific nonmotorized transportation initiatives, such as installing a HAWK signal on Jackson by Veterans’ Park.

What arts and cultural activities have you or your family members attended, participated in, or supported in the past year?

Performance Arts, Visual Arts, Science & Technology Museums, Historic Museums

Thinking back to your own K-12 education, what arts or cultural classes, programs or activities did you participate in?

Instrumental Music, Literary, Visual, Dance, Theater

What is your position on public funding for arts & culture?

When I think of the role of arts in our community life, I think of the famous textile strike in Lawrence, MA. That strike became known as the “bread and roses” strike, and it inspired a song, one verse of which is: “Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.”

The arts are one source of nourishment that keeps our hearts from starving. The arts both enrich our quality of life and create a liveable, vibrant community that supports economic vitality. Therefore I believe that local government should look for ways to support our local arts community

The city’s current “Percent for Art” is an attempt to do just that. Unfortunately, it has significant limitations on what it can fund, it only covers permanent installations of visual arts, and it does not adequately focus on local artists. I would support looking for ways to establish a more flexible funding stream for the arts.

Given current budget constraints, it is important that arts funding not compete with general fund expenses like police and fire.  The Percent for Art program is structured so that it is funded outside of the general fund, and local government should fight misconceptions in this area to address community concerns and solidify support for arts funding.

Ann Arbor must have basic services to function, but it is largely the city’s culture that makes it a delightful city.  It would be foolish to cast aside the roses that make our city great.

If elected, what *measurable* actions will you take to ensure arts & culture can survive and thrive in Washtenaw County?

The recent community focus has been on the role of the Percent for Art ordinance in funding art. I would support a community review to evaluate if that is the best way to fund the arts and culture, or to see if we could establish an alternative funding mechanism that would allow more flexibility to support performing arts and other cultural programs. I would also look for other ways to support the arts through in-kind support and partnerships.

One concern I have heard from groups organizing festivals and events is that the permitting and approval processes can be arduous. If elected, I will work to nurture a “customer service” approach to these processes to remove barriers that impede the arts programming and festivals that are part of what makes Ann Arbor a truly exceptional place to live.

If you support public funding for arts and culture, what do you think are the best means of allocating funds? (Options included: tax-based funding (millage), percent for public art programs, appropriations, none, and other.)

Tax-based funding (Millage)

I’m proud of my progressive values and my experience fighting for them.  As a member of City Council, I will protect the environment and stand up for the most vulnerable members of our community.

The center of my campaign is talking to people directly; that’s why I’m knocking on doors 6 nights per week. But not everyone is home, so the mail is a big way for me to reach others.

But it’s expensive. Why not donate now and help keep the campaign going strong?

The questions were thoughtful and I thought voters might be interested in my responses, so I’m sharing my answers.  I live my environmentalism every day and I’m proud to campaign on my record and stances on the environmental issues that affect our community.

If you have questions about my responses, drop me a line.

When: Thursday, July 12, 5-7 p.m.

Where:  Vie Fitness, 209 South Ashley Street,  Ann Arbor, MI 48104

How Much:         Suggested donation $35, $100 for host committee

RSVP to info@voteforchuck.org, 734-972-8304

Donate at the event, online, or by mail to Committee to Elect Chuck Warpehoski, 2020 Winewood, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

Host Committee (in formation):
Mike Garfield, Leah Gunn, Carsten Hohnke, Jeff Irwin, Roger Kerson, Yousef Rabhi, Laura Rubin & John Lofy

Since the campaign started I’ve knocked on about a thousand doors with just home-printed “quick lit.” After all, why wait for printers and designers before talking to voters, right?

Still, it feels very good to  have professionally-printed materials in hand. Not only do they look better, but the ink on these won’t smear if they get wet from a July rain or from sweat in a 95-degree day.

You don’t get the full effect looking at the PDF, but the paper we used is recycled, hydropowered, and Michigan-made by French Paper Company in Niles, MI. Pretty cool.

We’re also looking for volunteers to help “plant” them. Any takers?

Wesley Debbink and Camille Shore show their support.

At the campaign kickoff on Sunday, May 13, Wesley Debbink and Camille Shore launched the Vote For Chuck Toddler Caucus. My goal as a candidate is to hear the concerns of all Ann Arborites, including Wesley’s hope for more stroller parking and Camille’s hope for more diaper changing stations. They may  not be voters, but their voices still count and I’m grateful for their support.

To respond to Camille’s concern, I am happy to say that Arbor Brewing Company, our host for the event, does have a diapers changing station in their bathroom in their taproom. Thank you ABC for supporting parents and for hosting the campaign kickoff.