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Candidates For Mayor, Council Speak Out

Candidates For Mayor, Council Speak Out image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
March
Year
1971
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Sluggmg away at what they consider to be the other's political soft spots, the two major contenders for mayor of Ann Arbor carne out swinging again this morning during a "meet the candidates" session at the YM-YWCA. No 'verbal knockout punches appeared to have been thrown, despite a flurry of critical blows from each man undoubtedly intended to win the favor of the elector ate "judge." Incumbent Democratie Mayor Robert J. Harris in a battle to retain his "title," attacked his opponent's stand on city land annexation, rapped his ideas on a mayor's accessibility to public groups and disagreed with his viewpoint on the handling of pólice confrontation situations. Republican mayoral challenger Jack J. Garris, in an attempt not to be denied the ultímate decisión, struck back with criticism of Harris' alleged "political interference" with law enforcement operations, his plans to revitalize the downtown business district and his handling of University-community relations. Harris charged that Garris is seemingly "in favor of a 100 per cent expansionist annexation policy," while stating that he (Harris) judges each of An:i Arbor's proposed land annexations "on its own individual merits." The mayor emphasized during his presentation to the audience "the many practical accomplishments" his administration had made over the past two years in the area of environmental considerations, such as the recent street salting reductions and the stopgap billboard ordinance passed by city council last night. He also repeated earlier criticism of indications by Garris that, as mayor, he would turn a deaf ear to certain grievance groups in the city. Harris said he believed I the city government should I "keep (its) voice down and I act with common sense." The issue of civilian conI trol over pólice actions was a I point of particular disagreeI ment by the two candidates. Garris, although saying he I endorsed general pólice poliI cies being set by the mayor I and council, accused Harris I of interference with the poI lice department. The GOP challenger specifI ically mentioned the street I disturbances on S. ty in June of 1969, citing that incident as "the beginning of our trouble in Ann Arbor" and claiming H a r r i s had "bungled the job" when he visited the scène with a bullhorn to address the swarm of youths attempting to make :he street a "people's park." In reply to Garris' charges, Harris maintained he had visited the street with Pólice Chief Walter Krasny's recommendation to do so and said he believed he had helped calm the tense situation there. Garris readvocated, during his presentation to the audience, his proposal for a fiveyear tax moratorium on all improvements in the central business district as a means of revitalizing the downtown area. He also indicated that he believes the city' can tabïïshDetter communication channels with the University. On this topic, Garrís made note of the fact that he feels the University has recently become more "antagonistic" toward the city and "thinks it can run the city." The two mayoral candidates will face off again this evening f rom 8 until 9:30 in the Tappan Junior High Schoei auditorium. First Ward First Ward Gouncil candidates Edward Rutka, Republican, and N o r r i s Thomas, F Democrat, discussed the problems in their ward. Despite a lack of first ward residents with whom to talk, both men expressed concern over the issues of taxation and the Model Cities Program. Thomas s a i d he is completely in favor of a city income tax, which he claimed is needed to fund city programs. "The city doesn't have enough income from present tax levéis to ronduct its programs," he said. Thomas advocated progressive taxation based on ability to pay - and stressed, "The only realistic way to tax today is through an income tax." Rutka, however, said he does not favor a city income tax at the present time. He asked for a "reordering of priorities" in city spending and said financial corners could be cut in such areas as garbage collection. The two opponents agreed that the Model Cities Program should be run on a more efficiënt level and said it ought to be more in tune with the needs of the people it serves. I "The f u n d s and benefits offered by the program should Te distributed to the people as expediently as possible," concluded Thomas. Second Ward Much of the debate and discussion between Second Ward council candidates Robert Faber, Democrat, and Don Robinson, Republican, centered around the Model Cities program and its problems. Both men voiced support of the program, but differed slightly in their emphasis. Incumbent Councilman Feber said many of the problems come about naturally f rom the fa et that people who in the past have feit alienated from the city and have not participated have 'been iven control of a huge sum of money. Their inexperience in t h i s ,administration has resulted in some errors, he said. He added. however, that the current controversy surrounding the organization has been helpful in making the residents Of that area aware of the problems, and they are beginning to become more involved. He said the solution to the problems must come from the residents themselves. Robinson agreed that many of the problems come from persons inexperienced in handling such programs, but he placed emphasis on the need for professional administrators to handle the program with the guidance of t.hp I "dëntsT Robinson termed as a "painful process" the need for blacks to retain self-det.ermination in solving thcir problems, and the corresponding need for seeing Ui at that help is actually given in the most effective marnier. He said both political and racial barriers should be broken down within Model Cities program to develop the best programs. Third Ward Nelson K. Meade, Third Ward Democratie candidato for a council seat, declared he supports the concept of "scattered site" public housing, though he added he feit the Housing Commission's proposal to construct low-income housing in a field near Colony Rd. last summer was not feasible. Meade also expressed support for a city income tax coupled with a property tax reduction. On the issue of Briarwood, Meade, who often rides a bike to work, said he "shared the concern of péople I who are worried about its I effect on the city" and supported Mayor Harris' insistence on hard-bargaining with the developer. He also urged an expanded and subsidized city bus system. His Republican opponent, Peter S. Wright, declared that he supported Jack Garris' candidacy "though I don't agree with him on every issue." Wright also said he supports the "scattered site" concept and urged exploring the feasibility of integrating the city bus system with the school and 'University bus systems. He said he favored Briarwood and the Packard-Beakes bypass, but was opposed to a city i n c o m e tax. Wright claimed that a major issue is "government credibility" and deplored the "politicization" of issues in Ann Arbor. Fourth Word Citizens of the Fourth Ward received one candidate's side I of the campaign issues from I Democratie hopeful, Gilbert I B. Lee. Republican candidate I Richard A. Hadier, director of I marketing, Automotive Group, I for Hoover Ball and Bearing I Co., says he was unable to I tend the meeting because of I business appointment. I Leêsees the major issues in 1 the election as drugs, I community relation and taxes. I He believes the city's Blue I Ribbon Commission on drugs I should be reactivated to find I confidential, factual I tion "from every addict you I can get." He describes the I first study as "a 1 lightly job." Concerning 1 ty relations, Lee says he I would like to see the pólice I subject to the political I mate and sensitive to City I Hall. Lee also supports the I tion of a personal income tax I and lowering of property 1 es by 7.5 milis. Fifth Ward Donald I. Warren and John D. McCormick, the Democratie and Republican candidates, 1 spectively, for the Fifth Ward Council positon disagreed this morning on how the Model - Cities Program should be controlled. (next page please)