While many students know little about local Ann Arbor politics, both mayoral candidates say capturing the student vote is key to winning the mayor's chair.
"There will literally be 10,000 more voters than in November 1994," said Republican incumbent Ingrid Sheldon. "I have to assume a lot of those new voters will be students and they will have a tremendous impact."
Democrat challenger Christopher Kolb said students' voices should not be ignored by city government.
"I think (students) are a very important constituency and one that needs to be an active participant in city government," Kolb said. "I have tried to reach out to students during my campaign, and I used to be a student here myself - I know how important the student voice is."
Sheldon said that in general, students tend to vote Democrat more than Republican, but that there was more to the mayoral race than just party labels.
"I would be sad for people to just vote along party lines without knowing what the candidates stand for or what the issues are," said Sheldon, who describes herself as a "moderate Republican."
Sheldon acknowledged that both she and Kolb agree on a lot of issues, but said party affiliations sometimes magnified philosophical differences between the two.
"We are both in the center of the circle - he leans to the left, I lean to the right," Sheldon said. "But with his Democratic majority on council, which often votes as a force, it is easier for him to get things done - and means I always try to keep myself open to new ideas."
Kolb said the difference between the candidates is that he has consistently spearheaded leadership.
"I am a doer," Kolb said. "I make sure things get done and that they get done as efficiently as possible."
Kolb said the city will have to work to find more "in-kind" benefits, which the University could provide the city and its leaders.
"The University has the opportunity to make many direct and indirect contributions to the city - not just financially but through things like student internships in city government and research capabilities," Kolb said.
Sheldon said safety and the city's ongoing budget struggles were the most important issues.
"Increasing safety, especially safety for women, is a very, very important issue," Sheldon said. "The budget is also something we will have to concentrate very hard on - every year we seem to be desperate, desperate and not have enough money. We need to make improvements."
Sheldon said if re-elected she would work to complete successful initiatives already begun by the council during her first two years as mayor.
"I have always used my vote to make sure good things happen and to reconcile council differences," Sheldon said. "I want to make sure important ongoing projects get completed."
Kolb said he had been instrumental in the council establishing an affirmative-action plan for city employees and took an active role in addressing environmental concerns including the clean-up of the Huron River.
"We have a giant opportunity with new administrators taking over in both the city and the University - we need to expand our dialogue and build on each others' success."