Turnover projected in A

2 elections

Ann Arbor City Council elections often come and go without much member turnover. But tomorrow's round promises to be different.

Council elections will bring at least three new faces to the 11 member council with veterans retiring in Wards I, II, and IV.

With two Republicans retiring, Second Ward Rep. David Kwan and Fourth Ward Rep. Patrick Putman, and the absence of Republican candidates in Wards I and III, the possibility of a Democratic stronghold exists.

Currently, Democrats hold a seven to four advantage on council. With eight members, Democrats would hold a super-majority, the total votes needed to override vetoes by Republican

Mayor Ingrid Sheldon.

The mayor and two members from each ward make up the council's membership. Members serve two-year terms and one seat in each ward is up for election each year.

Retiring councilmember Patricia Vereen-Dixon (D-Ward I) is expected to be replaced by Democratic candidate John Hieftje. Hieftje's only opponent is Libertarian candidate Charles Goodman, a Rackham student.

For some, the possibility of a Democrat super-majority is a concern.

"The best I can hope for is maintaining the 7-4 division," Sheldon said. If the division increases, it could be harmful to city residents, she added.

Fourth Ward Republican candidate Marcia Higgins - who is trying to replace her husband, Patrick Putnam on the council - echoed Sheldon's concern.

"I think that would be detrimental," Higgins said. "That removes the veto right."

Others feel the issue of a super-majority inaccurately divides council among party lines.

"Council votes unanimously on about 90 percent of things," said councilmember Heidi Cowing Herrell (D-Ward III). Herrell, who is running for re-election, said there are often breaches of opinion within each party.

"Vetoes happen so seldom," Herrell said. "I really do see it as a non-issue."

Fourth Ward Democratic candidate Lawrence Kestenbaum said he feels councilmembers vote according to their own experiences and beliefs. Kestenbaum said gathering a consensus among a party would be difficult because of personal differences.

"It really underestimates the integrity" of council members Kestenbuam said. "They're really not conformists."

While some councilmembers and candidates said it is unfair to assume candidates vote by party line, others said politics can have an impact on decisions.

"My perspective is it tends to be an additional barrier," Sheldon said. "There's always going to be a barrier in philosophy or style."

Some council members said a bigger concern is the loss of minority representatives on council. Kwan is Asian-American and Vereen-Dixon is black.

Herrell said these losses can be combated by increasing minority representation on city committees. Herrell said all perspectives not represented on council still need to be heard.

Another concern of councilmembers is the loss of the retiring councilmembers' skills.

Sheldon pointed to Kwan's business background, Vereen-Dixon's expertise in managing a low rent cooperative and Putman's community service background as experiences that will be missed.

Councilmember Jean Carlberg (D-Ward III) said Dixon's retirement is a "serious loss" because of her business background and noted Kwan as "always very forthcoming."

Higgins said for her husband the decision to retire was "difficult," but she said their are benefits to changes on council.

"I think it's good to see new faces ... because it keeps bringing a fresh perspective of the issue," she said. Ann Arbor City Council Candidates

WARD I

John Hieftje (D) Charles Goodman (L)

WARD II

Dee Freiberg (R) Parma Yarkin (D)

Kurt Verhoff (L)

WARD III

Heidi Cowing Herrell (D) Gabriel Quinnan (L)

WARD IV

Lawrence Kestenbaum (D) Marcia Higgins (R)

Stephen James Saletta (L)

WARD V

Michael H. Maylen (R) Christopher Kolb (D)

Garry Conrad Kaluzny (L) Bill Krebaum (Ref)

D=DEMOCRATIC PARTY L=LIBERTARIAN PARTY

Ref=REFORM PARTY R=REPUBLICAN PARTY

11-01-99