Daily Staff Reporters
In an election that drew less than 12 percent of the 86,672 registered voters in the city, three Democrats and two Republicans took the five Ann Arbor City Council seats contested last night.
Incumbent candidates Heidi Herrell and Christopher Kolb retained their seats in Wards III and V, respectively, while newcomers John Hieftje (D-Ward I), Dee Freiberg (R-Ward II) and Marcia Higgins (D-Ward IV) took control of the three remaining seats in preliminary results.
Kolb said, "It feels great to be reelected to city council. Every couple of years we get reviewed by voters. I take nothing for granted. I stand for neighborhoods, community and people."
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| LOUIS BROWN/Daily ABOVE: City councilmember Chris Kolb (D-Ward V) sits at the Arbor Brewing Company after he was re-elected last night. LEFT: University faculty members Larry Radine and Glenda Radine vote yesterday at Angell School on South University Avenue. |
Sheldon said she was happy with the results because the Democrats did not win an eighth seat, the number needed to override vetoes by the mayor.
"I think the threat of veto adds an element of civility to council," Sheldon said.
Not surprised by her loss to Dee Freiberg in Ward II, Parma Yarkin said, "I stayed in the race to make sure there was a respectable Democratic alternative. I wanted to make sure people had a good reason to vote 'yes' for parks."
The parks proposal to which Yarkin referred - an additional .5 mill that would fund future parkland purchases - passed with 65 percent of the vote.
University Medical Prof. Bob O'Neal said the parks proposal was one of the main reasons he decided to vote yesterday.
"I voted yes because I think it is important we preserve as much free land as we can," O'Neal said. "We need to protect it from development and protect the rivers. They're a resource that once we lose it we will never get it back."
The night's most contested race belonged to the candidates of Ward IV. Republican candidate Marcia Higgins edged out Democrat candidate Lawrence Kestenbaum by a mere 74 votes.
Higgins, spending the evening at a benefit dinner, learned of her victory when Kestenbaum sought her ought for congratulations.
"Larry Kestenbaum was very kind," Higgins said. "I didn't think it was going to be a cake walk."
Kestenbaum said he is disappointed with the loss but happy with his campaign.
"The response I got ... was really more favorable than I expected," Kestenbaum said. "I'm sorry I can't be on city council for them," he said, referring to those who supported and voted for him. "I think turnout was light and the weather was bad," he said.
Ward II Republican victor Dee Freiburg said she knows her life will become hectic but is ready for the challenge.
"I'm nervous. I really want to live up to the expectations of the voters," Freiburg said.
Freiburg said her major goal is to improve and increase "neighborhood associations" throughout Ann Arbor.
After finding out she won, Democrat Heidi Herrell said, "I am glad I won. I am looking forward to another two years to serve the city in the Third Ward."
First Ward Libertarian candidate Charles Goodman, who received 11 percent of the vote, said that it does not discourage him that a Libertarian has never been elected to the council.
"It's very hard in a political system such as ours for someone who is not with the two major parties to get elected."
While receiving little more than 20 percent of the votes in Ward V, Republican candidate Michael Maylen said his experience has convinced him to run in the 2000 election.
"Tonight, the people of Ward V elected two representatives," Maylen said. "I've gotten involved and I plan on staying involved."
- Daily Staff Reporters Jeremy W. Peters and Jon Zemke contributed to this report.
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