EdAmonsen.org

write in vote example - you must darken the oval

Welcome to The Campaign to Elect ED AMONSEN

- Write-in Candidate for Ann Arbor Ward 2 City Council on November 6, 2007 -

Although there are many important issues facing Ann Arbor and its citizens, I believe that saving Ann Arbor's parks is one of the critical issues facing our city. Our parks are a key part of the value of living in our city. Ward 2 is home to Huron Hills Golf Course, its surrounding woodlands and the adjoining Gallup Park which collectively form one of the central hallmarks of the Ann Arbor landscape and lifestyle.

As a 25 year resident of Ann Arbor, an entrepreneur and business executive, I have become increasingly alarmed by the recent actions of our city council in which it has failed to live up to its responsibilities as steward of our parks. Our parks are being marginalized by funding shortfalls while budget resources are being used for questionable projects. The promise of city council made just a year ago (in conjunction with the 20% parks millage tax increase) that the City would not divert park funds to other purposes has already been broken, and loopholes remain in our city charter that allow the city, through reclassification of parkland to non-parkland, to sell our parkland without a vote of the citizens. City administrators and consultants continue to investigate the possibility of selling some or all of the Huron Hills property - even though more than 200 citizens wrote city council more than two years ago stating that such a sale was unacceptable. Our Ward 2 representatives, Stephen Rapundalo and Joan Lowenstein, have not tried to lead any effort to correct this failure of our city government and thus, have effectively endorsed the continued possibility of selling the irreplaceable parkland at Huron Hills.

As a result of this lack of leadership by our present council members, I believe that Ward 2 must have new representation that will be committed to saving Ann Arbor parks. We cannot wait until the 2008 election cycle. Thus, I have decided to run as a write-in candidate. As a representative for Ward 2, I will pledge to represent the best interests of Ward 2 on all matters. I will also work diligently to save Ann Arbor parks and, in this regard, will:

•  Advocate and vote against any attempts to sell part or all of the parkland property in and around Huron Hills.

•  Vote against attempts by city council to re-classify any parkland to non-parkland.

•  Sponsor an amendment to the city charter to require a vote by the citizens in order to reclassify or sell any parkland and parkland reserves.

•  Advocate for a complete re-evaluation of the proposal for construction of a new city government complex.

•  Advocate making the budget process transparent to all our citizens, so that "too complicated" is never again an excuse for breaking promises.

Do you want to be represented on city council and help save Huron Hills? If so, Ward 2 must have new representation on city council now . I ask for your support on November 6 by going to the polls to write in "ED AMONSEN" for city council. Thank you for your consideration.

Supporters List::

Ted Annis

Paul Bancel

Bill Cassebaum

Janet Cassebaum

Nancy Clark

John Clark

Carolyn Conlin

L.Thomas Conlin

Sandra Connellan

Michael Creech

Jeff DeBoer

Joe Decker

Nan Decker

Barb DeLancey

John DeLancey

John DeVine

Marnee DeVine

Stuart Dombey

C. William Ferguson

Jane Ferguson

Clare M. Fingerle

Lou Glorie

Jerry Gray

Mary K . Gray

Nina Hauser

Nancy Kaplan

Harvey Kaplan

Sally Klein

Tom Klein

Dr. Charles Lucas

Judy Lucas

Jane Lumm

John Lumm

Dr. Daniel McMurtrie

Madelyn McMurtrie

Clyde Metzger

Karen Metzger

Paul Morel

Jan Nelson

Stewart Nelson

Bill Newcomb

Linda Pedrick

Linda Powell

Jim Ramsey

Holly Ramsey

Robyn Robeson

Susan Schmidt-Creech

Ann Schriber

Dr. Thomas Schriber

Karen Sidney

Jim Skupski

Dr. James Taylor

Katherine Voss

Ed Walsh

Jon Wardner

Niki Wardner

Bob Weisman

Darragh Weisman

Dianne Widzinski

Sarajane Winkelman

Linda Woodworth