Campaign finance reports show majority supporters trying to oust 2 Ann Arbor City Council members

The campaign finance statements, which cover donations received through July 17, are posted on Washtenaw County's elections website here.

Ault and Elyakin are trying to unseat Council Members Stephen Kunselman and Mike Anglin, respectively.

Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, and Anglin, D-5th Ward, are known for going against the grain at times and taking positions that conflict with the majority opinion on council. That's been evident most recently with the proposed Fuller Road Station project, which both Anglin and Kunselman have expressed doubts about.

Ault raised $4,031 in cash donations plus another $381 in in-kind contributions for her campaign against Kunselman. She spent nearly $2,700 by the end of the reporting period.

She received $100 from Joan Lowenstein, chairwoman of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority; nearly $300 from Leah Gunn, a county commissioner and DDA board member; $200 from DDA board member John Splitt; and $100 from Jesse Bernstein, chairman of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

Ault also received $300 from Eric Mahler, chairman of the Planning Commission; $200 from local developer Dan Ketelaar; $100 from Planning Commissioner Jean Carlberg; and $250 from Jeff Hauptman of Ann Arbor-based Oxford Property Management.

Elyakin raised $5,923 in cash donations plus another $1,573 in in-kind contributions for his campaign against Anglin. He spent more than $2,700 by the end of the reporting period.

He received $100 from Bernstein, $200 from Lowenstein and some larger donations from people in Farmington Hills and Bloomfield Hills — including $500 from Florine Mark, the founder of Weight Watchers. He also reported a $360 late contribution received July 21 from Farmington Hills attorney Mark Bernstein.

Ault and Elyakin both have been endorsed by City Council Member Sandi Smith, D-1st Ward, who is appointed by the mayor to serve on the DDA board.

Council Member Stephen Rapundalo, who is defending his 2nd Ward seat against challenger Tim Hull, raised $2,950 in cash donations and did not receive any in-kind contributions. He spent nearly $2,200 by the end of the reporting period.

Like Ault and Elyakin, Rapundalo also received contributions from supporters of the council majority, including $100 from Lowenstein, $400 from Gunn, and $200 from Splitt. He also took in $25 from DDA board member Roger Hewitt; $250 from John Greden, father of former City Council Member Leigh Greden; and $500 from the Miller Canfield PAC.

Hull raised $2,095 in cash donations plus another $45 in in-kind contributions for his campaign against Rapundalo. He spent less than $520 by the end of the reporting period.

Hull's supporters also include known opponents of the council majority. He received $50 from Sumi Kailasapathy, who ran against Smith in the 1st Ward race for council last year; and $100 from Karen Sidney, who is Anglin's treasurer and a frequent critic of city hall. He also received $400 from Ted Annis, former treasurer of the AATA's governing board.

Anglin raised the most of any candidate with $6,850 in cash donations plus another $214 in in-kind contributions. He spent more than $3,400 by the end of the reporting period.

Many of Anglin's supporters also are known critics of the council majority. He received $350 from Jack Eaton, who ran against Margie Teall in the 4th Ward race for council last year; $200 from John Floyd, who ran against Carsten Hohnke in the 5th Ward race for council last year; and $100 from Lou Glorie, who also ran against Hohnke last year.

Anglin also received $200 from Beverly Strassmann, a neighborhood activist who has fought to stop developments in the Germantown neighborhood. He also received $500 from Dennis Dahlmann, owner of Dahlmann Properties and the Campus Inn.

Kunselman raised $2,750 in cash donations plus another $56 in in-kind contributions. He spent more than $1,300 by the end of the reporting period.

He had some of the same supporters as Anglin. He received $500 from Dahlmann; $200 from Eaton; and $300 from John and Gwen Nystuen. Gwen Nystuen is a member of the Park Advisory Commission who also is supporting Anglin's campaign.

Kunselman also received $100 from LuAnne Bullington, who competed alongside him for the 3rd Ward seat two years ago when they both were trying to oust Leigh Greden.