Posted on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 8:05 a.m.
Petersen's 'habits of the heart' essential for elected official
By Letters to the Editor
On Aug. 7, I look forward to voting for Sally Hart Petersen. My reasons are straightforward.
First, I believe Sally's genuine interest in listening, and more notably, responding, to the concerns of all residents in Ward 2 sets her apart. Second, Sally brings new skills, based on her business and community experience, that will benefit our city.
Finally, throughout the campaign, Sally has shown the "habits of the heart" I think essential in an elected official: a commitment to fairness and inclusion, an ability to ask the questions that matter to her constituents, and the courage to speak about transparency and trust as basic democratic values.
Jeanine DeLay
Ann Arbor
Comments
Roadman
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
The public is invited to Traverwood Library tonight at 8:00 p.m. for a debate beween these two candidates. God bless the Second Ward and Sally Hart Petersen.
Sam
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
I feel that Ms Petersen will be more effective a council member than Tony D was ever able to accomplish. Seems that Tony D took his guidance from other sources than listening to his conscience(if he has one).Good luck Sally ,hope you win and help raise the standard of effective at legislation at the city council.
so much nonsense
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
Sally Hart Peterson might have a business degree but she should have paid more attention in class. She spent $2000 on a fundraiser that only brought in $500 in donations. That is not good business sense. Not only was this poor judgement on her part, but it was a campaign finance violation. Sally Hart Peterson did not take the time to read and understand the rules and procedures for campaigning. She runs a campaign based on her intelligence and her business background, but her actions show carelessness and a blatant disregard for rules. This shows exactly how she will function at as a public official. Sally Hart Peterson won't bother to take the time to study and understand the issues that come before her, she will just forge ahead with her agenda with a disregard for policy and procedure. No thanks. If she can't handle something as simple as filing her campaign finance forms then she can't handle a complicated budget.
Veracity
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 6:20 p.m.
I hope voters will not be decide to vote for or against Sally Hart Petersen based solely on how much money a friend decided to spend on food while hosting a "getting-to-know-you" gathering. Voters should be more concerned about understanding the different views of the issues held by each candidate. If Mrs. Petersen is selected by the voters to fill the second Ward 2 City Council seat I am sure that she will work as tirelessly on behalf of the community as she has on her campaign. Certainly she has the credentials to be an excellent City Council member and would bring Harvard MBA skills and intelligence to City Council meetings.
SallyP
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
For the record, I did carefully read the candidate handbook provided by Washtenaw County. The section on campaign donation limits defines $1000 as the per person limit for "local district" over 85,000 in population. I am running for Ann Arbor City Council, and the population is well over 85,000. Yesterday, we asked the Washtenaw County Director of Elections for clarification, even he could not say with certainty whether the local district is defined by the city or the ward. He had to call Lansing for clarification. It turns out the "local district" is the ward and the matter is now corrected. Sally Hart Petersen
Veracity
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
I agree with Jeanine DeLay. Sally Hart Peterson has the intelligence, experience and energy to perform well in City Council. She is dedicated to preserving and enhancing personnel services that will benefit the community including police and firemen. Her business MBA training and executive experience with local private company finances will allow her to contribute to rationale and sensible residential and commercial development downtown that will not include a speculative 12 story building on every corner. Her efforts to improve City finances will involve consideration of renovating and expanding the local railroad station rather than constructing an entirely new and expensive station on Fuller Road. Furthermore, she is dedicated to preserving and safeguarding our park lands from commercial exploitation like the attempted sale of Huron Hills golf course several years ago and the use of Fuller Park land for a railroad station. Mrs. Peterson presented an amendment at the most recent City Council meeting that will require citizen approval for the leasing or re-characterization of park land in addition to the sale of such land and which would hopefully appear on the November ballot. She will try to have more citizen input in the selection of public art that presently is being solely determined by seven members of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC) with the approval of the Mayor. At this time the Dreiseitl "Water Sculpture" (at $770,000) and a $150,000 chandelier soon-to-be-installed at the Municipal Building are examples of the AAPAC's personal art collection. Perhaps more of the money expended can be directed to local artists as well. And most important of all, Sally Hart Peterson has promised to be readily accessible to discuss problems and explain issues. She wants to represent all views of Ward 2 constituents.
Veracity
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
KeepingItReal: This is Sally Hart Petersen's first entry into politics and she has had no reason to be public figure previously so I am not surprised that you did not know her. I expect that many individuals who begin their political career are not well known at first. The list of issues and topics in my original comment are those that have received a lot of attention in the community lately but it is not meant to be a complete list. If you mention the issues that concern you then you may learn that Sally Hart Petersen actually has positions on those issues which may be in alignment with your views. Whoever wins the primary for Ward 2 City Council member will become Ward 2's second Council member (along with Jane Lumm) since no Republican has yet registered to contend in November. If you see no differences between these two candidates then you have not familiarized yourself with each candidate. I suppose that you could flip a coin. Or you do not have to vote at all and let your neighbors decide who will represent you on City Council.
KeepingItReal
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
I live in Ward 2 and have never heard of Sally Hart Peterson. Plus if what you say is true, she absolutely does not represent any of the issues I care about. I can't vote for Tony, yet I find no compelling reason to vote for Peterson.
arborani
Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Yes, yes, and yes.