Stephen Rapundalo at last meeting on Ann Arbor City Council: 'It's been a privilege and an honor'
The Ann Arbor City Council offered a final farewell to Stephen Rapundalo Thursday night, thanking him for his six years of service on council.
"I was thinking about the very first time I ever met you," said Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, recalling Rapundalo's work on water backup issues in the city.
"You were not a council member. You were a private citizen out there working very hard on one of our committees that did a lot of work," she said, also recalling Rapundalo's past service as chairman of the city's Park Advisory Commission.
Stephen Rapundalo at his last meeting Thursday night after six years on the Ann Arbor City Council.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Thursday marked Rapundalo's last meeting after losing to Independent challenger Jane Lumm in Tuesday's election. Lumm will be sworn in Nov. 21.
"It's been a privilege and an honor … and just a lot of darn fun serving with all of you," the outgoing council member said toward the end of the meeting. "I tried to do so with dignity, with thoughtfulness, and integrity. It's the only way I've ever known how to do things. And as some of you have pointed out, I pretty much call it like I see it."
Rapundalo said he enjoyed working with former City Administrator Roger Fraser and one of his regrets is he won't be around to keep working with new City Administrator Steve Powers. He said his biggest thanks goes out to the city's staff members.
"You're only as good as the people around you," Rapundalo said. "And I think the public should realize that all of staff — I don't care what corner of the organization — works very, very hard. I don't think they get enough respect and recognition for all their hard work."
Mayor John Hieftje said he'll miss Rapundalo's scientific way of thinking. Rapundalo's professional background is in pharmaceutical research and development.
Council Member Carsten Hohnke, D-5th Ward, said Rapundalo will be remembered for doing the tough and sometimes unpopular work that needed to be done.
"You are somebody who has never veered away from saying what needs to be said — and what a lot of people would rather shy away from," agreed Council Member Margie Teall, D-4th Ward. "And I think you have a lot of courage and a lot of great insight. You are very thoughtful — one of those amazing thinkers who we need on council."
Council Members Mike Anglin, D-5th Ward, and Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, recalled being on opposite sides of many issues with Rapundalo but still respecting him. Anglin said he worked with Rapundalo on the city's liquor license committee and admired his work ethic.
"I have to say, he did an outstanding job," Anglin said, recalling Rapundalo started on "the rudimentary things necessary to get the liquor board in shape."
"I hope in some small way I've been able to make some contributions," Rapundalo said. "I certainly have worked on a number of issues that I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I think hopefully there's been a small imprint made, whether it be on labor issues or issues related to human services, and there's just a whole laundry list I guess."
Council Member Tony Derezinski, D-2nd Ward, said he appreciated working alongside Rapundalo as a fellow ward representative.
"One of the things that is sometimes unappreciated," he said, "is the incredible amount of time it takes to serve on a number of committees, on a number of assignments of a very technical and long, drawn-out nature that Stephen Rapundalo has been willing and able to do."
Derezinski said Rapundalo gave a tremendous amount of his time and his personal life for the good of the city and the stage is set now for the future.
Kunselman, who was ousted from office in 2008 before making a comeback a year later, said he understands what Rapundalo is feeling after being voted out.
"I've been where you're going and I know that it's something that you just can't let go of," he said. "It will be on your mind for some time, and that's why I suspect you'll work to come back."
Rapundalo cracked a smile at that statement.
"I really had a lot of fun and I don't know about running again, but I am sure of one thing in that I will certainly find some way to contribute," he said.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 11:21 a.m.
"After your basement was flooded by a sewer backup, you didn't whine and complain like so many, but -- as a private citizen -- initiated, organized, and won approval for the storm sewer disconnect solution that will keep not only your basement, but all your neighbors' basements and basements all over the city from being flooded with sewage backup ever again." Hogwash. Ask some of the folks in the 4th Ward who were forced into installing 'sump pumps'. If you believe this, I have some swampland out in the Greenbelt I want to sell you.
Alan Goldsmith
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 11:19 a.m.
"From what I've heard... he did indeed wish her congratulations. It wasn't reported in the news, but it happened." Ok, as long as you 'heard' it. Lol.
Tex Treeder
Sun, Nov 13, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
I won't deny that Rapundalo worked hard during his tenure on the City Council, but as many others have pointed out, he was out of touch with his constituents, hard to contact and intent on ramming his agenda through the council. However, I take issue with his comment about "serving with integrity." A man with integrity wouldn't try to hoodwink his constituents by pretending to be involved with issues. I won't forget "email-gate" if Rapundalo tries to run for office again.
Kai Petainen
Sun, Nov 13, 2011 : 4:16 a.m.
From what I've heard... he did indeed wish her congratulations. It wasn't reported in the news, but it happened. He thanked the staff, he congratulated her, he did what he thought was best for Ann Arbor.. and now he moves on. Looking back, I think the mistake he made... was a big one that anyone in business should not forget... The lesson: Never forget your #1 customer. In this case... it was the people in his ward and their wishes. The 2nd lesson: Those with the most business connections don't always win. He'll be ok. He has talent/connections... he'll probabbly get involved in some manner in Ann Arbor. So... all we can do now.... is wish him the best.
Alan Goldsmith
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 8 p.m.
Funny-It hasn't been reported if the ex-Council member congratulated Jane Lumm on winning the election. Has he done so yet? Apparently not at this Council meeting...If no, why not?
David Spence
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Thank you, Stephen, for all your hard work on council. You have put in countless hours working for the good of Ann Arbor ever since those many years you chaired our home-owner's association where you negotiated with so many developers to ensure that the N.E. sector of our city is one of the best-planned in all of Ann Arbor. After your basement was flooded by a sewer backup, you didn't whine and complain like so many, but -- as a private citizen -- initiated, organized, and won approval for the storm sewer disconnect solution that will keep not only your basement, but all your neighbors' basements and basements all over the city from being flooded with sewage backup ever again. I must admit that my first reaction to learning that *my* storm sewer would have to be disconnected was not all that positive. So I read the report on all the alternatives that were carefully considered and concluded that the alternative selected by the committee you spearheaded was indeed the best solution to a problem that really did need to be solved. Your work on council's labor committee resulting in the benefit reforms for city payroll produced major cost savings for the city and was a key to preventing further layoffs. Thank you again, and please continue working for the good of Ann Arbor!
Grumpy
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.
Happy to see him go after watching him try to ram his vision for Library Lot down our throats. If he does come back two years from now, maybe he will return as a humbled member of council.
eone
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.
I for one hope this is the sign of things to come. Sure hope he doesn't end up on some committee!
Alan Goldsmith
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
Kunselman has a lot of class since Rapundalo was part of the Council cabal that worked hard at trying to remove him from office, something the article forgets to mention. Funny, didn't see any members of the public praising the good doctor-you know like police and fire staff, the hard working city employees he bashed and insulted for years. Thanks to the voters, his 'amazing thinking' (you know, like his praise for the anti-democratic 'emergency manager' concept) can now be put to use in the private sector.
Sparty
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 4:33 a.m.
Now to get rid of both of the invisibe 4th ward members, and Tony, Carsten, and da Mayor. Wow - we could have a City Council that's actually effective and logical !
Kai Petainen
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 4:06 a.m.
It was nice to see that he thanked the staff at City Hall... it was nice how he thanked them. Best wishes to Rapundalo....
A2Susie
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 3:10 a.m.
The use of the term "smirked" rankles with me; it seems like a subjective observation with a negative spin. A more general, less pejorative, less in-the-eye-of one-beholder term would have been "smiled." You don't know what he was thinking unless he tells you. An embarrassed or sheepish smile can look pretty close to a smirk, I would think. I would like to see less of this kind of thing on here. Report objective facts, please. Give background. Make sure you hit all the Ws (Who, What, Where, When, and Why.) I was torn about my vote this year. I wound up voting for Jane because she is someone I've known for many years, and known her to be a very conscientious, very capable public servant. A Democrat myself, I've always voted for her when she's run. I am sorry, though, that I had to choose between her and Steve, and I hope he will run again in future. I think he has done a good job.
Kai Petainen
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 5:28 p.m.
I was watching it on TV. It looked like a smirk. No need to be politically correct. "I wound up voting for Jane because she is someone I've known for many years" As much as I'm happy that Jane won, that's a bad reason to vote for anyone.
Alan Goldsmith
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
Smirk, given Rapundalo's part treatment of Kunselman, was probably correct. No need to cave and edit that word to 'smile'. You were right the first time.
Ryan J. Stanton
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 9:12 a.m.
Thanks for the feedback. I did end up tweaking that sentence.
2WheelsGood
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
"... out there working very hard on one of our committees that did a lot of work" What a strange statement. Committees that did a lot of work? What does that mean? As opposed to the committees that just slacked off?
MyOpinion
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
Kunselman, who was ousted from office in 2008 before making a comeback a year later, said he understands what Rapundalo is feeling after being voted out. "I've been where you're going and I know that it's something that you just can't let go of," he said. "It will be on your mind for some time, and that's why I suspect you'll work to come back." Rapundalo smirked at that statement. So why did Rapudalo smirk? He knows that he'll end up being appointed to some committee or other non-elected entity like the DDA. And, the best thing about that is he doesn't have to worry about representing his constituents. He has a lot of practice with that.
Roadman
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 1:38 a.m.
As much as I am happy to see Jane Lumm being re-seated on the City Council, I do believe that Steve Rapundalo was a far harder-working representative than some other members of City Council. I certainly give him credit for that. The two City Council reps from the Fourth Ward were not nearly as diligent as Mr. Rapundalo, yet regularly win re-election.
say it plain
Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
That's a good point, unfortunately... In some ways, laying low and doing *very little* is helpful to continual re-election, I suppose, in some places anyway...