One More Time

2nd Ward candidates Sally Hart Petersen and Tony Derezinski debated the issues one last time before Tuesday's Ann Arbor City Council primary. Read the story.

A Dissenting Opinion

After years of staffing cutbacks in police and fire, the Ann Arbor City Council voted 8-2 early Tuesday morning to approve a city budget that begins a rebuilding process. Jane Lumm was one of two council members who voted against the final version of the budget after she tried unsuccessfully to get the council to add more police and fire positions. Read the story.

West Side Story

Tony Derezinski said it's a slippery slope if the Ann Arbor Planning Commission starts to equate apartments with crime. "We have a lot of complexes going up, and if we were to use that criteria every time, I think it would be sort of suspect," he said during Tuesday night's meeting where a discussion about a proposed housing development on Ann Arbor's west side turned into a debate about crime in relation to nearby apartment complexes. Read the story.

Two For Two

Tony Derezinski, left, and Jane Lumm, right, are the two 2nd Ward representatives on the Ann Arbor City Council.

Fond Farewell

The Ann Arbor City Council offered a final farewell to Stephen Rapundalo at his last meeting Nov. 10, thanking him for his six years of service on council. "It's been a privilege and an honor," Rapundalo said. Read the story.

Rapundalo Vs. Lumm

The gloves came off in the first round Wednesday night as Stephen Rapundalo and Jane Lumm traded blows in a neighborhood candidate forum at Thurston Elementary School. Lumm, who is challenging the Democratic incumbent for his 2nd Ward seat on the Ann Arbor City Council on Nov. 8, used her opening statements to call Rapundalo a liar and told the nearly 60 residents in attendance they deserve better representation. Lumm, who is running as an Independent, had the help of an unruly crowd Wednesday night. On several occasions, residents mocked Rapundalo, scoffed at his statements and accused him of twisting the facts. Read the story.

Welcome To Ward 2

After six years on the Ann Arbor City Council, Stephen Rapundalo faces perhaps his most formidable political challenge yet: seeking re-election against Jane Lumm. The man who once ran for mayor as a Republican and lost to Democrat John Hieftje is now, a decade later, one of Hieftje's trusted Democratic allies on council. But two weeks from now, his continued service representing the 2nd Ward depends on his ability to fend off Lumm, a former GOP council member running as an Independent. The following images were taken as the candidates went door-to-door on Thursday in different parts of the 2nd Ward. Read the story.