Candidates file for election in Ypsilanti

By Dan DuChene
May. 11, 2010    ·    5:51 p.m.

The deadline to file as a partisan candidate for the general election in November passed this afternoon, leaving contested races for every available seat in the city.

With every candidate filing as a Democrat, the August primary will likely become the heated contest for the mayoral and City Council elections in Ypsilanti. Independent candidates can still run in November, with their filing deadline set for July 15.

The deadline to run as a partisan candidate was today at 4 p.m.

As announced last week, City Councilmember Pete Murdock, D-Ward 3, is challenging Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber for his seat. Deputy City Clerk Ed Golembiewski said both candidates have filed their paperwork to run as candidates.

Aside from the mayoral race, Golembiewski said the paper work has been turned in for two candidates in Ward 3, two candidates in Ward 2 and four candidates in Ward 1.

Schreiber was elected four years ago after defeating both Ypsilanti resident Steve Pierce and City Councilmember Lois Richardson, D-Ward 1. He is running against Murdock, who was elected to City Council two years ago and served as mayor for Ypsilanti during the 1980s.

Brian Robb, D-Ward 3, is the only incumbent seeking re-election in the three City Council races. Neither Bill Nickels, D-Ward 2, or Mayor Pro Tem Trudy Swanson-Winston, D-Ward 1, are running this year.

The most contested seat is Winston's in Ward 1. Four candidates, including many familiar names are running for her seat.

Tyrone Bridges, who ran and lost against Richardson in 2008; Juanita House, who ran and lost against Winston in 2006; Pierce and newcomer Ricky Jefferson will run against each other for the Ward 1 seat in August.

Daniel Vogt and Claudia Pettit will face each other for Nickels' Ward 2 seat. Neither candidate has run for political office in the past eight years.

Ted Windish, who ran and lost as a write-in candidate against Murdock in 2008, is challenging Robb's seat in Ward 3.

The candidates listed will be contacted by the Citizen for interviews as our election coverage ramps up during the next few weeks.

Golembiewski said this November city voters will also have to decide if they want the charter revised. He said the charter requires the city to ask voters for a revision every eight general elections. Nine commissioners must be elected in November, the same time voters are to decide whether or not revise the charter.

No candidates have filed to run for the charter commission, Golembiewski said. He said only one person has come in to City Hall to pick up an information packet. The filing deadline to run for the charter commission is 4 p.m. July 15.