AnnArborites

How sweet it is!

What a whirlwind! I have never been this close to a campaign before and the final weeks are just phenomenal! I think I was running on sheer adrenalin. Winning this primary contest assures me the council seat as there will be no Republican opposition in November. After a long quiet weekend ahead, I will begin to prepare for my new position.

We spent the better part of yesterday picking up signs and putting them in storage for two years. If we missed yours, let us know and we'll be happy to come retrieve it. We had pretty good records of where they were, but we still have 70 MIA.

I want to thank everyone who was involved in this campaign. We were all rookies finding our way through, but we did a heck of a job, had fun along the way, and made some wonderful new friends.

I also want to thank everyone who has supported me emotionally, financially and at the polls. I am looking forward to serving you and working together for a sustainable future for Ann Arbor.

Posted by Sandi Smith at 8/7/2008 7:03 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Endorsed by the Michigan Daily!

See the full endorsement here or in today's Michigan Daily.
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/daily-vote-hieftje-smith-derezinski-kunselman-hohnke

Posted by Sandi Smith at 8/4/2008 6:53 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Endorsed by Jean Carlberg, Former City Councilwoman

I have worked with Sandi on two committees where her leadership skills and comprehensive approach to decision-making were very important.  She has chaired the DDA Partnerships Committee which brought together organizations interested in downtown vitality for input on issues the DDA addresses.  She was efficient in seeing that the necessary information was available to all, that all viewpoints were heard respectfully, and that the group proceeded to make recommendations with a clear understanding of the principles involved.  Another component of her work on the DDA has required working with a complex budget that ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Sandi Smith at 8/3/2008 9:08 AM | Add Comment

Question: How will you work within the local foodshed to ensure food security and affordability for our city?

Personally, I was at the organizing committee for the Homegrown Festival (www.HomeGrownFestival.org) and encourage and participate in this type of community based work. I would love to see a program where building roofs were converted to garden spaces. It would improve stormwater management, improve water quality in the watershed and increase the amount of locally grown produce.

I will support the Farmer's Market and Greenbelt Program, which provide resources for local farmers to grow and sell their produce in Ann Arbor and the surrounding region.  I have been a Project Grow gardener in the past and will continue to ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/31/2008 12:07 PM | Add Comment

Endorsed by Between the Lines!

See the complete article here!
http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=31346 ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/30/2008 6:57 AM | Add Comment

Endorsed by The Ann Arbor News!

I am very proud to announce that I was endorsed by The Ann Arbor News. See the full article here:
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews_opinion/2008/07/editorial_smith_derezinski_are.html ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/25/2008 5:33 AM | Add Comment

Question: Please tell us about your experience and/or ideas for furthering environmental protection in Ann Arbor.

My company is a WasteKnot award winner for five years in a row. This award is a county level award given to businesses with a proven record of reducing waste, reusing materials and their recycling efforts. While serving on the DDA, I have initiated or supported many projects including investments in alternative transportation options, the Solar Electric System installation at the Farmer’s Market, the conversion of the Holiday Light program to LED’s, and retrofitting the globe streetlights in the DDA District to LED lights - which pay for themselves in only 4 years. As a councilmember, I will work to include green features in every capital improvement project and continue to look for opportunities to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/20/2008 7:52 AM | Add Comment

Question: Do you feel that the city needs to generate more funds, and if so, how?

Our citizens demand a high level of core services, support of many social programs and amenities like an extensive park network - all of which are competing for dwindling funds. Increasing the tax base is an excellent way to generate more revenues for the city without raising taxes. This can be accomplished by allowing a greater density in the urban core, generating new revenues from both private and personal property taxes.

Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/19/2008 8:02 AM | Add Comment

Question: Where do children living in the downtown play?

There are several parks very close to downtown such as North Main, Wheeler and West Parks which have amenities such as basketball, baseball, child play areas, soccer fields and lawn areas. There are several public open areas like Community High, the Diag and the Mall - home to Top of the Park and the growing Townie Party. Many parks are within a mile radius of downtown: Hunt, Belize, Wurster, Allmendinger, Riverside and easy access to the Border to Border trail.

Posted by Sandi Smith at 7/18/2008 8:06 AM | Add Comment

Key Issue: Transportation


Now more than ever, it’s time to highlight transportation issues and think regionally and multi-modal: bicycles, cars, busses, light rail and pedestrian. I will work to expand the number of bike paths in the city, improve regional bus service, encourage the development of the east/west and north/south rail; and improve Ann Arbor’s pedestrian friendliness.

...<< MORE >>
Posted by Sandi Smith at 5/14/2008 2:46 PM | View Comments (5) | Add Comment
Copyright AnnArborites 2008. All rights reserved. Paid for by Sandi Smith for Council, 515 N Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.