July 30th Ann Arbor News Article
Meet the Ypsilanti candidates

John R. Bailey
Age: 45
Office sought: City Council, Ward 2
Occupation: Attorney
Eduction: JD from Cooley Law School
Family: Divorced, three daughters
Community involvement: Zoning Board of Appeals member
Web site: http://www.JohnRBailey.org
Issues: Water Street Project, property taxes, income tax

Bill Nickels
Age: 67
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 2
Occupation: Retired chemistry teacher
Eduction: BS Eastern Michigan University, MS in education, Michigan State University
Family: Wife, Karen; son, Craig
Community involvement: Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation board, Auto Museum secretary, Kiwanis community service chair, Heritage Festival board, Convention & Visitors Bureau board, Ypsilanti MotorCities chief steward
Web site: NONE
Previously elected office: City Council, two terms
Issues: The city's finances and Water Street project

Trudy Swanson
Age: 55
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 1
Occupation: On leave from the University of Michigan Hospital communication staff
Eduction: BA in Theology, Tennessee School of Religion, Detroit extension
Family: Divorced
Community involvement: Gateway executive board, Village Initiative executive board, AFSCME Local 1583 University of Michigan Hospitals, the Heritage Neighborhood Association
Web site: NONE
Previously elected office: City Council, three terms
Issues: The city's finances and Water Street project

Juanita House
Age: 45
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 1
Occupation: Social Worker
Eduction: Bachelors in Social Work, Eastern Michigan University; Masters in Social Work, University of Michigan
Family: Single mother with two sons and one daughter
Community involvement: President of the Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, Gateway Community Council, Washtenaw County Community Action Board, Washtenaw Coalition Council member
Web site: NONE
Issues: Involving residents in decision making, being more information-friendly, and becoming fiscally responsible

David Kircher

Age: 55
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 1
Occupation: Retired engineer and technician
Eduction: BSChE, University of Michigan; attended Eastern Michigan University for a master's program in business; attended Detroit College of Law
Family: Single, one son and one daughter
Community involvement: Gateway executive board, Village Initiative executive board, AFSCME Local 1583 University of Michigan Hospitals, the Heritage Neighborhood Association
Web site: NONE
Previously elected office: City Council, three terms
Issues: Water Street project, city finances and openness in government

Rod Johnson

Age: 58
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 3
Occupation: Retail wine salesperson and consultant
Eduction: Attended the University of Michigan
Family: Wife, Shari, and two daughters
Community involvement: Chairman of the Ypsilanti Planning Commission, vice president of the Historic Eastside Neighborhood, member of the Ypsilanti Recreation Commission and Community Policing Action Council
Web site: NONE
Issues: Nurturing neighborhoods, maintaining core services, increasing city revenues and building community trust

Brian Robb

Age: 35
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: City Council, Ward 3
Occupation: Product design engineer, Ford Motor Company
Eduction: BSME, Lafayette College, Easton, PA
Family: Living with partner, Kate de Fuccio
Community involvement: Historic Eastside Neighborhood Association president, Ypsi PRIDE Day, co-creator of YpsiCrime, the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation
Web site: VoteRobb.com
Issues: Reducing spending while preserving core services, restoring trust by making transparency in government a priority, Water Street project, preserving public transportation

Steve Pierce
Age: 43
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: Mayor
Occupation: Business owner and Internet entrepreneur
Eduction: Bachelor's degree in business computer systems, Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico
Family: Married, no children
Community involvement: Member and chair of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority, Ypsilanti Blue Ribbon Committee on City Finance member and subcommittee chair on regionalization, founding board member and current treasurer for the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Smartzone
Web site: www.VotePierce.com
Issues: City budget and Water Street project

Paul Schreiber

Age: 52
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: Mayor
Occupation: Electronic design engineer
Eduction: Bachelor's degree in science
Family: Married, two grown children
Community involvement: Ypsilanti Housing Commission president, Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation Advisory Committee, Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, University Musical Society Ford Honors 2004 Gala Dinner editor, Woods Road neighborhood monthly eNews chair and Ypsilanti Township Recreation Youth Soccer
Web site: www.SchreiberforMayor.com
Issues: Maintain a balanced budget, protect essential city services, regional cooperation, downtown redevelopment

Lois Richardson

Age: 63
Political party: Democrat
Office sought: Mayor
Occupation: Community activist
Eduction: Bachelors in education and social work, Eastern Michigan University
Family: Single
Community involvement: Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, SOS Board of Directors, Gateway Community and Economic board, St. Joseph Hospital Institutional Review Board
Previously elected office: City Council, two terms
Issues: Water Street project, city finances, public transportation and public safety

Khalil E. Hachem can be reached at khachem@annarbornews.com or 734-482-3225.