Join Us at Our 2010 Candidate Forums!
General Party Meeting  |  Saturday, June 12  |  Ann Arbor Community Center

Candidates for State Senate and Ann Arbor Mayor
Hon. Pam Byrnes, Tom Partridge, Hon. Rebekah Warren, Hon. John Hieftje and Pat Lesko (invited)

On Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to noon, we welcome the candidates for state Senate and Mayor -- districts that cover the entire city of Ann Arbor. In keeping with our commitment to creating deeper and more meaningful connections with those who would represent the party, we offer you two full hours of give and take with these five candidates:

The Honorable Pam Byrnes currently represents the 52nd District in the House of Representatives where she serves as Speaker Pro Tem and chairs the Transportation Committee. Before joining the House in 2004, Pam served on the Washtenaw County Road Commission in 2000, becoming the first female road commissioner in Washtenaw County. This graduated of the University of MIchigan founded the Western Washtenaw Democratic Club and served as its first Chair. She is an active member of several local Chambers of Commerce and previously served on the Ypsilanti Chamber's Women's Council.

Tom Partridge is a Democratic precinct delegate in Scio Township and has been the Democrat's candidate for County Commission in the 3rd District. Tom is an active advocate for civil liberties and mass transit, appearing before the Ann Arbor City Council, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The Honorable Rebekah Warren represents the 53rd state House District and chairs the Great Lakes and Environment Committee. Rebekah holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. She served as legislative director for state Representative Mary Schroer for six years and chief of staff for Rep Hubert Price. Rebekah led MARAL Pro Choice Michigan and served on teh board of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League before being elected. In Ann Arbor, she chaired the Community Development Executive Committee, responsible for housing and poverty programs.

The Honorable John Hieftje has served as Mayor of Ann Arbor since 2000 and as a council member for the first ward before that. He serves on Governor Granholm's Climate Action Council and has been a board member of the Huron River Watershed Council, the Downtown Development Authority, the Lake Superior Conservancy and Recycle Ann Arbor. John chaired the Michigan Urban Core Mayors in 2004 and 2005. He is a magna cum laude graduate in Political Science from Eastern Michigan University and teaches local government at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.

Patricia Lesko (invited) is a 26 year resident of Ann Arbor and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan. She is involved in city, state-wide and national groups that forcus on the environment, education, politics and human rights. Pat writes nationally about higher education and serves as publisher and CEO of a national higher education publishing group in Ann Arbor. As a community activist, she has been a board member of the People's Food Co-op and founded the Ann Arbor Society of Editors and Publishers. Pat is an active volunteer and member of numerous community organizations.

Please join us for a vibrant conversation -- your questions, their answers -- this coming Saturday at the Ann Arbor Community Center. Would you care to get a question early in the queue?  Send it my way at chair@annarbordems.org.  

We're excited to build momentum for the 2010 elections upon the vision and passion of these dedicated volunteers for public service.  Help us make them welcome!