The Lonely Republicans

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Hohnke says he’ll support expanding environmental initiatives, from recycling to commuter rail. He also believes his scientific and business background will help during difficult times—“I happen to be one of those weirdos who like looking at profit and cost sheets,” he says. While he calls Floyd’s proposed eight-story height limit “a little too simplistic,” Hohnke says he doesn’t want new buildings to be taller than existing ones: “I don’t expect that we need to put any new peaks in the city’s skylines.”

If there’s anyone lonelier than an Ann Arbor Republican, it’s an Ann Arbor Libertarian. Mayoral candidate Eric Plourde told the Michigan Daily that he doesn’t expect to win but is running to give exposure to the party’s limited-government principles. He’s gotten some coverage for his call to decriminalize alcohol possession for eighteen-to-twenty-year-olds—but in mid-October, Mayor Hieftje hadn’t even bothered to gear up a campaign against him.

Settling the sheriff’s race

When Jerry Clayton beat two-term incumbent Dan Minzey in the August primary, he became the overwhelming favorite to be the next Washtenaw County sheriff. But the first-time Democratic candidate still has to beat Dwayne Taylor, the first-time Republican candidate.