I am proud to say that my candidacy is being endorced by:
Progressives of Washtenaw, Sierra Club-Huron Valley Group, Mike Anglin, Council Member, Fifth Ward, Dana Barton, LuAnne Bullington, Dr. Ron Suarez, Council Member, First Ward, David Cahill, Kathy Clark, Tim Colenback, David DeVarti, Braxton Blake, and William Hanson.
Letter to the Editor published in The Ann Arbor News, July 20, 2008.
Council candidate worth a write-in
I urge all in the First Ward to write in Pat Lesko for City Council in the upcoming primary. At first I was glad to have someone to vote for who has no ties to real estate or development interests. However, having now met Pat and read her literature, I am pleased to say that I am enthusiastic about her whole platform, as well as her intelligence and her freshness. She will join Sabra Briere in making financially responsible, socially responsive and environmentally reasonable decisions. Remember that her name, Pat Lesko, must be written in on the ballot!
Laura Strowe, Ann Arbor
My name is Patricia Lesko, and I am running as a write-in candidate for Ann Arbor's First Ward City Council seat.
I was asked to launch this campaign by incumbent City Council member Ron Suarez, along with Democratic party officials, City Council members, and several other First Ward neighbors. I support many of the same progressive ideas that you do about the importance of economic, ethnic and cultural diversity in Ann Arbor's First Ward, as well as the importance of responsive and pro-active oversight of development throughout the City.
Let me tell you about myself:
A First Warder: My family has lived in Michigan for almost 200 years. I have lived in Ann Arbor for 24 years, and in the First Ward since 1992. I came to Ann Arbor to study at the University of Michigan, and earned both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Michigan. I worked my way through a private high school, as well as through six years of college. After graduate school, I taught at a university and lived in Rome, Italy. I speak Italian fluently, and I speak French and Spanish, as well.
I returned to Ann Arbor, and taught as a faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Eastern Michigan University, and Washtenaw Community College. In 1992, I took my savings and started a publishing company. We publish professional development books for college faculty, and a magazine for college faculty who hold non-tenure track appointments. I have written nationally about higher education in the United States for 16 years. Now and again, you will see my byline in the Ann Arbor Observer; I freelance for fun. I also garden, bike, and kayak. My partner of 16 years and I have two sons, ages 11 and 8, both of whom attend the local public schools.
Not A Political Insider: If you want a political insider, I am not your candidate. I am running, because I truly believe that city government can and should be responsive to citizens, and when it isn't we have every obligation to try to improve the system. Like Ron Suarez, prior to running for Council, I was never appointed by the Mayor to serve on a committee or a task force. I have absolutely nothing to gain financially, professionally or personally from serving on City Council (with the exception of the stipend).
If elected, I will be beholden to no one but the First Warders whom I will serve. Aside from this campaign, my experience with local government has been, most likely, the same as yours. I vote. I own a home, and pay my property taxes (sometimes with a grimace). I have been a member of the People's Food Co-op for fifteen years, and served on the organization's Board of Directors. I served on the Board of my synagogue. Most recently, I was involved with the "Ask Voters First" initiative. It is partially because of this experience that I agreed, when approached, to run this write-in campaign.
More questions? You can call me on 930-6854, or email me at pdlesko@yahoo.com. Check out my campaign blog here. It will be updated daily.