Which Way For HRP? First, Second Ward Races May Tell

For the Democrats it's revenge. For the Human Rights Party it's a test. For the Republican party it's unlikely. This is the political sentiment in Aim Arbor's First and Second Wards as the Feb. 19 primary election rolls near. The Democrats last April lost their chance to gain control of City Council when the HRP won both seats in those two wards. Previously the wards had been considered a Democratie stronghold. Those two HRP victories last year were considered upsets by just about everyone but the HRP members. However, at that time the city's third party was an unknown and untested entrant. But now that it's views and philosophy are known, the upcoming elections will be the HRP's first ártempt to hold power, not just to get it. Even optimistic Republicans admit the GOP is a sizable underdog in both wards, and its hopes are pinned on the possibility the Democrats and HRP might split the liberal and radical vote enough to allow a Republican to sneak in. For the immediate objective, the primary election a week from today, the First Ward is virtually without a contested race. Only the HRP ballot will have two names - Andrei Joseph and Stephen L. Raymond - but Raymond has disavowed his candidacy and has thrown his support to Joseph. Incumbent Democratie Councilman Norris Thomas is uncontested and will automatically advance to the April election finals; the same is true for the Republican candidate, David J. Wiarda. In the Second Ward also, the Democrats and Republicans will be without a I contested primary. Former Republican Councilman Clan Crawford Jr. will again carry his party's banner into the April affair, as will Democrat candidate Carol Jones. However, the HRP's four-way battle in the Second Ward could possibly be the most interesting of any of the contested races. Besides choosing a candidate from the HRP's strongest area of town, the primary will also give party voters a chance to vote on what direction the party should choose. Three of the candidates represent three distinct factions of the HRP. Lisa North has the endorsement of the Chocolate Almond Caucus, David A. Sinclair is the Rainbow Peoples Party choice, and Frank Shoichet comes from what has been called the "militant middle" of the party. The other candidate, Alexander Stevenson, has no particular affiliation. . North, as the Chocolate Almond candidate, is expressing the views of her cohorts that the HRP should look outside the local party and the local political scène to try and develop a mass base of third party radical support statewide and nationwide. At the Ann Arbor League of Women V o t e r s candidates' night last week, North said social change can come only from mass movements, such as existed for the civil rights causes. Sinclair, as the Rainbow candidate, says the HRP leaders have placed too much emphasis on making the party a forum for ideas. Instead, he says the party should concéntrate more on effecting social changes in Ann Arbor to return the control of the city to the citizenry. Despite the difference in Sinclair's beliefs on party direction and those of party leaders, he has sworn to follow the HRP platform "step by step." Shoichet has rejected both the Chocolate Almond and HRP philosophies. He says the views of North tend to underestimate changes the city can make, and provides other city officials with an excuse for'not changing. He also claims the Rainbow beliefs are too narrow and will not reach persons outside the party for support. Stevenson has steered clear of the party direction issue, and has campaigned for emergency hospital facilities in each J city ward, along with trauma centers, I and for phasing out the use of 1 - - M biles. The outcome of the race is rated a tossup among North, Sinclair and Shoichet. North has support from several of the party "regulars," but Sinclair is given an advantage in reportedly having more money available for his campaign. Schoichet is hoping his middle stance will attract those who are concerned that factionalism within the party may drive outsiders away instead of attracting more support. And the party direction issue is about the only thing the HRP's contestants have to campaign on in any of the races, since its candidates are obliged to support whatever issues the entire party decides on. . ___m