In Ann Arbor, the Democratic candidate for City Council most often wins the general election. For example, nine of the ten present Council members were elected as Democrats, only one was elected as an independent. This means that the Democratic primary election often determines your representative on City Council.

I encourage everyone to vote in the Democratic primary election on August 7, 2012. You do not need to be a member of the Democratic Party or declare a party affiliation when you vote. The only restriction is that you must vote either the democratic or republican side of the ballot. You cannot vote both, or for different party candidates for different offices.

Additional election information is available from the Ann Arbor City Clerk.

My friends and neighbors have encouraged me to run as their Fourth Ward Council representative because they share my desire for a change in the priorities of our present city government. We believe that the primary role of our city government should be to provide the basic services that the taxpayers want, and those services that we have voted for higher taxation to support.

Our basic services of police and fire protection have been reduced. The city fire chief has proposed to close two city fire stations because he does not have sufficient staff. Yet the city has spent heavily for new buildings and art projects.

We pay an additional millage for “green space”, yet our Council has been unwilling to act on an Ann Arbor Greenway. We voted for a city charter amendment to prohibit the sale of parkland without a public vote. Our city government did not follow the clear mandate of the public but rather tried to circumvent it by claiming a long term lease of Fuller Park was not technically a sale and therefore did not require a vote by the citizens.

Ann Arbor tax payers pay a special additional streets millage that citizens of most other cities do not pay, yet so many of our streets are in poor condition. Even the design for the repair of the East Stadium Boulevard bridges was delayed for several years.

I will work for you to change our city priorities, To restore our police and fire staff, to protect and improve our park system. We can make Ann Arbor a vibrant college city that will continue to attract people and businesses to the area.

To best represent you, I ask that you allow me to add you to my campaign email list so you can receive updates. You can be added to my campaign contact list by clicking onthe following link and just sending the email:

Campaigns are expensive. We need literature and postage to send our message to Ward 4 voters. Contributions are greatly appreciated and should be sent to:

Why "John" and not Jack Eaton? My legal name is John, and that is the offical name of the election committee. I will probably be on the ballot as John Eaton also.

Regardless of whether you are able to donate money or volunteer effort, my campaign is to make our city council a government for the people. I need to hear your concerns and thoughts. We are in this together. Send me an email at the above email address, send me a letter at the contribution address, or call me, Jack Eaton at (734) 662-6083 or (734) 776-3057 (cell phone).