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NOTEBOOK Another echo of a past congressional campaign has popped up in thePittsfield Township Democratic primary, where former U.S. Rep. LynnRivers of Ann Arbor has contributed $500 to Pittsfield Promise.That's the political action committee supporting supervisorcandidate Mandy Grewal and a slate trying to oust a group ofincumbents led by Supervisor James Walter.

Earlier this summer, U.S. Rep. John Dingell endorsed Walter and hisgroup, and his campaign committee donated $1,000 to their cause.

Dingell defeated Rivers in the Democratic primary in 2002 after aRepublican-designed redistricting forced Dingell and Rivers to runfor the same seat. During that campaign, Walter and members of hisgroup endorsed Dingell.

Rivers' donation was reported in a late contribution report filedTuesday, July 29. PACs have 48 hours to file a late contributionreport for donations over $200 that come in less than 15 daysbefore an election.

Disclosure amends

Pittsfield Promise also will be amending its pre-election campaignfinance report.

Attorney Michael McCormick, who is treasurer for the group, said hedid not read far enough in the rules for filing the reports when helisted Nature's Garden Center L.L.C. as the donor of $2,500.

According to the rules, a limited liability company may notcontribute more than $500 without registering as a campaigncommittee.

The report will be amended to reflect the name of the individual atNature's Garden Center donating the $2,500, McCormick said.

Opponents break bread

Stewart Nelson has been at odds with Ann Arbor's City Council overissues including the future of the Huron Hills Golf Course and thenew police-court building.

But the 2nd Ward City Council candidate decided it would nice tohave a meal with the mayor. And so, at a recent Democratic partyfundraiser, Nelson wrote a check for $125 for the privilege ofhaving breakfast with Mayor John Hieftje.

"It was very cordial," said Nelson of the 90-minute meal at theNorthside Grill.

Frequent fliers

The last-minute, pre-primary jockeying has included someinteresting advertising: A mailer sent to Scio Township residentstelling them not to be "fooled" by a flier about Republicansrunning as Democrats, for example.

A newspaper ad placed on behalf of Ypsilanti Township supervisorcandidate Brenda Stumbo and her slate concerned allegations aboutan earlier campaign mailer.

The ad stated that Norman and Sandra Andresen filed complaintsagainst Stumbo - the current township clerk, alleging Stumbo maileda political literature labeled "sample ballot" from the clerk'soffice to all absentee voters promoting her team.

Wrong, says Andresen.

Although she did write a formal letter of complaint it did not saythat Stumbo mailed the literature from the clerk's office.

Instead, she and her husband questioned the use of sample ballotsmarked with the names of Stumbo's slate. The campaign literaturewas sent to absentee voters.

The Andresens are asking the state to clarify whether thealteration violates the law.

We've got the letter. Andresen's right.

Compiled by John Mulcahy, Khalil Hachem and Judy McGovern, The AnnArbor News. Political Notebook is a regular feature about localpolitics. Have information or a suggestion for a topic? E-mailaaisner@annarbornews.com or jmcgovern@annarbornews.com.

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