John Hieftje
John Hieftje (/ˈhiːftjɛ/ HEEFT-yeh, /-dʒə/ -jə) is an American politician who served as the 60th mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan.[1] Hieftje began his political career in 1999, when he was elected to the city council for Ann Arbor's 1st Ward as a Democrat. He was first as Mayor in 2000, and was re-elected in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
John Hieftje | |
---|---|
Hieftje in 2012 | |
60th Mayor of Ann Arbor | |
In office 2000–2014 | |
Preceded by | Ingrid Sheldon |
Succeeded by | Christopher Taylor |
Personal details | |
Born | Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Kathryn Goodson |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | Eastern Michigan University |
Early life
Hieftje was born in Battle Creek, Michigan and grew up in Ann Arbor. Hieftje worked for the United States Forest Service and as a real estate agent.[2] He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1997.
Environmentalist stance
Hieftje has campaigned as am environmentalist, advocating for various alternative energy, anti-sprawl, and parks measures. The largest of these was a 2003 ballot initiative in which Ann Arbor residents were asked to approve property tax increases to fund the Ann Arbor Parks and Greenbelt Program. This anti-sprawl program called for the purchase of conservation easements on up to 7,000 acres (28 km²) of land in and around the city in order to preserve farmland and open space. On November 4, 2003, Ann Arbor residents approved this program 2-1, generating about $35 million to purchase land.
Hieftje considers himself "an environmentalist and a fiscal conservative."[2]
Career and awards
Hieftje has served on the boards of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, the Michigan Theater, the Huron River Watershed Council, and the Lake Superior Conservancy and Watershed Council. He has served as Co-Chair of the Washtenaw Metro Alliance and as Chair of Recycle Ann Arbor and of Urban Core Mayors of Michigan. He is a member of the Sierra Club, the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, and the National Wildlife Federation (Great Lakes Office).
Hieftje has won several awards, including Local Elected Official of the Year Award from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association, the Conservation Leadership Award from the Greater Detroit Audubon Society, the Conservation Award from the Huron Valley Group of Sierra Club, and the Preservationist of the Year Award from Washtenaw Land Trust.
Electoral history
1999
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje | 818 | 69.91% | |
Democratic | Simone Lightfoot | 350 | 29.91% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 2 | 0.17% | |
Total votes | 1,170 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje | 1,090 | 87.62% | |
Libertarian | Charles Goodman | 140 | 11.25% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 14 | 1.13% | |
Total votes | 1,244 |
2000
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje | 34,111 | 68.34% | |
Republican | Stephen Rapundalo | 13,946 | 27.94% | |
Libertarian | Charles Goodman | 1,849 | 3.70% | |
Write-in | Audrey L. Jackson | 9 | 0.02% |
2002
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 26,495 | 75.05% | |
Republican | Marcia Higgins | 8,764 | 24.83% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 43 | 0.12% | |
Total votes | 35,302 |
2004
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 38,067 | 68.65% | |
Republican | Jane Lumm | 17,285 | 31.17% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 97 | 0.17% | |
Total votes | 55,449 |
2006
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 6,703 | 69.71% | |
Democratic | Wendy Ann Woods | 2,913 | 30.29% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 0 | 0.00% | |
Total votes | 9,616 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 30,935 | 78.88% | |
Independent | Tom Wall | 8,283 | 21.12% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 0 | 0.00% | |
Total votes | 39,218 |
2008
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 46,811 | 84.94% | |
Libertarian | Eric Plourde | 8,001 | 14.52% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 300 | 0.54% | |
Total votes | 55,112 |
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 10,058 | 83.91% | |
Democratic | Patricia Lesko | 1,869 | 15.59% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 60 | 0.50% | |
Total votes | 11,987 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 27,957 | 81.99% | |
Independent | Steve Bean | 5,983 | 17.55% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 159 | 0.47% | |
Total votes | 34,099 |
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hieftje (incumbent) | 42,262 | 84.11% | |
Independent | Albert Howard | 7,652 | 15.23% | |
Write-in | Write-ins | 335 | 0.67% | |
Total votes | 50,249 |
References
- Erickson, Donna L. (2006-10-31). MetroGreen: connecting open space in North American cities. Island Press. pp. 3–. ISBN 978-1-55963-843-2. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- The Hieftje Decades
- "CITY PRIMARY ELECTION CITY OF Ann Arbor WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 3 August 1999. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "CITY PRIMARY ELECTION CITY OF Ann Arbor WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 3 August 1999. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "GENERAL ELECTION WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN Tuesday, November 07, 2000 Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 21 November 2000. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 16 November 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Official Election Results Cumulative Report". Washtenaw County, Michigan. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Hieftje. |
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Ingrid Sheldon |
Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan 2000–2014 |
Succeeded by Christopher Taylor |