2026 Election Questionnaire - Ward 3
Neighbors for More Neighbors A2 is a group of Ann Arbor area residents who have come together to work toward a more inclusive Ann Arbor. You may have seen our purple lawn signs around town. We created and circulated a questionnaire for candidates running for city council and mayor in the primary on August 4, 2026. We hope that this information is useful to all Ann Arbor voters as they prepare to vote this summer.
Our goal was 100% participation, and we are disappointed to not have answers from every candidate. We invited all candidates to our general meeting in April to meet our members and learn about our organization. Our board then sent the questionnaire via email to all candidates on April 24.
In our communications with candidates, we committed to publishing their answers unedited and in full, and we have done so below.
We followed up with those who had not replied on May 15, and then again on June 12. We made every effort to contact candidates directly using the information from their nominating petitions filed with the city clerk, their campaign website, and social media. We also encouraged members of the public to reach out to all candidates directly to encourage their participation, and many did so.
What you see here is exactly what candidates submitted verbatim. We have noted when no response was received or when a candidate declined our invitation.
1. Candidate's Housing Story
How has your housing story shaped your views on housing and land use in Ann Arbor? (i.e., how did you come to live in Ann Arbor, what type of housing have you lived in, how did you acquire your housing, how have your or your family's experiences with housing and neighborhoods shaped your approach to policy?)
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
I grew up in a working-class family with parents who understood that geography helps shape your life story. They scraped and saved to buy our family home in Livonia, working hard to ensure my sister and I grew up in a safe, stable environment. They often shielded us from just how much it took to make that possible. That experience instilled in me a deep appreciation for the stability and opportunity that housing provides.
As an adult, my experience looked very different. Between 2008 and 2019, I lived in ten different apartments, moving frequently to keep housing affordable through college and what followed. That instability gave me a firsthand understanding of how difficult it can be to put down roots when costs are high and options are limited.
My husband, who grew up in India without generational wealth, and I worked hard to save for our first home in Ann Arbor. In April 2019 we purchased our home in the Forestbrooke neighborhood. I vividly remember the pride and sense of belonging that came with it. That feeling of stability, of ownership, of connection, is what drives my commitment to housing policy today. I want more people to have access to that same opportunity.
Shortly after moving to Lillian Road, we found ourselves in the middle of a neighborhood debate over a new development directly behind our home, now Brightdawn Village. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of both the concerns residents have and the urgent need for more housing. It also reinforced my belief that growth is necessary but it must be paired with transparent, good-faith engagement with the community.
These experiences shape my approach to housing and land use: we must increase housing opportunities in Ann Arbor while building trust, creating inclusive neighborhoods, and ensuring more people can afford to live here.
2. Neighborhood Businesses
2a: Do you support zoning changes to allow neighborhood businesses (e.g. Jefferson Market, Argus Farm Stop, Washtenaw Dairy) across all of Ann Arbor? (Y/N)
2b: Please explain your stance.
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
2a: Yes
2b: I strongly support zoning changes that allow neighborhood businesses across Ann Arbor. Like many, I've stood in line at Jefferson Market for 45 minutes. Not just for the food, but for the feeling of it. That sense of connection, belonging, and community is what makes places like the Old West Side so special, and it shouldn’t be limited to just a few neighborhoods.
Allowing small-scale, neighborhood-serving businesses in more areas is a key part of thoughtful placemaking. These spaces create natural gathering points, strengthen social ties, and make neighborhoods more walkable and vibrant.
Small businesses are also essential to a healthy local economy. They create jobs, keep dollars circulating locally, and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs, including those from historically underrepresented communities. Expanding zoning to support neighborhood businesses is a practical, people-centered way to build more connected, resilient communities across Ann Arbor.
3. Tenant Protections
How can the city better protect renters and ensure they have safe, dignified, and stable living conditions?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
The City has made meaningful progress in protecting renters, particularly through the work of the Renters Commission and the Housing Commission. Policies like the Right to Renew Ordinance and efforts to address pre-tenancy fees are important steps toward creating a more fair and transparent rental market. However, more can and should be done. We need stronger enforcement of our housing codes and adequate staffing to ensure that all rental units are safe and habitable. The City should also continue advancing tenant protections like a “Right to Organize” ordinance, expand education so renters understand their rights, and explore the creation of a landlord-tenant ombudsman to resolve disputes more effectively. We must also address systemic issues like excessive pre-tenancy fees, which can disproportionately burden low-income renters and create barriers to housing access. Protecting renters means pairing policies with enforcement, transparency, and a commitment to housing as a basic need.
4.Three Homes Per Lot
4a: The City’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan calls for allowing at least three homes per lot citywide. Do you support this change? (Y/N)
4b: If not, where do you think it should be illegal to build three homes on a lot?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
4a: Yes
4b: n/a
5. Ending Ann Arbor's Housing Shortage
What roles should market-rate housing, public-private partnerships, and public housing each play in ending Ann Arbor’s housing shortage?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
Market-rate housing plays a critical role in increasing overall supply. When we allow more homes to be built at all price points, we reduce pressure on existing units and create a healthier, more balanced housing market. Public-private partnerships are one of the most effective tools we have to deliver permanent affordable housing at scale. Projects like the redevelopment of 350 S. Fifth Avenue show how the City can leverage public land and private expertise to create mixed-income communities in high-opportunity areas. Public housing, led by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, is equally important. The Commission has done strong work expanding and preserving affordable units, and continued investment is necessary to meet the level of need we see today. Innovative models like the Community Land Trust are also exciting additions, creating pathways to homeownership for people who would otherwise be priced out.
6. Public Housing
6a: Do you support building more public housing in Ann Arbor? (Y/N)
6b: If so, approximately how many units would you aim to build over the next decade; and how, specifically, would you pay for them?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
6a: Yes
6b: Yes, I support expanding public housing in Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor Housing Commission has clearly demonstrated a strong track record, with more than 1,200 affordable units already built or in the pipeline. We should be working to continue and accelerate that momentum. Over the next decade, I would aim to add at least 2, 000 additional publicly supported units, while also preserving and rehabilitating our existing affordable housing stock. That level of investment better reflects the scale of need in our community.
To fund this, we need to build on what Ann Arbor voters have already made clear they support. In 2020, 73% of voters approved the affordable housing millage. This is an incredibly strong mandate to continue investing in affordable housing. We should fully leverage those local dollars to unlock additional funding, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, state and federal grants, and partnerships with mission-driven developers. We are already seeing how this layered approach can work through projects like 350 S. Fifth, which combines public land, local funding, and private development expertise to deliver significant affordable housing in a high-opportunity area. We should continue using and scaling these kinds of innovative financing models.
7. 2025 Prop A & B (Library Lot) Vote
7a: Did you support Props A & B in 2025 to expand AADL’s Downtown Branch into the neighboring lot and build housing above it?
7b: Please explain your stance.
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
7a: Yes
7b: Yes, I supported Proposals A & B. About 58% of Ann Arbor voters approved these measures, which I see as a clear signal that our community is ready to move forward with thoughtful, multi-use development in our downtown.
For me, this project represents the kind of creative, community-centered solution we need more of. The idea of combining a world-class public library with new housing, retail, and public space is exactly the kind of integrated planning that makes strong cities thrive. Quite honestly, the collaboration between a public library and housing development is the kind of municipal innovation that makes my inner wonk smile.
This site sat undeveloped for years, and these proposals created a path forward that both honors community priorities and addresses real needs, especially housing.
Projects like this show that we don’t have to choose between civic space and housing. With the right partnerships and vision, we can do both and do them well.
8. Addressing Housing Injustice
8a: Do you believe that Ann Arbor's housing history – including racial covenants, exclusionary zoning, and the displacement of Black communities – should influence the city’s decisions about housing? (Y/N)
8b: What are your specific proposals to address historic and ongoing harms caused by the city’s housing policies in an equitable and restorative way?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
8a: Yes
8b: To address these harms in a meaningful way, I believe we must move beyond acknowledgment and toward action through reparative policies. I have helped lead the Washtenaw County Reparations Council for the past three years, working to better understand the harms caused and identify pathways toward repair. One model I find compelling and believe could work here in Ann Arbor, is what Evanston, IL has done. They have implemented a reparations program that provides up to $25,000 in down payment assistance and home repair grants to Black residents with ties to those impacted by historic discrimination. Programs like this begin to close the racial wealth gap created by decades of exclusion from homeownership. In Ann Arbor, we should explore similar targeted investments, whether through down payment assistance, home repair programs, or dedicated funding streams, to ensure that those most impacted by past policies have a real opportunity to build wealth and stability through housing today
9. CLUP Recommendations
9a: Which 1-2 recommendations of the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan do you most strongly agree with, and why?
9b: Which 1-2 recommendations of the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan do you most strongly disagree with, and why?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
9a: If I have to choose, I would highlight two that strike an important balance between growth and preservation. First, I strongly support Housing and Neighborhoods strategy 1.2, Diversifying housing through a “missing middle” strategy and universal design. Housing types like duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes fit naturally into existing neighborhoods and provide more attainable options for people at different life stages. They also support walkability, local businesses, and transit, helping us grow in a way that feels connected and sustainable. Second, I strongly support Housing and Neighborhoods strategy 3.1, Continue to maintain high-quality parks and recreation areas and align with land use patterns. Ann Arbor’s identity as “Tree Town” is not just a slogan, it’s something residents deeply value. Our parks, tree canopy, and natural areas are some of the most special aspects of our community, and preserving them while we grow is essential.
9b: This is a challenging question. Rather than strong disagreement, I think about this as identifying areas that may be less central to the city’s immediate priorities. One is the emphasis on securing a share of university spin-out companies. While I understand the importance of economic development, I believe the City’s role should be focused on creating the conditions for success like housing, infrastructure, and quality of life, rather than directly competing to capture specific startups. If we get the fundamentals right, businesses will choose to stay and grow here. Second is the expansion of downtown as the primary economic center. Downtown is incredibly important, but I think we should be equally focused on creating vibrant, mixed-use nodes throughout the city. Distributing opportunity more broadly can support small businesses, reduce transportation burdens, and create a more connected and equitable Ann Arbor.
10. Transportation and Housing
How would your transportation goals and housing goals inform each other to create cohesive policies for both?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
Housing and transportation are deeply interconnected, and our policies must reflect that. Where we build housing should directly align with how people move through the city. I support focusing on new housing, especially higher-density and missing middle housing, along transit corridors and near existing infrastructure. This allows more residents to live within walking distance of jobs, services, and reliable public transit, reducing dependence on cars and lowering overall transportation costs.
At the same time, we must invest in transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure to support this growth. Expanding TheRide, improving frequency, and building safe, connected non-motorized networks ensures that increased density translates into real mobility options.
Done well, this approach creates a positive cycle: more housing supports better transit, and better transit supports more housing. Together, they make Ann Arbor more affordable, sustainable, and accessible for everyone.
11. Policy Implementation Timeline
How would you ensure that City Council’s housing and transportation policies are implemented in a timely manner?
Ryan Bartholomew
Candidate did not respond.
Ashley Hall
Ensuring that housing and transportation policies are implemented in a timely way requires strong partnerships, clear accountability, and a focus on execution. First, we need to work closely with key partners like TheRide and the teams leading Vision Zero to align timelines and priorities. Housing and transportation cannot be planned in silos. Coordinating transit investments with new housing development is essential to delivering on both goals.
Second, City Council must set clear expectations, timelines, and metrics for implementation, and regularly track progress. That includes ensuring staff have the resources they need and removing unnecessary administrative barriers that slow projects down. Finally, we need to maintain consistent communication with the community and our partners to build trust and keep projects moving forward.