Charles "Chip" Smith is a resident of Ann Arbor's Old West Side, and a Senior Planner in Wade Trim's Environmental Design and Planning Group.

Smith was elected to City Council on Nov. 3, 2015 with 1,605 votes (81.02%).  He had no opponent on the ballot, but was challenged by an official write-in candidate, Kevin Leeser,  Smith won the Democratic nomination in the Aug. 4, 2015 primary by defeating  Mike Anglin for the  Ward 5  Ann Arbor city council seat.

Previously, Smith filed as an official write-in candidate for the Ward 5 city council general election of Nov. 5, 2013. Also filing as an official write-in candidate for that election was Thomas Partridge. Incumbent Democrat Mike Anglin was the only candidate appearing on the ballot. The total write-in vote for the Nov. 5, 2013 Ward 5 city council election tallied 1,004 (32%) of the 3,116 votes cast.  Smith received 917 votes and Partridge 87. 

As of 2015, Smith had seventeen years of experience helping municipal clients with redevelopment issues, planning and policy. He is an AICP certified planner and is responsible for project management. Smith joined Wade Trim, a Detroit urban planning firm, in 2008.

Chip Smith Timeline

  • 2015-11-03: Smith wins Ward 5 City Council general election in a race for which he was unopposed on the ballot, with 1,605 votes (81.02%).  However, he was challenged by an official write-in candidate, Kevin Leeser. 
  • 2015-08-04: Smith wins Democratic Party nomination for election to Ward 5 City Council. Incumbent Mike Anglin received 1,302 votes (44.6%), to Smith's 1,613 (55.3%). Smith to appear unopposed on the Nov. 3, 2015 ballot.
  • 2015-06-15: Participates in Ann Arbor Democratic Party candidate forum, along with incumbent Mike Anglin.
  • 2015-04-15: Smith participates in the candidates debate at the Ford School.
  • 2015-03-05: Petitions. Smith takes out petitions to contest Aug. 4, 2015 Ward 5 Ann Arbor City Council Ward 5 Democratic primary. On the same day, incumbent Mike Anglin takes out petitions for the August Democratic primary for Ward 5.
  • 2013-11-05: Election. Smith does not prevail as an official write-in candidate for Ward 5 City Council. Elected was incumbent Democrat Mike Anglin, who was the only candidate appearing on the ballot. The total write-in vote for the Nov. 5, 2013 Ward 5 city council election tallied 1,004 (32%) of the 3,116 votes cast.  Smith received 917 votes and Partridge 87. 
  • 2012: Regional Transportation Authority. Smith applies to be appointed  as one of two representatives from Washtenaw County to the board of the RTA – a four-county area including the city of Detroit as well as Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw Counties. Named as the two representatives – in appointments made by chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Conan Smith – were Richard Murphy and Liz Gerber. 
  • 2008: Smith joins Wade Trim. 

Elections: Ward 5 City Council General (Nov. 3, 2013)

Appearing on the ballot for the Ward 5 Ann Arbor City Council general election on Nov. 3, 2013 was one candidate: incumbent Democrat Mike Anglin. Two write-in candidates had officially registered as such with the city clerk's office: Chip Smith and Thomas Partridge. Out of 3,116 votes cast, 2012 were for Anglin and 1,004 were for write-in candidates. It's likely that the vast majority of write-in votes were for Smith.

By precinct, the vote broke down as follows:

Precinct (D) Mike Anglin Write-Ins
1 38 22
2 198 171
3 136 64
4 & 5 461 230
6 229 82
7 59 9
8 151 61
9 255 119
10 220 74
11 365 172

 

Other Links

In the news

Taylor's Win: Voters Give City Council's Activist Coalition a Supermajority – Ann Arbor Observer, September 2015

Ann Arbor Democratic Party candidate forum – June 13, 2015 video posted on YouTube

Eaton and Anglin facing challengers in 4th and 5th ward races for Ann Arbor City Council – MLive, March 5, 2015

Charles “Chip” Smith to File as Ward 5 Write-In – Ann Arbor Chronicle, Oct. 24, 2013

Chip Smith announces write-in campaign in Ann Arbor's 5th Ward – MLive, Oct. 24, 2013

Shouts, Songs Occupy UM Regents Meeting – Ann Arbor Chronicle, Dec. 18, 2011 (Smith spoke to the UM regents during public commentary, representing the Near Westside Neighborhood Association and highlighting problems with a UM parking lot that’s surrounded by homes on the Old West Side.)

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