Julie Grand - Ann Arbor

Julie Grand at the March 2013 meeting of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission. (Photo courtesy of The Ann Arbor Chronicle.)Julie (Berson) Grand (b. 1974) has served as a Democrat on the Ann Arbor City Council, representing Ward 3, since November 2014. Grand was elected on Nov. 4, 2014, filling the seat held by Christopher Taylor, who was elected mayor of Ann Arbor that same day. Grand had won a three-way Democratic primary in August 2014 against Bob Dascola and Samuel McMullen.

She is a former chair of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission (PAC).

In 2013, she ran for the Ward 3 Ann Arbor City Council seat held by Stephen Kunselman, whom she faced in the Aug. 6th, 2013 Democratic primary election. She lost that race against Kunselman.

Grand is married to David R. Grand, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. They have two children (Maddie and Sam – ages 8 and 5, respectively, in 2014). The family lives in the Burns Park neighborhood and are members of Temple Beth Emeth.

Timeline: Julie Grand

Nov. 4, 2014: On her 40th birthday, Grand wins the election to represent Ward 3 on the Ann Arbor City Council. A Democrat, she ran unopposed in the general election. Campaign website: http://votegrand.org/

Aug. 5, 2014: Grand wins the Democratic primary election for the Ward 3 city council race. Grand received 1,516 votes (51.1%) compared to Bob Dascola’s 794 (26.8%) and Samuel McMullen’s 616 (20.8%). The seat was held by Christopher Taylor, who ran for mayor instead of seeking re-election to represent Ward 3. The primary was notable because of a lawsuit filed against the city on behalf of Dascola, who was initially prevented from appearing on the ballot because of a dispute over residency requirements.
October 2013: Term on PAC ends. She was replaced by David Santacroce.
Aug. 6, 2013: Grand is defeated by Kunselman in the Democratic primary. Kunselman received 927 votes (51.8%) and Grand received 862 votes (48.2%).
March 2013: Pulled petitions to run for Ward 3 Ann Arbor City Council against incumbent Democrat Stephen Kunselman.
2011: Appointed as a lecturer in Health Policy Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her teaching focuses on preparing undergraduates for careers in health care and social services.
2011: Received a Ph.D. in Health Services Organization and Policy and a Master’s in Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
2010-2013: Served as chair of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission. Her term ended in October 2013.
October 2010: Reappointed by council to another three-year term on PAC, from October 18, 2010 to October 18, 2013.
2007: Nominated by mayor John Hieftje and appointed by the Ann Arbor City Council to serve on the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission for a term through October 2010.
1996: Graduated Bryn Mawr College, earning a cum laude degree with honors in anthropology.