2026 Public Power Candidate Scorecard

Ward 3 Candidates

Overall Score

Ryan Bartholomew: A

Ashley Hall:‍ ‍C

1. Independence from DTE and Private Utility-Affiliated Money

Has the candidate ever accepted contributions from DTE Energy, DTE-affiliated PACs, or known utility front groups?

  • No, and the candidate has made a public commitment not to accept such contributions in the future

  • No, the candidate has not accepted such contributions

  • Yes, but contributions were returned or publicly disavowed

  • Yes, contributions were accepted and retained

Ryan Bartholomew | A

  • No, and the candidate has made a public commitment not to accept such contributions in the future

The first Ann Arbor political campaign I ran was for my boss, State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, and the very first question we were asked was if she would take money from DTE. We looked at each other and emphatically said, "Absolutely the fuck not.".

Ashley Hall | A

2. Public Commitment to Municipal / Public Power

Has the candidate publicly stated support for municipalization in Ann Arbor?

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting public power.

  • Yes. The candidate's platform includes public power and utility accountability.

  • No.

Ryan Bartholomew | A

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting public power.

  • Yes. The candidate's platform includes public power and utility accountability.

Public Power is part of my platform, on my lit pieces, and I have circulated petitions while on doors.

Ashley Hall |‍ ‍F

  • Yes. The candidate's platform includes public power and utility accountability.

Yes. My platform includes support for utility accountability and ensuring that Ann Arbor residents have access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. Residents deserve an energy provider that is responsive to community needs, invests in reliability, and supports our climate goals. I support the City of Ann Arbor's Sustainable Energy Utility as an important tool for increasing local energy resilience, expanding access to renewable energy, and creating greater accountability within our energy system. The SEU provides residents with additional energy options while encouraging stronger performance from existing utility providers.

Note from A2P2: The candidate has declined to support public power in Ann Arbor at this time.

3. Public Commitment to 2026 Ann Arbor Public Power Ballot Initiative

Has the candidate publicly expressed support for placing or advancing a public power ballot initiative in Ann Arbor?

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting the 2026 Ann Arbor for Public Power ballot initiative.

  • Yes. The candidate’s platform includes public power and utility accountability, generally.

  • No.

Ryan Bartholomew | A

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting the 2026 Ann Arbor for Public Power ballot initiative.

  • Yes. The candidate's platform includes public power and utility accountability, generally.

I have circulated petitions while on doors and have had public power petitions at events I've sponsored where I have encouraged folks to sign it.

Ashley Hall |‍ ‍F

  • No

I support efforts to improve energy reliability, affordability, and sustainability for Ann Arbor residents. I also believe that Ann Arbor can and should hold DTE accountable. However, I have not publicly taken a position on the 2026 Ann Arbor for Public Power ballot initiative. Should the proposal move forward, I would be supportive of the will of the people of Ann Arbor.

4. Track Record on Energy Justice, Affordability, and Reliability

In their past votes, advocacy, or community work, has the candidate actively supported policies that advance:

  • Energy affordability

  • Protection against electricity shutoffs

  • Grid reliability

  • Energy equity for low-income residents

  • Reforms that limit the role of investor-owned utility money in elections and policymaking

  • Ann Arbor’s stated A2Zero goal to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030

  • None of the above

Note: Due to an inability to thoroughly research every candidate’s track record, the scores for question 4 are omitted. Candidate responses are still provided.

Ryan Bartholomew

  • Energy affordability

  • Protection against electricity shutoffs

  • Grid reliability

  • Energy equity for low-income residents

  • Reforms that limit the role of investor-owned utility money in elections and policymaking

  • Ann Arbor’s stated A2Zero goal to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030

In my work in the State Legislature as State Rep. Rheingans' legislative director, I have advocated for all of these policies.

Ashley Hall

  • Energy affordability

  • Energy equity for low-income residents

  • Reforms that limit the role of investor-owned utility money in elections and policymaking

  • Ann Arbor’s stated A2Zero goal to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030

My record demonstrates a commitment to affordability, equity, and sustainability in public policy. As a public servant and candidate, I have consistently focused on policies that reduce financial burdens on residents, particularly seniors, working families, and those on fixed incomes. I support greater transparency and accountability in public decision-making and believe residents should have confidence that energy policy is being shaped by community needs rather than corporate influence. I support Ann Arbor's A2Zero goal and recognize that achieving carbon neutrality will require a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy investments, resilient infrastructure, and community partnerships.

5. Track Record on Data Centers

Does the candidate publicly endorse a moratorium on large-scale data centers and/or has the candidate actively supported policies to stop the construction of such data centers in their past votes, advocacy, or community work?

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting a data center moratorium.

  • Yes. The candidate’s platform includes a moratorium on data centers.

  • Yes. The candidate has actively supported such policies

  • Mixed. Some advocacy or policy work has been against data centers and some has been in favor.

  • No.

Ryan Bartholomew | A

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting a data center moratorium.

  • Yes. The candidate’s platform includes a moratorium on data centers.

  • Yes. The candidate has actively supported such policies.

I am vehemently against the construction of large-scale data centers, have said so publicly, am working on bills presently in the legislature to rein them in, and believe that it is our responsibility as Ann Arbor elected officials to take a regional approach when thinking about them. Just because one isn't being built in the city's boundaries, does not mean the Saline or Ypsi data centers don't affect us here in Ann Arbor.

Ashley Hall | A

  • Yes. The candidate has made public statements, written op-eds, or made social media posts supporting a data center moratorium.

I support a moratorium on large-scale data centers until communities can fully evaluate their impacts on energy infrastructure, utility costs, and the environment. We have a moral responsibility to ensure that corporations are not taking advantage of our communities or receiving benefits that come at the expense of residents. Any large-scale industrial energy user should demonstrate a clear public benefit and bear the true cost of its operations. I also believe we must protect residents from increased utility costs, ensure our electrical infrastructure remains reliable, and safeguard our environmental and climate goals. Until we can be confident that large-scale data centers will not undermine those priorities, a moratorium is warranted.