From ArborWiki

Chris Easthope is a member of the Ann Arbor City Council and Mayor Pro-Tem of Ann Arbor. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Easthope graduated from Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. He practices criminal law in Ann Arbor.

Easthope was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in 2000, at the age of 33. In 2003, his colleagues elected him Mayor Pro-Tem and was re-elected subsequently in this capacity through November 2007, when Marcia Higgins was tapped by Council to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem. Easthope's decision not to continue service as Mayor Pro-Tem was analyzed as consistent with rumors that he was interested in exploring a candidacy for a judgeship on the 15th District Court, a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anne Matteson.

Easthope has served on the City’s Budget & Labor Committee, Environmental Commission, Cable Commission, City Council Administration Committee, and City Council/Michigan Student Assembly Committee.

On Council Easthope's participation at the table could be fairly characterized as well-prepared and mild-tempered, although his period of service through 2007 included two occasions on which he demonstrated a willingness to be forceful. On one of these occasions, Easthope exhorted his colleagues not to be "a do-nothing Council" by putting off decisions on building a new facility to house the police and courts. On the second of these occasions, Easthope responded to what he saw as an accusation that the Council was not being transparent in its deliberations, by citing the various media covering the meeting, including live television broadcast by CTN, and local bloggers. On that occasion, Council made a decision to reverse the resolution of a previous Council, by stipulating that the proceeds of property sales would not automatically be earmarked for affordable housing but would be subject to a case-by-case review by Council.

Easthope lives in Ann Arbor and has two children, Aidan (6) and Conor (4).

Additional background:

• Teeter Talk 19 January 2006: http://www.homelessdave.com/tt20060119ceasthope.htm