ELi’s Voter Guide to the 2021 East Lansing City Council Election
East Lansing voters will elect three people to the five-seat East Lansing City Council on Nov. 2, 2021. As we have done for the last seven years, East Lansing Info is providing nonpartisan information to help voters make informed decisions.
Why are there three seats open? And why is one seat for a two-year position?
East Lansing’s City Council is comprised of five four-year seats, according to the City Charter. Right now, Council includes Jessy Gregg (elected 2019) and Lisa Babcock (elected 2019), plus Dana Watson and Ron Bacon, who were appointed by the other three last August, and Shanna Draheim, appointed in August 2021 when Mayor Aaron Stephens left before the end of his term.
Watson and Bacon replaced Ruth Beier (elected 2017) and Mark Meadows (re-elected 2019), both of whom suddenly resigned last July. What was Stephens’ term is also now up. Consequently, the seats that are being filled on Nov. 2, 2021, are Stephens’, Beier’s, and Meadows’.
It is because Meadows’ seat was set to run for two more years that there is now an atypical two-year seat opening.
Who is running?
Voters will be asked to vote for up to TWO people among these running for the four-year seats:
- Dana Watson (read ELi’s profile here)
- Chuck Grigsby (read ELi’s profile here)
- Daniel Bollman (read ELi’s profile here)
- Adam DeLay (read ELi’s profile here)
- George Brookover (read ELi’s profile here)
And voters will be asked to vote for ONE person among these running for the two-year seat:
- Ron Bacon (read ELi’s profile here)
- Mikey Manuel (read ELi’s profile here)
How are the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem elected?
According to the City Charter, just after the election, the five seated Council members will elect the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem (substitute mayor) from among their own.
Will voter forums be held?
As we did in 2019, ELi is working again this year with ASMSU (the elected undergraduate student government at Michigan State University) and the League of Women Voters to bring well-informed candidate forums.
The League of Women Voters Lansing Area held two virtual forums for the East Lansing City Council Candidates on September 29, 2021. The recording for the forum for the 4-year positions is available here to view and the forum for the 2-year position here.
ASMSU also held a voter forum on Monday, Oct. 11. You can watch the video of the event here and read City Desk Reporter Andrew Graham’s recap here.
What reporting does ELi have available on the candidates and their views?
In addition to the profiles above, ELi is currently sending the seven candidates questions and publishing them on our website. Here is what we have available so far:
- Candidates’ Responses to Follow-Up Questions from ELi.
- Candidates’ Responses to Question on City Manager’s Performance.
- Candidates’ Responses to Question on Financial Management.
- ASMSU Forum Highlights Notable Differences Among 7 Council Candidates.
- Analysis: Voter Poll Brings the East Lansing City Council Race Into Clearer Focus.
- Candidate Financial Reports.
Keep checking back! We will add to this list as we ask the candidates more questions.
Do my votes really matter?
The last City Council election was so close, a review of the actual ballots from the election showed that a recount could have meant that Erik Altmann was found to have won the seat in fact awarded to Mark Meadows. So yes, your votes can really matter in this election. (A recount was not requested.)
How do you register to vote or get an absentee ballot?
Find all that information at the website of the East Lansing City Clerk.
The City Clerk also provided updated information on satellite locations, hours, and more.
This article is being updated as more information becomes available.