LANSING - A young gun is shooting for a seat on the City Council.

And he wants the public to know he is on its side.

Eighteen-year-old Vince Villegas is running for one of the two open at-large seats on the Lansing City Council this November.

“For the primary I did work, but not too much,” he said as he walked down Whyte Street on Tuesday greeting homeowners.

“For the general election it will be more centered.”

Villegas said he didn’t have any kind of a staff to help him get into the public eye for the Aug. 7 primary, which he advanced through with 919 votes. For the general election, he said he plans on getting more people involved in his campaign.

City council isn’t the only frontier Villegas wants to enter. The recent graduate of Lansing’s Eastern High School doesn’t know whether to attend MSU or Lansing Community College.

“I have to sit back and decide if I want city council or not; if I do then I’ll go to LCC,” he said.

If elected, Villegas has a plan of attack to change the capital city.

Focusing on saving the green spaces in the community, the building of a teen recreational center, a senior center and a down-payment plan to bring in new home owners are some of the issues Villegas wants to implement if elected.

To help spread word of his plans, Villegas has been targeting neighborhoods around Lansing. He said he tries to reach out to all of the residents and not just the districts with the most registered voters.

With only 6 percent of the voter turnout in the primary, Villegas said people need to become active.

Lansing City Councilmember Louis Adado, an incumbent who is running against Villegas in November, has worked with him while Villegas served as an intern for the council.

“I think it is great,” the council’s president said. “He obviously is a bright young man and he will bring new perspectives to the debate.”

While Adado said he is unsure of the experience Villegas may need to make the correct decisions, his chances are as good as the other candidates.

“I think once we get into the debate, if his point of view is well-received (he has a chance), and if not I hope Larry and I will be retained,” he said.

Lansing City Councilmember Larry Meyer is also running for re-election. Resident Jerry Heathcote is the other candidate on the ballot.

Mark Grebner, a political consultant and chairman of the Ingham County Commission, said Villegas doesn’t have a chance to win.

Because two incumbents are running.

Grebner compared Villegas’ campaign to the smaller parties in the presidential race. He said his campaign was over before it started.

“I didn’t even know he was running, and I don’t even think the incumbents are scared or even worried,” Grebner said.

He said Villegas lacks the funds and the notoriety to get elected.

“The 18 part is only one aspect of it,” he said. “In order to run in the city of Lansing you have to be able to raise $25,000 to print brochures, and I don’t think he could even do that if he was 39.”

While Villegas received the least amount of votes among those who advanced past the primary, Lansing residents could start taking notice.

Jim Abood, a resident, said it is great to see somebody who is not intimidated by being so young.

“He could have something to offer that the other incumbents don’t,” he said.

Abood said his vote would not be determined on Villegas’ age, but his stance on the issues in Lansing.

Meanwhile, Lansing resident Mary Lord told Villegas she has his vote.

“I am really impressed,” she said. “Someone that young cares about his neighborhood.”

He does care, he insists.

And finding people who will back his election, Villegas said, makes his day.

“When I run into them they really believe in you,” he says. “It reminds me why I run.”