Six candidates will face off in the Lansing City Council primary Tuesday, but only two will move on to the November election.
The winner in November will fill the remaining three years of former Councilmember Lou Adado’s four-year term. Adado resigned from the council April 8 amid “distracting” sexual harassment charges.
MSU romance languages Professor Saturnino Rodriguez, appointed to the council May 13, will fill the void until a new council member takes over Jan. 1.
Robert L. Bennett, 47, said he wants to focus on improving parks, housing and youth involvement in city issues.
“If we lose our youth, we’ve lost everything,” he said. “Fifteen to 25-year-olds have been ignored very badly. They feel like they don’t really exist.”
Bennett has lived in Lansing since 1975 and owns R & R Discount. He also was president and a founding member of Friends of Comstock Park.
Jerry Heathcote, 41, did not return calls to his home or his work at The Home Depot, 936 S. Waverly Road. Heathcote also is a chiropractor.
Amy Hodgin, 55, said she wants the city to take better care its older residents and improve diversity.
“I want to make sure there is one voice on the board who cares about Lansing and not just about their political career,” she said.
Hodgin, a 30-year resident, owns Commercial Blueprint Inc., 416 N. Cedar St. in Lansing, and has served on the city’s advisory board for the Human Relations and Community Services Department.
Brian Jeffries, 47, said he sees a lot of positive things happening in the city, but wants to make it more attractive place to live. He said by continuing to add economic development the city can expand its tax base and diversity. Jeffries also said redeveloping brownfield sites helps improve the environment.
Jeffries is a lawyer for ASMSU Legal Services, which provides free attorneys to MSU undergraduates. ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Jeffries also is a Lansing Community College trustee and has served as an Ingham County commissioner.
Kathy Pelleran, 46, said she wants to improve communication with residents and city government leaders and attract more residents to the city.
“I will hold town meetings on Saturdays so working citizens can meet with me,” she said.
Pelleran also is a Lansing Community College trustee and director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan. She also has worked for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit.
Vincent Villegas, 19, said it is important for the city to control spending and increase its economic base. He also wants to increase support for the city’s junior council. Villegas is a former president and founder of the group.
“Their voice is extremely important because they represent the future, and they let us know what’s needed in the community,” he said.
Villegas was the executive director of Students Against Firearm Endangerment and worked on former Vice President Al Gore’s and U.S. Rep. Debbie Stabenow’s, D-Lansing, campaigns in 2000.
Mark Grebner, owner of Practical Political Consulting, 220 Albert Ave., said the two likely winners of the primary are Jeffries and Pelleran, but Hodgin could surprise him.
Although Heathcote came in third place last November against Adado and current council President Larry Meyer, Grebner said that doesn’t guarantee he will fare as well in this year’s race.
“They lapped him last year,” he said.
