Editor's note: This is the second in a series of four profiles of the candidates in Lansing's mayoral race.

Before becoming mayor of Lansing in 2003, Tony Benavides wore quite a few hats: a field migrant worker, student, grocery store employee, CEO of a nonprofit organization and Lansing City Council member.

But when he first tried on his hat as mayor, it took time to get it to fit.

"I had no plan to run when David Hollister left, so I had no campaign, no people to man it," the 68-year-old said. "I had to build up from nothing."

During his current campaign for re-election, Benavides said he has been able to return to the strategies and resources he built during his first term.

"It is a lot easier for us to move from point A to point B because we have a record to show," he said. "My opponents may promise 'when I get there, I'll do this' versus people being able to see it now."

Although Benavides originally took over the position from former Mayor Hollister, he ran against one of his current opponents, Sen. Virg Bernero, in late 2003 for the position. The two men are joined in the race by former Michigan Children's Ombudsman Lynne Martinez and city maintenance worker Dale Abronowitz.

An Aug. 2 primary will narrow the choices for mayor down to two candidates for the final race.

Born in Mexico as the 11th of 12 children, Benavides came to the United States as a teenager with his parents. The fact that he couldn't speak English did not prove to be a problem, he said, because of the Lansing schools he attended.

He has made education a focus by developing committees to delegate the future of area buildings, to analyze the relationship between the schools and the neighborhoods close by and traveling to them, and to plan the futures of the districts, Benavides said.

"The things I want to see as a citizen are the things I try to provide," he said. "People think power corrupts, but I was brought up differently."

Economic prosperity, diversity and maintaining services provided by the city are also issues that are a part of Benavides' platform, he said.

"People understand these are challenging years, so we need to be better stewards," he said.

Tom Cochran, president of Lansing's firefighters union IAFF Local 421, said Benavides did not receive the official endorsement from the Lansing firefighters because he had already used his time in office.

"We stayed neutral last election because we felt Benavides deserved an opportunity to be mayor," he said. "We feel Benavides has had his opportunity, and Virg (Bernero) can make his vision come to life."

Benavides' campaign manager John Moralez said the endorsements the mayor wasn't able to receive will not affect his run.

"Tony has always said that is politics, and maybe we will get some in the future," he said. "We will let the voters decide if the endorsements are important or not.

"We feel we are poised for victory and the reason why we feel that way (is) that we have worked hard as a campaign."

Benavides and his wife are both graduates of MSU: She majored in education and he in public administration and management. Together, they have four children and six grandchildren.