A special election will be held March 14 to fill the Senate seat vacated after newly-elected Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero resigned to begin his new job.
A primary will be held Feb. 21 to determine the candidates who will represent each party.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm called the election at the encouragement of local election officials, said Granholm's spokeswoman Liz Boyd.
The special election will cost the affected local governments between $320-$400,000, said Ingham County Clerk Mike Bryanton. Despite the unplanned expense, Bryanton believes the special election is the best option.
"It is one of the costs of good government— of good representative government," Bryanton said.
Waiting for the election to be held in conjunction with the upcoming November election would mean the 23rd Senate District would go without representation for 11 months— not a good option, Bryanton said.
Two Democrats, State Rep. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, and Lansing resident Melissa Sue Robinson, have announced intentions to seek the Democratic nomination. Two Republicans, local attorney Vincent Green and former Lansing City Councilmember Geneva Smith have also announced they'll run.
Smith believes her experience as a councilwoman will help her as a senator.
"I plan to bring what I brought as a member of City Council— honesty, and being a team player," Smith said.
Smith's plans focus on improving area education and working to bring jobs into the state. Smith said the challenge of running in an abbreviated election has a simple answer.
"It just means you have to get out and work harder," Smith said.
Green has lived in the Lansing area for most of the past 23 years. For more than 10 years he has been an attorney in his own private practice. Some of his goals for the position involve improving state funding for local industries, especially MSU.
"Whether they live in the city or out-county somewhere, people are worried about whether they will have a job next month," Green said.
Despite the short time frame of the election, he hopes to be able to put together a "really solid grassroots campaign," he said.
Robinson is a Lansing businesswoman, who believes her 10 years of experience as the owner of remodeling and construction company will help her in the senate.
She is the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Transgender People, and hopes to push for legislation that will protect Michigan citizens from discrimination.
She also hopes to work to improve the state's economy.
"I want to sell Michigan to outside employers to attract jobs that are good paying, not just $7-$9 an hour jobs," she said.
Whitmer has served in the House since 2000. Her experience makes her a strong candidate for the Senate, she said.
"We need to have a strong advocate in the State Senate," Whitmer said. "With three terms in the House I've got the experience to hit the ground running, and that's what we need and what we deserve."
The district is made up of most of Ingham County, and includes East Lansing.
While the special election will be a challenge, an election so soon won't be impossible, Bryanton said.
