East Lansing's newest City Council member is a veteran of the city's politics and problems.
Diane Goddeeris, a former East Lansing planning commissioner and neighborhood president, said she's excited to have a more hands-on role in the city.
The four City Council members appointed Goddeeris in a unanimous vote Tuesday evening. She will serve for the rest of former Mayor Mark Meadows' term, which expires in 2007.
"It feels great that the council has confidence in me to be a part of their team," Goddeeris said in a phone interview Tuesday evening. "I like being part of a team that works on issues."
Mayor Sam Singh said Goddeeris has proven herself as a valuable resource for the city's future. Singh said he and Goddeeris crossed paths during her service on the planning commission in the 1990s.
She was most recently involved with the city's comprehensive planning team, which maps out how the city should be developed. Goddeeris possessed an understanding of how things should be done, City Council member Kevin Beard said.
"She brings insight and incredible talent," Beard said. "She will make a fabulous addition to council."
Meadows, who attended the meeting, said he also worked with Goddeeris when she was on the planning commission and encouraged her to run for council about three or four times in past elections. Meadows vacated his position on Sept. 15 because he's the democratic contender for the 69th District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives.
"She was outstanding on the planning commission," he said. "She has a grasp of planning issues and the law that applies to it."
Twelve people vied for a seat on council, including John Fournier, a political theory and constitutional democracy senior.
"The City Council has a very qualified candidate," Fournier said. "Diane Goddeeris has been in the city on multiple levels."
Maintaining the city's budget and fostering development are two important issues Goddeeris said she's ready to tackle.
Growing the city isn't the only charge of the council — keeping all residents happy, including MSU students, is a tough job, Goddeeris added.
"You just constantly have to work on the relationships and have opportunities out there where people can mingle," she said.
