CORRECTION: The headline should have said ‘Nov. 6 City Council election to include 2 new contenders.’
When Mayor Sam Singh announced he wouldn’t run for re-election, this year’s race for East Lansing City Council became more interesting. Four candidates will now contend for three open seats in the Nov. 6 general election: incumbent Councilmembers Beverly Baten and Diane Goddeeris and challengers Nathan Triplett and Roger Peters. Here’s a closer look at the two new challengers:
Nathan Triplett
When East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh graduated from MSU in 1994, he was eager to make an immediate impact on the city.
When Singh’s dream was realized at the age of 24, he became the youngest council member in the city’s history.
More than a decade later, Nathan Triplett is trying to write a sequel to that story.
“I’ve always wanted to work in public policy,” said Triplett, who turns 24 in October. “There’s a real opportunity there to affect positive change, and it’s always something that I’ve been passionate about. This just happened to be an opportunity that presented itself where I feel like I can make the most difference.”
Triplett graduated from MSU in 2006 with a degree in political theory and social relations. He has served as vice chairperson of the city’s Human Relations Commission for the last year.
Triplett believes his fresh perspective is something the City Council desperately needs.
While he’s confident that his priorities are in line with the priorities of the entire city population, he feels he could especially relate to the student body.
“MSU students living in East Lansing are part of what makes our community unique and special,” Triplett said.
While Triplett is pleased with the way the city has progressed economically, he said there’s still a lot of untapped potential.
“We need to recognize that the presence of the university provides a huge population of potential entrepreneurs, potential residents, potential families, and it should be the city’s goal to try and tap that population as well for our mutual strengths,” Triplett said.
If elected, Triplett said he would aim to pass legislation to add or modify sidewalks, urge the city to use more solar energy, expand the city’s recycling program to multi-unit dwellings and a slew of other ideas.
He also would venture to enhance the city’s relationship with MSU.
“More communication, more collaboration when it comes to the long-term planning of the city’s development and the university’s development,” Triplett said.
Roger Peters
With 30 years of public service, professional experience and legal practice under his belt, Roger Peters said he believes he would be a versatile addition to the East Lansing City Council.
Peters served on the East Lansing Planning Commission for four years, two as chairman, and on the East Lansing Public Library Board of Trustees for six years, two as president. He’s worked as an attorney with the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau for most of his professional career.
“Through all these experiences, I think I have developed a fairly good perspective as to how this community wants its city business conducted – in a manner where an open, thoughtful decision-making process is employed to resolve the issues before it, and one that considers and values the views of all stakeholders,” said Peters, who graduated from MSU in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary social science.
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During the past few years, East Lansing has evolved as an independent city, Peters said. But by becoming an active leader, the city has helped stimulate growth throughout the region.
Peters said he wants to help the city sustain its role as a leader.
“One of the biggest positive changes that has occurred in recent years, one that has been embraced by the current council, is really one of perception,” Peters said. “That is, regarding our community as a link in a chain of regional development in mid-Michigan, rather than solely as an individual city trying to attract and grow new businesses.”
By taking measures such as expanding recycling programs, educating residents on eco-friendly alternatives to lawn and plant fertilizers and pesticides, and promoting land preservation options, the city could take another step in protecting the environment.
One of the city’s greatest accomplishments during the past few years has been weaving a much stronger relationship with MSU, Peters said.
“Sam Singh and former Mayor Mark Meadows made great strides during their tenures expanding the breadth of this relationship and seeking new opportunities for collaboration with MSU, especially in areas such as regional economic development,” Peters said.
“This was not always the case, and it is important not to take for granted what has been achieved in recent years.”
