Friday, March 29, 2024

Meadows holds on by 2 votes, newcomers elected in City Council race

November 5, 2019
<p>Lisa Babcock hugs friend, Gary Barbarino during her watch party on Nov. 5, 2019 at Pizza House in East Lansing. </p>

Lisa Babcock hugs friend, Gary Barbarino during her watch party on Nov. 5, 2019 at Pizza House in East Lansing.

Photo by Sylvia Jarrus | The State News

After the East Lansing City Council election Nov. 5, the three open City Council seats went to Jessy Gregg with 2,944 votes (25.08%), Lisa Babcock with 2,871 votes (24.45%) and Mark Meadows with 1,951 votes (16.62%).

"Pleasantly surprised would be the simple summary," Gregg said. "The people are ready for a change, they want things done differently, and I'm pretty excited that we're going to be able to do that."

Meadows kept his seat by two votes, pushing out incumbent Erik Altmann. Gregg and Babcock are new to the council.

The city also voted in favor of allowing the East Lansing City Council to sell all or a portion of 26.83 acres of vacant land.

The candidate outcomes demonstrate a referendum against development by voters. Especially after the incident that occurred at East Lansing's Park District project site, where a concrete form on the 11th floor shifted, as well as the move-in delays at the Hub On Campus apartments.

Voter decisions also are in favor of transparency, which may have been sparked by the recent dispensary project, where City Council did not notify the public before selling land on eBay.

Babcock is a lawyer, running Lisa Babcock PLLC in Lansing, advising election law. She is also an advocate for transparency in government, and an environmental activist running on an anti-climate change platform. She formerly worked as a newspaper reporter. Read more about her in our profile series.

Gregg is a small business owner and serves on the Ingham County Parks Commission. She also worked as a reporter for East Lansing Info. Gregg was inspired to run after participating in many city council meetings. Read more about her in our profile series.

Meadows is the current mayor for the city of East Lansing. Meadows has a long history with city politics, including two stints on the City Council, 27 years working in the Attorney General’s office and time as a state representative. Read more about him in our profile series.

Altmann declined to comment.

Election results are unofficial until the Board of Canvassers of the county certifies the results.

"I'm disappointed I won't be serving with Erik Altmann if I am elected," Meadows said.

Babcock said she was thankful to voters for the honor to go door-to-door in her campaign to meet the city's residents.

“I didn’t think it would be quite so cut and dry,” Gregg said. “I think that is evidence that people are ready for a change.”

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