Four of Eight Lansing City Council Seats Up for Grabs
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Updated: 12:54 AM Nov 8, 2011
Four of Eight Lansing City Council Seats Up for Grabs
Lansing voters decide the fate of two At-Large City Council seats as well as the 1st Ward and 3rd Ward spots on Tuesday.
Posted: 12:50 AM Nov 8, 2011
Reporter: Alex Goldsmith
Email Address: alex.goldsmith@wilx.com
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Voters could give the Lansing City Council a major facelift Tuesday.

Four of the 8 Council seats are on the ballot, including two At-Large seats, as well as the 1st and 3rd Ward seats.

Three-term incumbent Carol Wood and incumbent Derrick Quinney finished with the most votes in August's At-Large primary, ahead of challengers Rory Neuner and Tom Stewart.

The fundraising race looks a little different, with Neuner ahead of Wood, Quinney and Stewart as of Oct. 23.

"There has been more mudslinging done in this campaign than in any Council race I've ever been involved in," said Council member Wood, referring to robo-calls that labelled her an obstructionist. "I think when you look at my record... it's not the fact that we're looking at I've said 90 percent no. I've said 90 percent yes."

"I do not think it's fair," said Council member Quinney, who's had similar charges levied against him. "I've worked really hard and I evaluate all of the projects as they come before us and I keep foremost the citizens of this community."

Meanwhile, Stewart, a local entrepreneur who's had to play catchup since August in both money and votes, hopes he's done enough to get his name out there before Tuesday's vote.

"Being a first-time runner with limited name recognition it's certainly been a challenge, but I think we've been doing all of the right things to get our name out there and we've raised our visibility since the primary," said Stewart. "I'm feeling confident going in."

Neuner declined an in-person request for an on-camera interview Monday night.

In the 1st Ward race, former State Rep. Lynne Martinez goes head to head with neighborhood advocate Jody Washington. That seat is currently held by Eric Hewitt, who elected not to run again.

Meanwhile in the 3rd Ward, Council president A'Lynne Robinson is looking to hold onto her seat against challenger Jason Wilkes.


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