Washington to take over Hewitt’s seat in 1st Ward

At 9:30 Tuesday night, Jody Washingtonreflected on her 1st Ward campaign as votes were still being tallied.“I learned a lot about local politics. One day I picked up the phoneand it was Virg Bernero on a robo call trashing me,” she laughed.

At 10:30 p.m., the mayor walked into theGreen Door Blues Bar on Lansing’s east side — where Washington wascelebrating a victory over Lynne Martinez — to congratulate her. “Itwas not against Jody but more for Lynne,” Bernero said of the robocall. “I’m looking forward to working with Jody. … I’ve known Jody foryears — it’s not as if she’s a stranger.”

And so marks the end of the campaign fornortheast Lansing’s new City Council ward representative. Washington,55, beat Martinez, 63, by a narrow 88 votes, unofficial results showedby 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night. Washington begins her term Jan. 1.

After placing second to Martinez in theAug. 2 primary by 57 votes, Washington pulled ahead Tuesday by takingsix of 11 precincts. More important, though, were absentee voters:Washington took home 114 more absentee votes than Martinez did.Martinez narrowly won over absentee voters in the primary.

An even 19 percent of 1st Ward voters turned out Tuesday. Unofficial results show Washington won 1,826 to 1,738.

“I think I’m still a little bit inshock,” Martinez said shortly after announcing her defeat at the SoupSpoon Café, a half-mile from Washington’s election party. “I knew I hadto be ready for anything.”

Washington was in “disbelief” uponhearing the results Tuesday night, surrounded by about a dozensupporters, mostly family members. “I’m very excited to serve in thiscommunity.”

Washington said she began exploring arun for Council “about a year ago. Initially it was because I was upsetwith (incumbent) Eric Hewitt. Since then I got to know him.” Hewittdisplayed a Washington campaign sign in his front yard throughout theelection. “That speaks a lot of truth. I was one of his biggestcritics.”

Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing,who donated $125 to Martinez’s campaign, was one of more than 30supporters at Martinez’s party Tuesday. “I think the 1st Ward hasstruggled with its ward person for the last four years. I hope Jody canrise above the pettiness and do what’s right for the city,” he said. 

The last few weeks of the 1st Ward andAt-Large races marked a clear divide between labor-backed (Washington)and Chamber of Commerce-backed (Martinez) candidates.

“The race got more divisive than I hopedit would be,” Martinez said. “The powers that be saw a benefit inseeing a world of dichotomy.”

When asked if she had any regrets fromthe campaign, Washington said: “No — I wouldn’t have done anythingdifferently. I think I ran a good campaign.” 

As for those who voted against her Tuesday, Washington said: “They can expect I’ll work for them.”