East Lansing mayor says he won’t seek reelection in 2021

More turnover expected next year on City Council

FRIDAY, Nov. 13 — The East Lansing City Council will have new leadership next year. Mayor Aaron Stephens has decided not to pursue a second term on the City Council next November.

“You can serve your community and you can keep going and serve your community in different ways,” Stephens told City Pulse. “Being the actual elected official is not necessarily always the thing that’s necessary to serve your community. My goal is to serve my community.”

The Council picked Stephens as mayor pro-tem last November. When Mayor Ruth Beier and Councilman Mark Meadows resigned from the Council in July, Stephens was automatically put in the role — in the midst of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“When everything happened, I said, ‘OK, I have to get my city through this,’” Stephen added. “I don’t need the next position. I don’t need to be mayor for another eight years to feel validated.”

Stephens’ departure could leave three open slots on the Council next year. Ron Bacon and Dana Watson, who were appointed to fill the remainder of Beier and Meadows’ terms, will need to seek election in November, should they look to serve full, four-year terms on the Council.

The other Council members, Lisa Babcock and Jessy Gregg, aren’t up for reelection until 2023.

Stephens said there was some initial shock to becoming mayor. And shortly after he took the position, he started having second thoughts about running for another term on the City Council.

Gregg said the position was “kind of thrust uponStephens

“He’s taken on a huge amount of effort,” Gregg said.“The amount of extra mobilization that’s been required from COVID and the types of reforms we’re working on in terms of our public safety alignment have created a lot of additional work and he’s taken on a lot of that personally.”

Stephens said he felt he may have put much of the burden of the work of the office on himself — something that might have quickly led to burnout while the city continues to face a health crisis.

“I’m a leader, and I want people to know I have the ability to lead,” Stephens said. “I truly understand the responsibility of the position I’m in. With the increased amount of issues going on, it’s taxing on an individual. I feel like I might’ve put it on myself a little bit personally.”

Future of the City Council 

Candidates planning to run for one of three seats on the City Council next year typically have until mid-July to file paperwork with the city. A specific filing date has not yet been set.

And as turnover continues on the Council, next year’s election could solidify a fresh majority.

“I have my fingers crossed for some strong candidates,” Gregg added. “I have a few people I’ve talked to and encouraged and we’ll see what happens as we get closer to that date.”

Babcock said she hopes Stephens will reconsider his decision.

“I think he’s done a fantastic job as mayor,” Babcock said. “He has been incredibly devoted. He’s been a hard worker. I know he’s exhausted for every good reason. He’s doing good work.”

Stephens quit his job as an organizer with the Michigan Education Association in January to work on City Council business full time — all for a meager annual salary of about $9,800.

“It is a much bigger job and job description than the pay implies,” Babcock added.

Stephens won his seat  in 2017 as a 20-year-old political science major at Michigan State University. He graduated in 2018.

Stephens said he wants to normalize the idea of young people running for elected office.

“I also feel I have a responsibility to a lot of young people running for office,” he added. “I think young people should take control of their future.”