Lansing Chamber announces endorsements, led by Schor

Incumbents Spadafore and Garza and two newbies get Council nods

TUESDAY, May 27 — The Lansing Regional Chamber-Political Action Committee announced its endorsements for Lansing’s 2025 election today.

A press release from the Chamber’s political arm called for “pro-growth” leadership to streamline regulatory processes, invest in infrastructure, support local entrepreneurship and maintain public safety.

To that end, LRC-PAC endorsed current Mayor Andy Schor, who it said has created “visible progress” through “major infrastructure investments” improving public safety.

LRC-PAC also endorsed three at-large candidates for City Council: Aurelius Christian, Clara Martinez and incumbent Council member Jeremy Garza.

Christian, who works for the Lansing Economic Development Corp., serves on the Allen Neighborhood Center’s board of directors and was a 2022 recipient of the Chamber’s “10 over the Next Ten” award. Per his website, Christian “champions small business expansion and neighborhood revitalization efforts” in his LEDC work. The press release called him “an economic development specialist.”

Clara Martinez is Everett High School’s dance director and union representative. LRC-PAC described her as a “proud product of Lansing with a deep focus on equity, housing, and neighborhood improvement.”

Garza, meanwhile, is a current Ward 2 Council member seeking to transition to an at-large position. A plumber, he serves as vice president of United Association Local 333, the local union representing plumbers and pipefitters. LRC-PAC described him as a “homegrown leader focused on infrastructure, public safety, and economic revitalization.”

In the 2nd Ward, LRC-PAC endorsed Deyanira Nevarez Martinez, an assistant professor of urban and regional planning at Michigan State University, where she researches housing and homelessness governance. LRC-PAC said she would bring “smart urban planning, inclusive community development, and thoughtful leadership to the Council.”

In the 4th Ward, LRC-PAC has endorsed Peter Spadafore, an at-large Council member. After initially choosing not to run for a third term, Spadafore reconsidered and entered the race in his home ward. The LRC-PAC called him “Lansing’s most experienced Councilmember” and praised him as “consistently delivering for residents on roads, parks, safety, and small business priorities.”