Lansing endorsements redux

If you missed our endorsements last week, we offer this reminder of our choices, based on interviews with all but one candidate (at-large candidate Aurelius Christian, who declined).

Charter proposal

We encourage your support for the first complete City Charter revision in 47 years. It’s the result of many, many hours of hearings and discussions by nine elected commissioners. The ballot language is deceptively simple: “Shall the Charter proposed by the City Charter Commission be adopted?” We say yes. Among its reforms are expanding the Council to five wards from four, thus increasing representation; consolidating all Council elections into one year, saving taxpayer money; giving the Council authority over the city attorney equal to the mayor’s; and establishing an independent financial auditor’s position. What it does not do is equally important, which is ask voters to replace a strong mayor system with a city manager one, which would reduce accountability in the executive branch. If for no other reason, say yes and save the city the quarter-million dollars or more it would cost if voters send the commission back to the drawing board for a second try.

Mayor

Mayor Andy Schor has earned a third term. Cranes are in the air downtown on major residential projects, a key step to bringing the heart of our city out of its economic malaise. For too long, downtown depended too much on state employees, who likely will never return in pre-pandemic numbers — and even if they did, most would head to homes outside downtown at workday’s end. Schor deserves a big share of credit important state funding, and not only for housing. A new city hall is under construction downtown with funds he also helped secure. Equally important, the current City Hall will become a first-rate hotel because Schor followed through on a plan set in motion by predecessor Virg Bernero.  Look for construction to start downtown next year on the Ovation, the public/private entertainment venue. South of downtown, the city’s public safety building is under construction, the result of Schor’s leadership on a $175 million public bond proposal voters approved in his current term. And Schor has promised to form a committee to determine what historic buildings are endangered and figure out how to help owners prevent them from declining to the point that they cannot be saved. If there’s a silver lining to the old Eastern High School fiasco, that would be it.

City Council

Half the seats on the City Council are on the ballot. Two are at-large, and we encourage voters to support Julie Vandenboom and Clara Martinez, both first-time candidates, and both of whom we find thoughtful and independent.

Vandenboom is the target of a phone campaign by Michigan Vindicated, a for-hire operation that need not disclose who funds it. Our guess is it’s the unions, who fear they might lose their inside influence should she edge out Jeremy Garza. A longtime state Department of Health and Services employee, she promises to be a politically progressive voice on the Council.

We’re similarly impressed by Martinez, who has won the mayor’s backing. Martinez, a union member, is dance director at Everett High School. Martinez serves on the city’s arts commission and can give the arts the Council voice it deserves.

Voters in the 2nd and 4th wards will select new representatives, and they’re fortunate to have two outstanding newcomers.

In the 2nd, Deyanira Nevárez Martinez would bring the city a wealth of knowledge on urban affairs, her field as a Michigan State University professor. She would be graduating from a seat on the Lansing School Board, a sign of her dedication to our city.

In the 4th Ward, voters have a good alternative in Heath Lowry to Peter Spadafore, who let down many of his constituents in failing to fight for preserving old Eastern, to whose demise he contributed as school board president by signing off on its sale without adequate safeguards against its demolition. Lowry is an intelligent, articulate and progressive attorney who will give the 4th Ward the representation it deserves.