Capitol News

EAST LANSING, Mich. — As the deadline for receiving applications to fill the vacancy on the East Lansing City Council ended at 5 p.m. on Dec. 28, the East Lansing City Clerk announced that she has received 14 eligible applications for the City Council to review and consider. 

The East Lansing City Charter states that to be eligible to serve on the City Council, an individual must be a resident of the City of East Lansing and registered to vote in the City. The eligible applicants for the current City Council vacancy (in alphabetical order) include: Nichole Biber, Daniel Bollman, Island Ewert, Tina Farhat, Noel Garcia Jr., Barbara Hiranpradist, Rebecca Kasen, Eston Livingston, Mikey Manuel, Laith Mihyar, Abigail Tykocki, Chris Wardell, Kalette Willis and Eugenia Zacks-Carney.

The vacancy is the result of Councilmember Lisa Babcock’s resignation, that was submitted to the City Clerk and effective on Dec. 28. In November, Babcock was elected to serve as a judge on the East Lansing 54B District Court. The City Charter requires that the City Council appoint a new member within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. 

The City Council will discuss its next steps in the appointment process at its first regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. 

The appointed individual will serve from the time of appointment to when the newly elected East Lansing City Councilmembers are sworn-in after the November 7, 2023 City Election.   

“We are enormously grateful to the community members who have applied to serve on Council in this open position. We appreciate their sense of civic-minded service,” East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon said.

The City of East Lansing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No applicant will be denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities, and for religious observances and practices.

Original source can be found here.